YouTube MCP Server

What is YouTube MCP Server?

YouTube MCP Server is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides tools for extracting video metadata, captions from YouTube, and converting them to markdown format with various templates. It is designed for developers who want to integrate YouTube data into MCP‑compatible clients (e.g., Roo Cline).

How to use YouTube MCP Server?

Install Node.js v16+, clone the repository, install dependencies (npm install), build the project (npm run build), and configure a .env file with your YouTube Data API key and optionally OAuth2 credentials. Then add the server to your MCP settings file (e.g., ~/.config/Code/User/globalStorage/rooveterinaryinc.roo-cline/settings/cline_mcp_settings.json) with the command node path/to/build/index.js and the required environment variables. Use tools like get_video_info, get_captions, convert_to_markdown, and list_templates via MCP tool calls.

Key features of YouTube MCP Server

• Fetch comprehensive video metadata (title, description, etc.)
• Extract auto‑generated and manual captions
• Support for English and French captions
• Three built‑in markdown templates: basic, detailed, and search
• Search functionality within video captions
• Flexible authentication: API key or OAuth2

Use cases of YouTube MCP Server

• Automatically extract video captions for transcription or analysis
• Convert YouTube videos to structured markdown notes with timestamps
• Search for specific keywords inside a video’s captions
• Generate summaries or highlight reels using the search template
• Integrate YouTube data into AI‑powered workflows via MCP

FAQ from YouTube MCP Server

What are the prerequisites for using YouTube MCP Server?

Node.js v16 or higher, npm or yarn, and a YouTube Data API key and/or OAuth2 credentials from the Google Cloud Console.

How do I authenticate with YouTube MCP Server?

You can use either a YouTube Data API key (set YOUTUBE_API_KEY in .env) or OAuth2. For OAuth2, create a Google Cloud project, enable the YouTube Data API v3, generate OAuth2 credentials (Web application type), and run the included authentication script to obtain a refresh token.

What markdown templates are available?

Three built‑in templates: basic (simple transcript), detailed (full metadata with timestamps), and search (results highlighting with context). You can also add custom templates by modifying the DEFAULT_TEMPLATES array in src/index.ts.

Can I get captions in languages other than English?

Yes, the server has built‑in support for English (default) and French. You can specify a language code (e.g., "fr") in the get_captions or convert_to_markdown tool call.

How does OAuth2 work for accessing private videos?

OAuth2 is required for private videos. After setting up credentials in the Google Cloud Console, run node src/get-api-key.js and follow the browser prompts to authorize. The refresh token is then added to your configuration for persistent access.