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https://github.com/adityaarsharma/youtube-mcp-server

YouTube MCP Server for Claude — read analytics, fetch video metadata (incl. unlisted/private/draft), search uploads, update titles/descriptions/tags. 10 tools via YouTube Data API v3 + OAuth2. Works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and any MCP client.
https://github.com/adityaarsharma/youtube-mcp-server

ai-tools analytics anthropic claude claude-code claude-desktop mcp model-context-protocol nodejs oauth2 typescript video-metadata youtube youtube-analytics youtube-api youtube-data-api youtube-seo

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YouTube MCP Server for Claude — read analytics, fetch video metadata (incl. unlisted/private/draft), search uploads, update titles/descriptions/tags. 10 tools via YouTube Data API v3 + OAuth2. Works with Claude Desktop, Claude Code, and any MCP client.

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README 

          
# YouTube MCP Server



> **Connect Claude to your YouTube channel.** Read analytics, fetch full video metadata (including unlisted/private/draft), search your uploads, and update titles/descriptions/tags — all from Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or any MCP client.



[![npm version](https://img.shields.io/npm/v/youtube-channel-mcp?style=for-the-badge&color=CB3837&logo=npm)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/youtube-channel-mcp)

[![npm downloads](https://img.shields.io/npm/dm/youtube-channel-mcp?style=for-the-badge&color=CB3837&logo=npm)](https://www.npmjs.com/package/youtube-channel-mcp)

[![GitHub Stars](https://img.shields.io/github/stars/adityaarsharma/youtube-channel-mcp?style=for-the-badge&logo=github)](https://github.com/adityaarsharma/youtube-channel-mcp)

[![License MIT](https://img.shields.io/badge/License-MIT-blue?style=for-the-badge)](LICENSE)

[![Claude MCP](https://img.shields.io/badge/Claude-MCP%20Server-FF6B35?style=for-the-badge&logo=anthropic)](https://claude.ai)

[![Node.js](https://img.shields.io/badge/Node.js-18%2B-43853D?style=for-the-badge&logo=node.js)](https://nodejs.org)



---



## What Is This?



A **Model Context Protocol (MCP) server** that connects Claude to the **YouTube Data API v3** and **YouTube Analytics API** via OAuth2.



Instead of copying data from YouTube Studio into AI tools, just ask Claude:



- *"Pull the full title, description and tags for this video"*

- *"What are my top performing videos this month?"*

- *"Update the title and tags on my latest upload"*

- *"Where is my traffic coming from?"*



Claude reads your **real private channel data** and can **update video SEO directly**.



```

Claude  →  YouTube MCP Server  →  YouTube APIs  →  Your Channel Data

(you)        (this repo)           (OAuth2)         (stays local)

```



**Everything runs on YOUR machine. Read + Write access. Nothing sent to third parties.**



---



## Tools Available (10 total)



### Video Metadata (Read + Write)



| Tool | What It Does |

|------|-------------|

| `get_video_details` | Full metadata for any video by ID or URL — title, full description, all tags, category, privacy status (public/unlisted/private/draft), stats, duration, thumbnail URL |

| `search_my_videos` | Search your own channel's videos by keyword. Returns metadata + stats for matching videos |

| `update_video_seo` | Update title, description, and/or tags on any video directly. Only changes fields you provide |



### Channel Analytics



| Tool | What It Does |

|------|-------------|

| `get_channel_overview` | Subscribers, total views, video count, channel description, creation date |

| `get_all_videos` | List all videos with stats (views, likes, comments, tags, privacy status). Sort by date or views |

| `get_analytics_over_time` | Day-by-day views, watch time, subscribers gained/lost for any date range |

| `get_top_videos_analytics` | Top performing videos ranked by views with retention %, watch time, subs gained |

| `get_audience_demographics` | Audience breakdown: top countries, device types, age groups, gender |

| `get_traffic_sources` | Where viewers come from: YouTube Search, Suggested, Browse, External, Direct |

| `analyze_and_suggest_topics` | Pulls channel + top video data for AI-powered topic analysis |



---



## Install



### Option A: npx (Zero Install — just run it)



```bash

npx youtube-channel-mcp

```



### Option B: Global Install



```bash

npm install -g youtube-channel-mcp

```



### Option C: Clone + Run



```bash

git clone https://github.com/adityaarsharma/youtube-channel-mcp.git

cd youtube-channel-mcp

npm install

```



### Option D: Download ZIP



1. Click **Code → Download ZIP** above

2. Unzip → open Terminal → `cd` into the folder

3. Run `npm install`



---



## Setup (15 minutes, one time)



### Step 1 — Google Cloud Project



1. Go to [console.cloud.google.com](https://console.cloud.google.com)

2. Create a new project (name: `YouTube MCP`)

3. Enable these 2 APIs:

   - **YouTube Data API v3** (for video data + updates)

