yt-dlp-mcp
@kevinwatt
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that bridges Video & Audio content with Large Language Models using yt-dlp.
Overview
What is yt-dlp-mcp?
yt-dlp-mcp is a Model Context Protocol server that integrates yt-dlp with MCP-compatible AI systems like Claude and Dive. It lets you search videos, download content, extract metadata, get transcripts, and more — all through natural language commands.
How to use yt-dlp-mcp?
Install yt‑dlp on your system first, then add the npx configuration to your MCP client. Tools are prefixed with ytdlp_ and are invoked by the AI agent based on natural language prompts. Environment variables let you customize downloads directory, default resolution, subtitle language, and character limits.
Key features of yt-dlp-mcp
- Search YouTube with pagination and date filtering
- Extract comprehensive video metadata (views, likes, upload date, tags)
- Download subtitles in VTT format and generate clean text transcripts
- Download videos at resolutions from 480p to 1080p with trimming support
- Extract audio in best quality M4A/MP3
- Retrieve YouTube comments in flat or threaded JSON or Markdown
Use cases of yt-dlp-mcp
- Search for tutorials or videos on any topic and get structured results
- Download a video or audio file from YouTube, Facebook, or other platforms
- Get a clean transcript or subtitles for a video in multiple languages
- Analyze video metadata and comments for research or content curation
FAQ from yt-dlp-mcp
Does yt-dlp-mCP require yt-dlp to be installed separately?
Yes. You must install yt‑dlp using winget (Windows), brew (macOS), or pip (Linux) before using the server.
How do I access private or age-restricted videos?
Configure cookies by setting the YTDLP_COOKIES_FROM_BROWSER environment variable (e.g., chrome) or providing a cookie file path. This requires a JavaScript runtime (deno) to be installed.
Where are downloaded files saved?
Downloads are saved to ~/Downloads by default. You can change the directory via the YTDLP_DOWNLOADS_DIR environment variable.
Are there any character limits enforced?
Yes. The server enforces a default character limit of 25,000 for outputs and a maximum transcript length of 50,000 characters, both adjustable via environment variables.
What data does yt-dlp-mCP collect from my usage?
The server does not perform any tracking or analytics. All downloads happen directly via yt‑dlp, and inputs are validated with Zod schemas for LLM safety.
