diff --git a/backend/appsettings/src/manual.py b/backend/appsettings/src/manual.py
index 36c3c62b..3b70307c 100644
--- a/backend/appsettings/src/manual.py
+++ b/backend/appsettings/src/manual.py
@@ -430,7 +430,9 @@ class ManualImport:
 
         try:
             json_data = self.index_metadata()
-        except ValueError as err:
+        except (ValueError, ConnectionError, KeyError) as err:
+            # fallback to embedded metadata when YT fetch fails (private
+            # videos, bot detection, or no internet). see issue #1133.
             json_data = IndexFromEmbed(
                 self.current_video["media"],
                 use_user_conf=False,
diff --git a/backend/appsettings/tests/__init__.py b/backend/appsettings/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/backend/appsettings/tests/test_src/__init__.py b/backend/appsettings/tests/test_src/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..e69de29b
diff --git a/backend/appsettings/tests/test_src/test_manual_import_fallback.py b/backend/appsettings/tests/test_src/test_manual_import_fallback.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..1da75830
--- /dev/null
+++ b/backend/appsettings/tests/test_src/test_manual_import_fallback.py
@@ -0,0 +1,100 @@
+"""test ManualImport.run fallback when YT metadata fetch fails.
+
+covers issue #1133: importing a private video (or hitting a bot block / no
+internet) used to raise an uncaught KeyError/ConnectionError and abort the
+entire import task. After the fix, the run() method catches those and falls
+back to embedded metadata via IndexFromEmbed, mirroring the existing
+ValueError fallback shape.
+"""
+
+from unittest.mock import patch
+
+import pytest
+
+from appsettings.src.manual import ManualImport
+
+
+SAMPLE_VIDEO = {
+    "media": "/cache/import/dQw4w9WgXcQ.mp4",
+    "video_id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ",
+    "metadata": False,
+    "thumb": False,
+    "subtitle": [],
+}
+
+EMBED_JSON_DATA = {"video_id": "dQw4w9WgXcQ", "media_url": "channel/test.mp4"}
+
+CONFIG = {"downloads": {"integrate_ryd": False, "integrate_sponsorblock": False}}
+
+
+def _make_import(ignore_error: bool = False) -> ManualImport:
+    return ManualImport(
+        SAMPLE_VIDEO,
+        config=CONFIG,
+        ignore_error=ignore_error,
+        prefer_local=False,
+    )
+
+
+def _run_with_fallback(index_error, embed_return):
+    """drive the run() path with both error types and assert fallback fires."""
+    with (
+        patch.object(ManualImport, "index_metadata", side_effect=index_error),
+        patch("appsettings.src.manual.IndexFromEmbed") as mock_embed,
+        patch.object(ManualImport, "_move_to_archive"),
+        patch.object(ManualImport, "_cleanup"),
+        patch("appsettings.src.manual.Comments"),
+        patch("appsettings.src.manual.YoutubeVideo"),
+    ):
+        mock_embed.return_value.run_index.return_value = embed_return
+        _make_import().run()
+        return mock_embed
+
+
+def test_keyerror_falls_back_to_embedded():
+    """issue #1133: KeyError on missing 'id' must not abort the task."""
+    mock_embed = _run_with_fallback(KeyError("id"), EMBED_JSON_DATA)
+
+    mock_embed.assert_called_once_with(
+        SAMPLE_VIDEO["media"], use_user_conf=False, config=CONFIG
+    )
+    mock_embed.return_value.run_index.assert_called_once()
+
+
+def test_connection_error_falls_back_to_embedded():
+    """no-internet path: ConnectionError from yt_dlp must trigger fallback."""
+    mock_embed = _run_with_fallback(
+        ConnectionError("lost the internet, abort!"), EMBED_JSON_DATA
+    )
+
+    mock_embed.assert_called_once()
+
+
+def test_value_error_still_falls_back_to_embedded():
+    """regression: the pre-existing ValueError path still works."""
+    mock_embed = _run_with_fallback(
+        ValueError("manual import failed"), EMBED_JSON_DATA
+    )
+
+    mock_embed.assert_called_once()
+
+
+def test_keyerror_with_no_embed_and_strict_mode_raises():
+    """strict mode (ignore_error=False) must still raise when both paths fail."""
+    with (
+        patch.object(ManualImport, "index_metadata", side_effect=KeyError("id")),
+        patch("appsettings.src.manual.IndexFromEmbed") as mock_embed,
+    ):
+        mock_embed.return_value.run_index.return_value = None
+        with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+            _make_import(ignore_error=False).run()
+
+
+def test_keyerror_with_no_embed_and_lenient_mode_silent():
+    """ignore_error=True must swallow the failure when fallback also empty."""
+    with (
+        patch.object(ManualImport, "index_metadata", side_effect=KeyError("id")),
+        patch("appsettings.src.manual.IndexFromEmbed") as mock_embed,
+    ):
+        mock_embed.return_value.run_index.return_value = None
+        _make_import(ignore_error=True).run()