   - **YouTube Analytics API** (for private analytics)



### Step 2 — OAuth Consent Screen



1. Go to **APIs & Services → OAuth consent screen**

2. Select **External** → Create

3. Fill in app name (`YouTube MCP`), your email

4. Skip scopes → Add your Gmail as test user → Save



### Step 3 — Create OAuth Credentials



1. Go to **APIs & Services → Credentials**

2. Click **+ Create Credentials → OAuth client ID**

3. Select **Desktop app** → Create

4. **Download JSON** → rename to `credentials.json`

5. Move into this repo folder



### Step 4 — Authenticate



```bash

node auth.js

```



Browser opens → log in with the Google account that owns your YouTube channel → Allow.



> **"This app isn't verified"** warning is normal for personal apps. Click **Advanced → Go to YouTube MCP (unsafe)**.



### Step 5 — Connect to Claude



#### Claude Desktop



Edit `~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json` (Mac) or `%APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json` (Windows):



```json

{

  "mcpServers": {

    "youtube-analytics": {

      "command": "node",

      "args": ["/full/path/to/youtube-channel-mcp/server.js"]

    }

  }

}

```



Or if installed via npm:



```json

{

  "mcpServers": {

    "youtube-analytics": {

      "command": "npx",

      "args": ["-y", "youtube-channel-mcp"]

    }

  }

}

```



#### Claude Code (Terminal)



```bash

claude mcp add youtube-analytics node /full/path/to/youtube-channel-mcp/server.js

```



#### VS Code



Add to `.vscode/settings.json`:



```json

{

  "mcp.servers": {

    "youtube-analytics": {

      "command": "npx",

      "args": ["-y", "youtube-channel-mcp"]

    }

  }

}

```



Restart Claude. Done!



---



## Ready-to-Use Prompts



### SEO Audit (any video)

```

Get the full details for this video: [paste URL or ID]

Check what keywords it's ranking for and suggest optimized title + tags

```



### Channel Performance Report

```

Pull my channel overview, top 20 videos by watch time, 90-day analytics,

traffic sources and audience demographics. Give me a full performance report.

```



### Video Topic Research

```

Get my top 20 videos by watch time. What patterns do you see —

topics, lengths, title styles? Suggest 10 new video ideas.

```



### Update Video SEO

```

Search my videos for "elementor menu". Pull the full details.

Write an optimized title, description, and tags — then update it.

```



### Audience Deep Dive

```

Show my full audience demographics — age, gender, countries, devices.

What content style and posting schedule fits my actual audience?

```



### Underperformer Diagnosis

```

Get all my videos. Compare bottom 10 vs top 10 by views.

Why did the lower ones underperform? What would you change?

```



---



## 8 Bundled AI Skills for YouTube Creators



This repo includes **ready-to-use AI skill files** in the `skills/` folder that supercharge your YouTube workflow. Each skill is a structured prompt that makes Claude act as a specialized team member.



**Install any skill:** Copy the `.md` file into your Claude skills directory and it activates automatically.



| Skill | What It Does | Trigger Phrases |

|-------|-------------|-----------------|

| **[SEO Optimizer](skills/youtube-seo-optimizer.md)** | Optimizes titles, descriptions, tags. Protects existing ranking keywords. 3 title options + full description + 20 tags | "optimize this video", "write title", "write tags" |

| **[Channel Audit](skills/youtube-channel-audit.md)** | Full channel health report — views, subs, retention, traffic sources, audience demographics. Identifies problems and prescribes fixes | "audit my channel", "why am I not growing", "channel report" |

| **[Topic Finder](skills/youtube-topic-finder.md)** | 12 data-backed video topics with keyword volumes, SERP gaps, and competitor analysis. Tier 1/2/3 prioritization | "video ideas", "what should I make next", "find topics" |

| **[Thumbnail Auditor](skills/youtube-thumbnail-auditor.md)** | 20-point thumbnail scoring (66-point scale). Grades A-F with specific redesign instructions | "audit thumbnail", "review this thumbnail", "CTR is low" |

| **[Script Writer](skills/youtube-script-writer.md)** | Full production-ready scripts with word-for-word narration, screen cues, timestamps, editor brief, and companion Short script | "write script", "video script", "tutorial script" |

| **[Competitor Spy](skills/youtube-competitor-spy.md)** | Competitor channel analysis, SERP battle maps, 10 "steal-worthy" topics with differentiation angles | "competitor analysis", "who's beating me", "content gaps" |

| **[Video Analyzer](skills/youtube-video-analyzer.md)** | Deep single-video analysis — SEO score (21-point), performance benchmarks, and optimized rewrite | "analyze this video", "why isn't this performing", "video audit" |

| **[Shorts Repurposer](skills/youtube-shorts-repurposer.md)** | Turn any long-form video into 3-5 Shorts with hooks, text overlays, and posting strategy | "make shorts from this", "repurpose video", "extract shorts" |



