Youtube MCP Server

Name: Youtube MCP Server
Author: space-cadet

@space-cadet

About Youtube MCP Server

A MCP server for connecting with Youtube. You have to obtain your own youtube API key, since the app is not yet approved by Google and I cannot provide API access. To access your private youtube information using the MCP tools you will have to authorize the app using npx auth.

#youtube #mcp #server #playlists #videos #engagement #statistics

Basic information

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "youtube": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "yt-mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "YOUR_API_KEY_HERE",
        "YOUTUBE_TRANSCRIPT_LANG": "en"
      }
    }
  }
}

Tools

Get example prompts for YouTube MCP

Get detailed information about multiple YouTube videos. Returns comprehensive data including video metadata, statistics, and content details. Use this when you need complete information about specific videos.

Searches for videos based on a query string. Returns a list of videos matching the search criteria, including titles, descriptions, and metadata. Use this when you need to find videos related to specific topics or keywords.

Retrieves transcripts for multiple videos. Returns the text content of videos' captions, useful for accessibility and content analysis. Use this when you need the spoken content of multiple videos.

Retrieves related videos for a specific video. Returns a list of videos that are similar or related to the specified video, based on YouTube's recommendation algorithm. Use this when you want to discover content similar to a particular video.

Retrieves statistics for multiple channels. Returns detailed metrics including subscriber count, view count, and video count for each channel. Use this when you need to analyze the performance and reach of multiple YouTube channels.

Retrieves the top videos from a specific channel. Returns a list of the most viewed or popular videos from the channel, based on view count. Use this when you want to identify the most successful content from a channel.

Calculates the engagement ratio for multiple videos. Returns metrics such as view count, like count, comment count, and the calculated engagement ratio for each video. Use this when you want to measure the audience interaction with videos.

Retrieves trending videos based on region and category. Returns a list of videos that are currently popular in the specified region and category. Use this when you want to discover what's trending in specific areas or categories. Available category IDs: 1 (Film & Animation), 2 (Autos & Vehicles), 10 (Music), 15 (Pets & Animals), 17 (Sports), 18 (Short Movies), 19 (Travel & Events), 20 (Gaming), 21 (Videoblogging), 22 (People & Blogs), 23 (Comedy), 24 (Entertainment), 25 (News & Politics), 26 (Howto & Style), 27 (Education), 28 (Science & Technology), 29 (Nonprofits & Activism), 30 (Movies), 31 (Anime/Animation), 32 (Action/Adventure), 33 (Classics), 34 (Comedy), 35 (Documentary), 36 (Drama), 37 (Family), 38 (Foreign), 39 (Horror), 40 (Sci-Fi/Fantasy), 41 (Thriller), 42 (Shorts), 43 (Shows), 44 (Trailers).

Compares multiple videos based on their statistics. Returns a comparison of view counts, like counts, comment counts, and other metrics for the specified videos. Use this when you want to analyze the performance of multiple videos side by side.

Retrieves detailed information about a specific YouTube playlist. Returns comprehensive metadata including title, description, channel information, and video count. Use this when you need complete information about a particular playlist.

Retrieves all videos contained in a specific YouTube playlist. Returns detailed information about each video including title, description, channel information, and statistics. Use this when you need to analyze the content of a playlist.

Searches for public playlists based on a query string. Returns a list of playlists matching the search criteria, including titles, descriptions, and channel information. Use this when you need to find playlists related to specific topics or keywords.

Retrieves all public playlists from a specific YouTube channel. Returns a list of playlists with their details, including titles, descriptions, and video counts. Use this when you need to analyze the playlist organization of a channel.

Retrieves your own playlists from YouTube, including private playlists. Requires OAuth authentication. Use this to get detailed information about your personal playlists.

Checks if OAuth authentication is available for accessing private YouTube content.

Overview

What is Youtube MCP Server?

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that uses the YouTube Data API to let AI language models interact with YouTube content.

How to use Youtube MCP Server?

Install via Smithery (npx -y @smithery/cli install @icraft2170/youtube-data-mcp-server --client claude) or manually from npm. Set the YOUTUBE_API_KEY environment variable (required) and optionally YOUTUBE_TRANSCRIPT_LANG. Add the server configuration to your MCP client (e.g., Claude Desktop) as shown in the README.

Key features of Youtube MCP Server

Retrieve detailed video information and statistics.
Search videos by keywords and get related videos.
Fetch video transcripts with multi-language support.
Analyze channel statistics and top videos.
Manage playlists and search public playlists.
View trending videos by region and category.
Access private playlists using OAuth authentication.

Use cases of Youtube MCP Server

Search for videos and retrieve their metadata programmatically.
Compare engagement metrics across multiple videos.
Get transcripts with timestamps for content analysis.
Analyze channel growth and top‑performing videos.
Discover trending content in specific regions or categories.

FAQ from Youtube MCP Server

What credentials are required?

You need a YouTube Data API v3 key set as YOUTUBE_API_KEY. For private playlists, OAuth 2.0 credentials (client ID and secret) are also required.

How do I access private playlists?

Configure OAuth credentials in your .env file, then run npm run auth to start the OAuth flow. Once authenticated, use the getMyPlaylists tool.

What are the system requirements?

Node.js 18.0.0 or higher.

Which ports does the server use?

HTTP port 3000 and gRPC port 3001.

How is authentication handled?

Public data requires only an API key. Private content (e.g., personal playlists) requires OAuth 2.0 authentication, which can be started, verified, or revoked via npm scripts.