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youtube-automation

Automate YouTube tasks via Rube MCP (Composio): upload videos, manage playlists, search content, get analytics, and handle comments. Always search tools first for current schemas.

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name:youtube-automationdescription:"Automate YouTube tasks via Rube MCP (Composio): upload videos, manage playlists, search content, get analytics, and handle comments. Always search tools first for current schemas."requires:mcp:[rube]

YouTube Automation via Rube MCP

Automate YouTube operations through Composio's YouTube toolkit via Rube MCP.

Prerequisites

  • Rube MCP must be connected (RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS available)

  • Active YouTube connection via RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit youtube

  • Always call RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS first to get current tool schemas

    • Setup

    Get Rube MCP: Add https://rube.app/mcp as an MCP server in your client configuration. No API keys needed — just add the endpoint and it works.


  • Verify Rube MCP is available by confirming RUBE_SEARCH_TOOLS responds

  • Call RUBE_MANAGE_CONNECTIONS with toolkit youtube

  • If connection is not ACTIVE, follow the returned auth link to complete Google OAuth

  • Confirm connection status shows ACTIVE before running any workflows

    • Core Workflows

    1. Upload and Manage Videos

    When to use: User wants to upload a video or update video metadata

    Tool sequence:

  • YOUTUBE_UPLOAD_VIDEO - Upload a new video [Required]

  • YOUTUBE_UPDATE_VIDEO - Update title, description, tags, privacy [Optional]

  • YOUTUBE_UPDATE_THUMBNAIL - Set a custom thumbnail [Optional]

    • Key parameters:

  • title: Video title (max 100 characters)

  • description: Video description (max 5000 bytes)

  • tags: Array of keyword tags

  • categoryId: YouTube category ID (e.g., '22' for People & Blogs)

  • privacyStatus: 'public', 'private', or 'unlisted'

  • videoFilePath: Object with {name, mimetype, s3key} for the video file

    • Pitfalls:

  • UPLOAD_VIDEO consumes high quota; prefer UPDATE_VIDEO for metadata-only changes

  • videoFilePath must be an object with s3key, not a raw file path or URL

  • Tags total must not exceed 500 characters including separators

  • Angle brackets < > in tags are automatically stripped

  • Description limit is 5000 bytes, not characters (multibyte chars count more)

    • 2. Search YouTube Content

    When to use: User wants to find videos, channels, or playlists

    Tool sequence:

  • YOUTUBE_SEARCH_YOU_TUBE - Search for content [Required]

  • YOUTUBE_VIDEO_DETAILS - Get full details for a specific video [Optional]

  • YOUTUBE_GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH - Get details for multiple videos [Optional]

    • Key parameters:

  • q: Search query (supports exact phrases, exclusions, channel handles)

  • type: 'video', 'channel', or 'playlist'

  • maxResults: Results per page (1-50)

  • pageToken: For pagination

    • Pitfalls:

  • Search endpoint only returns 'snippet' part; use VIDEO_DETAILS for statistics

  • Search results are capped at 500 total items

  • Search has higher quota cost (100 units) vs list endpoints (1 unit)

  • BATCH video details practical limit is ~50 IDs per call; chunk larger sets

    • 3. Manage Playlists

    When to use: User wants to create playlists or manage playlist contents

    Tool sequence:

  • YOUTUBE_LIST_USER_PLAYLISTS - List user's existing playlists [Optional]

  • YOUTUBE_CREATE_PLAYLIST - Create a new playlist [Optional]

  • YOUTUBE_ADD_VIDEO_TO_PLAYLIST - Add a video to a playlist [Optional]

  • YOUTUBE_LIST_PLAYLIST_ITEMS - List videos in a playlist [Optional]

    • Key parameters:

  • playlistId: Playlist ID ('PL...' for user-created, 'UU...' for uploads)

  • part: Resource parts to include (e.g., 'snippet,contentDetails')

  • maxResults: Items per page (1-50)

  • pageToken: Pagination token from previous response

    • Pitfalls:

  • Do NOT pass channel IDs ('UC...') as playlist IDs; convert 'UC' to 'UU' for uploads

  • Large playlists require pagination via pageToken; follow nextPageToken until absent

  • items[].id is not the videoId; use items[].snippet.resourceId.videoId

  • Creating duplicate playlist names is allowed; check existing playlists first

    • 4. Get Channel and Video Analytics

    When to use: User wants to analyze channel performance or video metrics

    Tool sequence:

  • YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ID_BY_HANDLE - Resolve a handle to channel ID [Prerequisite]

  • YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_STATISTICS - Get channel subscriber/view/video counts [Required]

  • YOUTUBE_LIST_CHANNEL_VIDEOS - List all videos from a channel [Optional]

  • YOUTUBE_GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH - Get per-video statistics [Optional]

  • YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ACTIVITIES - Get recent channel activities [Optional]

    • Key parameters:

  • channelId: Channel ID ('UC...'), handle ('@handle'), or 'me'

  • forHandle: Channel handle (e.g., '@Google')

  • id: Comma-separated video IDs for batch details

  • parts: Resource parts to include (e.g., 'snippet,statistics')

    • Pitfalls:

  • Channel statistics are lifetime totals, not per-period

  • BATCH video details may return fewer items than requested for private/deleted videos

  • Response data may be nested under data or data_preview; parse defensively

  • contentDetails.duration uses ISO 8601 format (e.g., 'PT4M13S')

    • 5. Manage Subscriptions and Comments

    When to use: User wants to subscribe to channels or view video comments

    Tool sequence:

  • YOUTUBE_SUBSCRIBE_CHANNEL - Subscribe to a channel [Optional]

  • YOUTUBE_UNSUBSCRIBE_CHANNEL - Unsubscribe from a channel [Optional]

  • YOUTUBE_LIST_USER_SUBSCRIPTIONS - List subscriptions [Optional]

  • YOUTUBE_LIST_COMMENT_THREADS - List comments on a video [Optional]

    • Key parameters:

  • channelId: Channel to subscribe/unsubscribe

  • videoId: Video ID for comment threads

  • maxResults: Results per page

  • pageToken: Pagination token

    • Pitfalls:

  • Subscribing to an already-subscribed channel may return an error

  • Comment threads return top-level comments with up to 5 replies each

  • Comments may be disabled on some videos

  • Unsubscribe requires the subscription ID, not the channel ID

    • Common Patterns

    Channel ID Resolution

    Handle to Channel ID:

    1. Call YOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ID_BY_HANDLE with '@handle'
  • Extract channelId from response

  • Use in subsequent channel operations

    • Uploads Playlist:

    1. Get channel ID (starts with 'UC')
  • Replace 'UC' prefix with 'UU' to get uploads playlist ID

  • Use with LIST_PLAYLIST_ITEMS to enumerate all videos

    • Pagination

  • Set maxResults (max 50 per page)

  • Check response for nextPageToken

  • Pass token as pageToken in next request

  • Continue until nextPageToken is absent

    • Batch Video Details

  • Collect video IDs from search or playlist listings

  • Chunk into groups of ~50 IDs

  • Call GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCH per chunk

  • Merge results across chunks

    • Known Pitfalls

    Quota Management:

  • YouTube API has a daily quota limit (default 10,000 units)

  • Upload = 1600 units; search = 100 units; list = 1 unit

  • Prefer list endpoints over search when possible

  • Monitor quota usage to avoid hitting daily limits

    • ID Formats:

  • Video IDs: 11-character alphanumeric strings

  • Channel IDs: Start with 'UC' followed by 22 characters

  • Playlist IDs: Start with 'PL' (user) or 'UU' (uploads)

  • Do not confuse channel IDs with playlist IDs

    • Thumbnails:

  • Custom thumbnails require channel phone verification

  • Must be JPG, PNG, or GIF; under 2MB

  • Recommended: 1280x720 resolution (16:9 aspect ratio)

    • Response Parsing:

  • Statistics values are returned as strings, not integers; cast before math

  • Duration uses ISO 8601 format (PT#H#M#S)

  • Batch responses may wrap data under different keys

    • Quick Reference

    TaskTool SlugKey Params
    Upload videoYOUTUBE_UPLOAD_VIDEOtitle, description, tags, categoryId, privacyStatus, videoFilePath
    Update videoYOUTUBE_UPDATE_VIDEOvideo_id, title, description, tags
    Set thumbnailYOUTUBE_UPDATE_THUMBNAILvideoId, thumbnailUrl
    Search YouTubeYOUTUBE_SEARCH_YOU_TUBEq, type, maxResults
    Video detailsYOUTUBE_VIDEO_DETAILSid, part
    Batch video detailsYOUTUBE_GET_VIDEO_DETAILS_BATCHid, parts
    List playlistsYOUTUBE_LIST_USER_PLAYLISTSmaxResults, pageToken
    Create playlistYOUTUBE_CREATE_PLAYLIST(check schema)
    Add to playlistYOUTUBE_ADD_VIDEO_TO_PLAYLIST(check schema)
    List playlist itemsYOUTUBE_LIST_PLAYLIST_ITEMSplaylistId, maxResults
    Channel statisticsYOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_STATISTICSid/forHandle/mine
    List channel videosYOUTUBE_LIST_CHANNEL_VIDEOSchannelId, maxResults
    Channel ID by handleYOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ID_BY_HANDLEchannel_handle
    SubscribeYOUTUBE_SUBSCRIBE_CHANNELchannelId
    List subscriptionsYOUTUBE_LIST_USER_SUBSCRIPTIONS(check schema)
    List commentsYOUTUBE_LIST_COMMENT_THREADSvideoId
    Channel activitiesYOUTUBE_GET_CHANNEL_ACTIVITIES(check schema)