YouTube DLP
FreeNot checkedProvides tools for downloading YouTube videos and audio using yt-dlp, enabling integration with AI assistants via MCP.
About
Provides tools for downloading YouTube videos and audio using yt-dlp, enabling integration with AI assistants via MCP.
README
A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides tools for downloading YouTube videos and audio using yt-dlp.
Features
- Download YouTube videos in MP4 format
- Download YouTube audio in MP3 format
- Integration with MCP for AI assistant integration
Prerequisites
- Python 3.13 or higher
- yt-dlp installed on your system
Installation
- Clone this repository
- Install dependencies:
pip install -e .
Or using uv:
uv pip install -e .
Usage
Running the Server
Start the MCP server:
python main.py
The server will start in stdio mode with debug enabled.
Environment Variables
YT_DLP_PATH: Path to the yt-dlp executable (default:/usr/local/bin/yt-dlp)DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR: Directory where videos will be downloaded (default:~/Downloads/youtube_downloads)
MCP Configuration
Add this configuration to your MCP setup:
{
"mcpServers": {
"mcp_youtube_dlp": {
"command": "uvx",
"args": [
"mcp[cli]",
"run",
"<install path>/mcp_youtube_dlp/main.py"
],
"env": {
"YT_DLP_PATH": "/usr/local/bin/yt-dlp",
"DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR": "~/Downloads/youtube_downloads"
}
}
}
}
Replace <install path> with the actual path where you installed this package.
Available Tools
download_youtube_video
Downloads a YouTube video in MP4 format.
Parameters:
url: The YouTube video URL
Returns:
- A success or error message
download_youtube_audio
Downloads a YouTube video's audio in MP3 format.
Parameters:
url: The YouTube video URL
Returns:
- A success or error message
MCP Integration
This server implements the Model Context Protocol, allowing AI assistants to access tools for downloading YouTube content. The server can be connected to any MCP-compatible client.
License
This project is licensed under the GNU General Public License, version 2 (GPL-2.0) - see the GNU website for details.
Installing YouTube DLP
This server has no published package — it is built from source. Open the repository and follow its README.
▸ github.com/yorickchan/mcp_youtube_dlpFAQ
Is YouTube DLP MCP free?
Yes, YouTube DLP MCP is free — one-click install via Unyly at no cost.
Does YouTube DLP need an API key?
No, YouTube DLP runs without API keys or environment variables.
Is YouTube DLP hosted or self-hosted?
Self-hosted: the server runs locally on your machine via the install command above.
How do I install YouTube DLP in Claude Desktop, Claude Code or Cursor?
Open YouTube DLP on unyly.org, pick your client tab (Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor) and press Install — the config is generated automatically, no JSON editing.
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