diff --git a/src-tauri/src/extension_server.rs b/src-tauri/src/extension_server.rs
index 0b0a179..841d415 100644
--- a/src-tauri/src/extension_server.rs
+++ b/src-tauri/src/extension_server.rs
@@ -315,7 +315,13 @@ fn normalize_download(payload: ExtensionRequest) -> Option<ExtensionDownload> {
         silent: payload.silent,
         filename,
         headers: payload.headers.filter(|value| !value.trim().is_empty()),
-        cookies: payload.cookies.filter(|value| !value.trim().is_empty()),
+        // A full browser Cookie header can exceed upstream request-header
+        // limits. Media uses yt-dlp's configured browser-cookie source
+        // instead; regular captured downloads retain their exact cookies.
+        cookies: (!payload.media)
+            .then_some(payload.cookies)
+            .flatten()
+            .filter(|value| !value.trim().is_empty()),
         media: payload.media,
     })
 }
@@ -449,8 +455,8 @@ fn is_allowed_origin(origin: &str) -> bool {
 #[cfg(test)]
 mod tests {
     use super::{
-        add_server_identity, is_valid_client_nonce, sign_server_proof, PROTOCOL_VERSION_HEADER,
-        SERVER_HEADER,
+        add_server_identity, is_valid_client_nonce, normalize_download, sign_server_proof,
+        ExtensionRequest, PROTOCOL_VERSION_HEADER, SERVER_HEADER,
     };
     use axum::{http::StatusCode, middleware, routing::get, Router};
     use hmac::{Hmac, KeyInit, Mac};
@@ -492,6 +498,24 @@ mod tests {
         assert!(!is_valid_client_nonce("0123456789abcdef0123456789abcdeg"));
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn explicit_media_drops_the_extension_cookie_header() {
+        let download = normalize_download(ExtensionRequest {
+            urls: vec!["https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example".to_string()],
+            referer: None,
+            silent: false,
+            filename: None,
+            headers: Some("User-Agent: Firefox".to_string()),
+            cookies: Some("large=browser-cookie-header".to_string()),
+            media: true,
+        })
+        .expect("valid media handoff");
+
+        assert!(download.media);
+        assert!(download.cookies.is_none());
+        assert_eq!(download.headers.as_deref(), Some("User-Agent: Firefox"));
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn signs_server_proof_with_timestamp_nonce_and_bound_port() {
         let token = Arc::new(RwLock::new("pairing-token".to_string()));
diff --git a/src/store/useDownloadStore.test.ts b/src/store/useDownloadStore.test.ts
index c874d0f..fd4965c 100644
--- a/src/store/useDownloadStore.test.ts
+++ b/src/store/useDownloadStore.test.ts
@@ -818,6 +818,7 @@ describe('useDownloadStore', () => {
     expect(state.isAddModalOpen).toBe(true);
     expect(state.pendingAddUrls).toBe('https://adult.example/watch/123');
     expect(state.pendingAddMediaUrls).toEqual(['https://adult.example/watch/123']);
+    expect(state.pendingAddCookies).toBe('');
   });
 
   it('deduplicates forced media URLs and drops stale media intent when opening fresh', async () => {
diff --git a/src/store/useDownloadStore.ts b/src/store/useDownloadStore.ts
index 8bea402..d56d8a6 100644
--- a/src/store/useDownloadStore.ts
+++ b/src/store/useDownloadStore.ts
@@ -552,12 +552,17 @@ export const useDownloadStore = create<DownloadState>((set, get) => ({
     const urls = [...new Set(request.urls.map(url => url.trim()).filter(Boolean))];
     if (urls.length === 0) return;
 
+    // Explicit media uses yt-dlp and its configured browser-cookie source.
+    // Passing Firefox's complete page Cookie header can exceed YouTube's
+    // request-header limit; ordinary captured file downloads keep it.
+    const cookies = request.media === true ? null : request.cookies;
+
     get().openAddModalWithUrls(
       urls.join('\n'),
       request.referer,
       urls.length === 1 ? request.filename : null,
       request.headers,
-      request.cookies,
+      cookies,
       request.media === true
     );
   },