YouTube MCP server for Claude, ChatGPT, Claude Code and Cursor
Access/manage videos, channels, playlists, comments, and subscriptions, enabling content search, upload, and moderation in YouTube.
Examples of what your AI apps can do in YouTube. You'll see the exact list of tools after you connect it.
list_caption_track
ToolRetrieves a list of caption tracks for a youtube video, returning an empty list if no captions exist or failing if the video id is invalid or not found.
update_thumbnail
ToolSets the custom thumbnail for a youtube video using an image from thumbnailurl; the authenticated user must have permission to edit the video.
get_channel_activities
ToolGets recent activities from a youtube channel including video uploads, playlist additions, likes, and other channel events.
get_channel_id_by_handle
ToolRetrieves the youtube channel id for a specific youtube channel handle.
get_channel_statistics
ToolGets detailed statistics for youtube channels including subscriber counts, view counts, and video counts.
list_channel_videos
ToolLists videos from a specified youtube channel, ensuring results are of `type: 'video'`.
list_user_playlists
ToolRetrieves playlists owned by the authenticated user, implicitly using mine=true.
list_user_subscriptions
ToolRetrieves the authenticated user's youtube channel subscriptions, allowing specification of response parts and pagination.
load_captions
ToolDownloads a specific youtube caption track, which must be owned by the authenticated user, and returns its content as text.
search_you_tube
ToolSearches youtube for videos, channels, or playlists using a query term, returning the raw api response.
subscribe_channel
ToolSubscribes the authenticated user to a specified youtube channel, identified by its unique `channelid` which must be valid and existing.
update_video
ToolUpdates metadata for a youtube video identified by videoid, which must exist; an empty list for tags removes all existing tags.
upload_video
ToolUploads a video from a local file path to a youtube channel; the video file must be in a youtube-supported format.
video_details
ToolRetrieves specified information parts (e.g., snippet, contentdetails, statistics) for a youtube video, identified by its id.
Free. No card needed.
How to connect YouTube
- 1Create your free ContextGate account.
- 2Go to Connections → Add Connection, search for YouTube and sign in to YouTube.
- 3Add ContextGate to Claude, Cursor or ChatGPT (the Setup page shows you how), then ask it to use YouTube.
What you get with YouTube and ContextGate
- Your AI apps can use YouTube Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT and other AI apps reach YouTube through the one ContextGate connection you add to them.
- You choose which tools they can use Switch off any YouTube tool you don't want used. It's hidden from your AI apps and refused if called.
- Every call is checked and recorded Your policies check each call (for example, personal data is hidden and secrets are blocked), and Activity keeps a record of it.
ContextGate sees only the tool calls that go through it, not your AI app's built-in tools or your chats.
Select a tool on the left to see its parameters
What you get with YouTube and ContextGate
- Your AI apps can use YouTube: Claude, Cursor, ChatGPT and other AI apps reach YouTube through the one ContextGate connection you add to them.
- You choose which tools they can use: Switch off any YouTube tool you don't want used. It's hidden from your AI apps and refused if called.
- Every call is checked and recorded: Your policies check each call (for example, personal data is hidden and secrets are blocked), and Activity keeps a record of it.
ContextGate sees only the tool calls that go through it, not your AI app's built-in tools or your chats.
Free. No card needed.
How to connect YouTube
- Create your free ContextGate account.
- Go to Connections → Add Connection, search for YouTube and sign in to YouTube.
- Add ContextGate to Claude, Cursor or ChatGPT (the Setup page shows you how), then ask it to use YouTube.