MCP YouTube-DLP

@yorickchan

About MCP YouTube-DLP

A Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides tools for downloading YouTube videos and audio using yt-dlp.

Config

Add this server to your MCP-compatible client using the configuration below.

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp_youtube_dlp": {
      "command": "uv",
      "args": [
        "pip",
        "install",
        "-e",
        "."
      ]
    }
  }
}

Tools

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We auto-extract tools from the README. The maintainer can list them under a ## Tools heading to populate this section.

Overview

What is MCP YouTube-DLP?

MCP YouTube-DLP is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that provides tools for downloading YouTube videos and audio using yt-dlp, designed for integration with AI assistants.

How to use MCP YouTube-DLP?

Clone the repository, install dependencies with pip install -e ., and start the server with python main.py. Configure the MCP client with the provided JSON block, setting the YT_DLP_PATH and DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR environment variables as needed.

Key features of MCP YouTube-DLP

Download YouTube videos in MP4 format
Download YouTube audio in MP3 format
Integration with MCP for AI assistant access
Configurable download directory via environment variable
Adjustable path to yt-dlp executable

Use cases of MCP YouTube-DLP

Allow an AI assistant to download a YouTube video for offline viewing
Enable an AI assistant to extract audio from a YouTube video as MP3
Automate media downloading workflows through natural language commands

FAQ from MCP YouTube-DLP

What does this server do and how does it differ from alternatives?

This MCP server provides tools for downloading YouTube videos and audio using yt-dlp, exposed to any MCP-compatible AI assistant. It relies on yt-dlp as its underlying download engine.

What are the system requirements to run it?

Python 3.13 or higher and yt-dlp must be installed on the system.

Where are downloaded files stored?

By default, files are saved to ~/Downloads/youtube_downloads. This can be changed by setting the DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR environment variable.

What transport or authentication does the server use?

The server runs in stdio mode with debug enabled by default. No authentication mechanism is described.

Are there any known limitations?

The server only provides two tools — one for video download (MP4) and one for audio download (MP3) — and requires both Python 3.13+ and yt-dlp to be pre-installed.

Frequently asked questions

What does this server do and how does it differ from alternatives?

This MCP server provides tools for downloading YouTube videos and audio using yt-dlp, exposed to any MCP-compatible AI assistant. It relies on yt-dlp as its underlying download engine.

What are the system requirements to run it?

Python 3.13 or higher and yt-dlp must be installed on the system.

Where are downloaded files stored?

By default, files are saved to `~/Downloads/youtube_downloads`. This can be changed by setting the `DEFAULT_DOWNLOAD_DIR` environment variable.

What transport or authentication does the server use?

The server runs in stdio mode with debug enabled by default. No authentication mechanism is described.

Are there any known limitations?

The server only provides two tools — one for video download (MP4) and one for audio download (MP3) — and requires both Python 3.13+ and yt-dlp to be pre-installed.

Comments

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