### How the Skills + MCP Work Together



```

You: "Optimize this video: youtube.com/watch?v=abc123"



Claude:

  1. youtube-seo-optimizer skill activates

  2. Calls get_video_details → pulls current title, description, tags

  3. Checks YouTube SERP for current rankings

  4. Lists PROTECTED keywords (won't remove)

  5. Writes 3 new title options + full description + 20 tags

  6. Can call update_video_seo to apply changes directly

```



The skills tell Claude **what to do**. The MCP tools give Claude **access to your data**. Together they create a complete YouTube AI workflow.



### Install Skills



**Claude Desktop / Claude Code:**

```bash

# Copy a skill to your Claude skills directory

cp skills/youtube-seo-optimizer.md ~/.claude/skills/

```



**Or install all 8:**

```bash

cp skills/youtube-*.md ~/.claude/skills/

```



---



## OAuth Scopes



| Scope | Purpose |

|-------|---------|

| `youtube` | Read + write video metadata (titles, descriptions, tags) |

| `youtube.readonly` | Read video data, search, list |

| `yt-analytics.readonly` | Read private analytics (views, watch time, subs, demographics) |

| `youtubepartner-channel-audit` | Extended channel audit data |



**To enable write access** (update_video_seo), delete `tokens.json` and re-run `node auth.js`. The new auth flow requests the `youtube` write scope.



---



## Privacy & Security



| Question | Answer |

|----------|--------|

| Does my data go to any server? | No — runs 100% on your machine |

| Can it delete videos? | No — only reads data and updates metadata |

| Is OAuth safe? | Yes — same system used by TubeBuddy, VidIQ |

| Can I revoke access? | Yes — anytime at myaccount.google.com/permissions |



**Never commit `credentials.json` or `tokens.json` to git.**



---



## Troubleshooting



| Problem | Fix |

|---------|-----|

| `credentials.json not found` | Download from Google Cloud Console → move to repo folder |

| `Not authenticated` | Run `node auth.js` |

| Port 3000 in use | `lsof -ti:3000 \| xargs kill -9` then retry |

| Claude doesn't show tools | Check JSON syntax in config, restart Claude fully |

| "App isn't verified" | Click Advanced → Go to YouTube MCP (unsafe) |

| `update_video_seo` fails | Delete `tokens.json`, re-run `node auth.js` for write scope |

| Quota exceeded | YouTube API free limit: 10,000 units/day. Wait 24h |



---



## What's New in v2.1



- **npm package** — `npx youtube-channel-mcp` for zero-install

- **8 AI skills** — bundled YouTube workflow skills for Claude

- **MIT License** — free to use, modify, share



## What's New in v2.0



- **`get_video_details`** — Full metadata by video ID or URL. Works for public, unlisted, private, and draft videos

- **`search_my_videos`** — Search your own uploads by keyword

- **`update_video_seo`** — Update title, description, tags directly on YouTube

- **YouTube write scope** — OAuth now requests `youtube` scope for SEO updates

- **URL parsing** — Pass full YouTube URLs or just video IDs

- **Privacy status** — All video listings now show public/unlisted/private status



---



## Files



```

youtube-channel-mcp/

├── server.js          ← MCP server (10 tools)

├── auth.js            ← Run once to link YouTube account

├── package.json       ← Dependencies + npm config

├── skills/            ← 8 AI skills for YouTube creators

├── LICENSE            ← MIT

├── credentials.json   ← YOU add this (never commit!)

└── tokens.json        ← Auto-created after auth (never commit!)

```



---



## Contributing



PRs welcome! Ideas:

- Transcript extraction (YouTube captions API)

- YouTube Shorts-specific analytics

- Revenue/monetization data (YouTube Reporting API)

- Playlist management tools

- Comment management tools

- Thumbnail upload



---



## License



[MIT](LICENSE) — free to use, modify, share.



---



## Built By



**[Aditya Sharma](https://adityaarsharma.com)** — Building AI tools for creators and marketers.



- [Twitter/X](https://twitter.com/adityaarsharma)

- [GitHub](https://github.com/adityaarsharma)



If this saved you time — **star the repo** and share with a creator friend!