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About yt-dlp MCP

Local MCP wrapper for yt-dlp that searches videos and retrieves metadata, captions, comments, video files, and audio files from supported platforms.

What you can use it for

  • Acquire public YouTube video references
  • Retrieve timed subtitles and metadata
  • Download video for a separate frame-analysis MCP
Connection and setup
Hosting
Local Node.js MCP server
Transport
stdio
Endpoint
Local process; no hosted endpoint documented
Authentication
No API key is documented for public videos; yt-dlp cookie configuration may be needed for content requiring account access.

Requirements

  • Node.js and the @kevinwatt/yt-dlp-mcp package.
  • yt-dlp installed on the machine; the README gives `winget install yt-dlp` for Windows.

Setup steps

  1. Install yt-dlp, then configure an MCP client to run `npx -y @kevinwatt/yt-dlp-mcp@latest` over stdio.
  2. Call `ytdlp_get_video_metadata` and `ytdlp_list_subtitle_languages` before requesting video or subtitles.
  3. Download timestamped VTT subtitles and a video file for visual inspection with a separate frame tool.
Tools 10

Ten stored tool rows retained as documented inventory.

  • ytdlp_search_videos

    Search YouTube with pagination and date filters.

    Parameters: query, maxResults (optional), offset (optional), response_format (optional), uploadDateFilter (optional)
    01
  • ytdlp_list_subtitle_languages

    List caption languages and indicate automatic tracks.

    Parameters: url
    02
  • ytdlp_download_video_subtitles

    Return timestamped VTT subtitles.

    Parameters: url, language (optional)
    03
  • ytdlp_download_transcript

    Return cleaned speech text without subtitle timing.

    Parameters: url, language (optional)
    04
  • ytdlp_download_video

    Download a video, optionally limited by resolution and time range.

    Parameters: url, resolution (optional), startTime (optional), endTime (optional)
    05
  • ytdlp_download_audio

    Download an audio-only file.

    Parameters: url
    06
  • ytdlp_get_video_metadata

    Return structured video and channel metadata.

    Parameters: url, fields (optional)
    07
  • ytdlp_get_video_metadata_summary

    Return a readable metadata summary.

    Parameters: url
    08
  • ytdlp_get_video_comments

    Retrieve video comments in flat or threaded forms.

    Parameters: url, maxComments (optional), sortOrder (optional), view (optional), responseFormat (optional)
    09
  • ytdlp_get_video_comments_summary

    Summarize retrieved comments.

    Parameters: url, maxComments (optional), view (optional)
    10
Limitations and notes
  • This server fetches media and text; it does not itself return analyzed visual frames.
  • The plain-text transcript tool removes timestamps; use the VTT subtitle tool for a timed breakdown.
  • Availability of YouTube media and captions depends on yt-dlp and the source video's access conditions.
Original sources

Documentation checked 2026-10-28T00:00:00Z. Connection has not been runtime tested.

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