diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index f8c99ace40..89d32d115d 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1782,6 +1782,7 @@ The following extractors use this feature:
 * `data_sync_id`: Overrides the account Data Sync ID used in Innertube API requests. This may be needed if you are using an account with `youtube:player_skip=webpage,configs` or `youtubetab:skip=webpage`
 * `visitor_data`: Overrides the Visitor Data used in Innertube API requests. This should be used with `player_skip=webpage,configs` and without cookies. Note: this may have adverse effects if used improperly. If a session from a browser is wanted, you should pass cookies instead (which contain the Visitor ID)
 * `po_token`:  Proof of Origin (PO) Token(s) to use for requesting video playback. Comma seperated list of PO Tokens in the format `CLIENT+PO_TOKEN`, e.g. `youtube:po_token=web+XXX,android+YYY`
+* `missing_pot`: Do not skip formats that require a PO Token but are missing one. These formats may fail immediately or during download with HTTP Error 403.
 
 #### youtubetab (YouTube playlists, channels, feeds, etc.)
 * `skip`: One or more of `webpage` (skip initial webpage download), `authcheck` (allow the download of playlists requiring authentication when no initial webpage is downloaded. This may cause unwanted behavior, see [#1122](https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/pull/1122) for more details)
diff --git a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
index 0d3963116e..22c44d29a1 100644
--- a/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
+++ b/yt_dlp/extractor/youtube.py
@@ -214,6 +214,7 @@ INNERTUBE_CLIENTS = {
             },
         },
         'INNERTUBE_CONTEXT_CLIENT_NAME': 5,
+        'REQUIRE_PO_TOKEN': True,
         'REQUIRE_JS_PLAYER': False,
     },
     # This client now requires sign-in for every video
@@ -3973,13 +3974,10 @@ class YoutubeIE(YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
             )
 
             require_po_token = self._get_default_ytcfg(client).get('REQUIRE_PO_TOKEN')
-            if not po_token and require_po_token:
+            if not po_token and require_po_token and 'missing_pot' in self._configuration_arg('formats'):
                 self.report_warning(
                     f'No PO Token provided for {client} client, '
-                    f'which is required for working {client} formats. '
-                    f'You can manually pass a PO Token for this client with '
-                    f'--extractor-args "youtube:po_token={client}+XXX"',
-                    only_once=True)
+                    f'which may be required for working {client} formats. This client will be deprioritized.', only_once=True)
                 deprioritize_pr = True
 
             pr = initial_pr if client == 'web' else None
@@ -4053,6 +4051,21 @@ class YoutubeIE(YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
                 or (live_status == 'post_live' and (duration or 0) > 2 * 3600)):
             return live_status
 
+    def _report_pot_format_skipped(self, video_id, client_name, proto):
+        msg = (
+            f'{video_id}: {client_name} client {proto} formats require a PO Token which was not provided. '
+            'They will be skipped as they may yield HTTP Error 403. '
+            f'You can manually pass a PO Token for this client with --extractor-args "youtube:po_token={client_name}+XXX. '
+            'For more information, refer to  https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/wiki/Extractors#po-token-guide . '
+            'To enable these broken formats anyway, pass --extractor-args "youtube:formats=missing_pot".')
+
+        # Only raise a warning for non-default clients, to not confuse users.
+        # iOS HLS formats still work without PO Token, so we don't need to warn about them.
+        if client_name in (*self._DEFAULT_CLIENTS, *self._DEFAULT_AUTHED_CLIENTS):
+            self.write_debug(msg, only_once=True)
+        else:
+            self.report_warning(msg, only_once=True)
+
     def _extract_formats_and_subtitles(self, streaming_data, video_id, player_url, live_status, duration):
         CHUNK_SIZE = 10 << 20
         PREFERRED_LANG_VALUE = 10
@@ -4179,11 +4192,10 @@ class YoutubeIE(YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
                 fmt_url = update_url_query(fmt_url, {'pot': po_token})
 
             # Clients that require PO Token return videoplayback URLs that may return 403
-            is_broken = (not po_token and self._get_default_ytcfg(client_name).get('REQUIRE_PO_TOKEN'))
-            if is_broken:
-                self.report_warning(
-                    f'{video_id}: {client_name} client formats require a PO Token which was not provided. '
-                    'They will be deprioritized as they may yield HTTP Error 403', only_once=True)
+            require_po_token = (not po_token and self._get_default_ytcfg(client_name).get('REQUIRE_PO_TOKEN'))
+            if require_po_token and 'missing_pot' not in self._configuration_arg('formats'):
+                self._report_pot_format_skipped(video_id, client_name, 'https')
+                continue
 
             name = fmt.get('qualityLabel') or quality.replace('audio_quality_', '') or ''
             fps = int_or_none(fmt.get('fps')) or 0
@@ -4196,7 +4208,7 @@ class YoutubeIE(YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
                     name, fmt.get('isDrc') and 'DRC',
                     try_get(fmt, lambda x: x['projectionType'].replace('RECTANGULAR', '').lower()),
                     try_get(fmt, lambda x: x['spatialAudioType'].replace('SPATIAL_AUDIO_TYPE_', '').lower()),
-                    is_damaged and 'DAMAGED', is_broken and 'BROKEN',
+                    is_damaged and 'DAMAGED', require_po_token and 'MISSING POT',
                     (self.get_param('verbose') or all_formats) and short_client_name(client_name),
                     delim=', '),
                 # Format 22 is likely to be damaged. See https://github.com/yt-dlp/yt-dlp/issues/3372
@@ -4213,7 +4225,7 @@ class YoutubeIE(YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
                 'language': join_nonempty(language_code, 'desc' if is_descriptive else '') or None,
                 'language_preference': PREFERRED_LANG_VALUE if is_original else 5 if is_default else -10 if is_descriptive else -1,
                 # Strictly de-prioritize broken, damaged and 3gp formats
-                'preference': -20 if is_broken else -10 if is_damaged else -2 if itag == '17' else None,
+                'preference': -20 if require_po_token else -10 if is_damaged else -2 if itag == '17' else None,
             }
             mime_mobj = re.match(
                 r'((?:[^/]+)/(?:[^;]+))(?:;\s*codecs="([^"]+)")?', fmt.get('mimeType') or '')
@@ -4271,10 +4283,10 @@ class YoutubeIE(YoutubeBaseInfoExtractor):
             # Clients that require PO Token return videoplayback URLs that may return 403
             # hls does not currently require PO Token
             if (not po_token and self._get_default_ytcfg(client_name).get('REQUIRE_PO_TOKEN')) and proto != 'hls':
-                self.report_warning(
-                    f'{video_id}: {client_name} client {proto} formats require a PO Token which was not provided. '
-                    'They will be deprioritized as they may yield HTTP Error 403', only_once=True)
-                f['format_note'] = join_nonempty(f.get('format_note'), 'BROKEN', delim=' ')
+                if 'missing_pot' not in self._configuration_arg('formats'):
+                    self._report_pot_format_skipped(video_id, client_name, 'https')
+                    return False
+                f['format_note'] = join_nonempty(f.get('format_note'), 'MISSING POT', delim=' ')
                 f['source_preference'] -= 20
 
             if itag and all_formats: