Content
# YouTube MCP Server
[](https://smithery.ai/server/@ZubeidHendricks/youtube)
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server implementation for YouTube, enabling AI language models to interact with YouTube content through a standardized interface.
## Features
### Video Information
* Get video details (title, description, duration, etc.)
* List channel videos
* Get video statistics (views, likes, comments)
* Search videos across YouTube
### Transcript Management
* Retrieve video transcripts
* Support for multiple languages
* Get timestamped captions
* Search within transcripts
### Channel Management
* Get channel details
* List channel playlists
* Get channel statistics
* Search within channel content
### Playlist Management
* List playlist items
* Get playlist details
* Search within playlists
* Get playlist video transcripts
## Installation
### Quick Setup for Claude Desktop
1. Install the package:
```bash
npm install -g zubeid-youtube-mcp-server
```
2. Add to your Claude Desktop configuration (`~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` on macOS or `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` on Windows):
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"zubeid-youtube-mcp-server": {
"command": "zubeid-youtube-mcp-server",
"env": {
"YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "your_youtube_api_key_here"
}
}
}
}
```
### Alternative: Using NPX (No Installation Required)
Add this to your Claude Desktop configuration:
```json
{
"mcpServers": {
"youtube": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "zubeid-youtube-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "your_youtube_api_key_here"
}
}
}
}
```
### Installing via Smithery
To install YouTube MCP Server for Claude Desktop automatically via [Smithery](https://smithery.ai/server/@ZubeidHendricks/youtube):
```bash
npx -y @smithery/cli install @ZubeidHendricks/youtube --client claude
```
## Configuration
Set the following environment variables:
* `YOUTUBE_API_KEY`: Your YouTube Data API key (required)
* `YOUTUBE_TRANSCRIPT_LANG`: Default language for transcripts (optional, defaults to 'en')
### Using with VS Code
For one-click installation, click one of the install buttons below:
[](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=youtube&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22zubeid-youtube-mcp-server%22%5D%2C%22env%22%3A%7B%22YOUTUBE_API_KEY%22%3A%22%24%7Binput%3AapiKey%7D%22%7D%7D&inputs=%5B%7B%22type%22%3A%22promptString%22%2C%22id%22%3A%22apiKey%22%2C%22description%22%3A%22YouTube+API+Key%22%2C%22password%22%3Atrue%7D%5D) [](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=youtube&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22zubeid-youtube-mcp-server%22%5D%2C%22env%22%3A%7B%22YOUTUBE_API_KEY%22%3A%22%24%7Binput%3AapiKey%7D%22%7D%7D&inputs=%5B%7B%22type%22%3A%22promptString%22%2C%22id%22%3A%22apiKey%22%2C%22description%22%3A%22YouTube+API+Key%22%2C%22password%22%3Atrue%7D%5D&quality=insiders)
### Manual Installation
If you prefer manual installation, first check the install buttons at the top of this section. Otherwise, follow these steps:
Add the following JSON block to your User Settings (JSON) file in VS Code. You can do this by pressing `Ctrl + Shift + P` and typing `Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)`.
```json
{
"mcp": {
"inputs": [
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "apiKey",
"description": "YouTube API Key",
"password": true
}
],
"servers": {
"youtube": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "zubeid-youtube-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "${input:apiKey}"
}
}
}
}
}
```
Optionally, you can add it to a file called `.vscode/mcp.json` in your workspace:
```json
{
"inputs": [
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "apiKey",
"description": "YouTube API Key",
"password": true
}
],
"servers": {
"youtube": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "zubeid-youtube-mcp-server"],
"env": {
"YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "${input:apiKey}"
}
}
}
}
```
## YouTube API Setup
1. Go to Google Cloud Console
2. Create a new project or select an existing one
3. Enable the YouTube Data API v3
4. Create API credentials (API key)
5. Copy the API key for configuration
## Examples
### Managing Videos
```javascript
// Get video details
const video = await youtube.videos.getVideo({
videoId: "video-id"
});
// Get video transcript
const transcript = await youtube.transcripts.getTranscript({
videoId: "video-id",
language: "en"
});
// Search videos
const searchResults = await youtube.videos.searchVideos({
query: "search term",
maxResults: 10
});
```
### Managing Channels
```javascript
// Get channel details
const channel = await youtube.channels.getChannel({
channelId: "channel-id"
});
// List channel videos
const videos = await youtube.channels.listVideos({
channelId: "channel-id",
maxResults: 50
});
```
### Managing Playlists
```javascript
// Get playlist items
const playlistItems = await youtube.playlists.getPlaylistItems({
playlistId: "playlist-id",
maxResults: 50
});
// Get playlist details
const playlist = await youtube.playlists.getPlaylist({
playlistId: "playlist-id"
});
```
## Development
```bash
# Install dependencies
npm install
# Run tests
npm test
# Build
npm run build
# Lint
npm run lint
```
## Contributing
See CONTRIBUTING.md for information about contributing to this repository.
## License
This project is licensed under the MIT License - see the LICENSE file for details.
