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How to connect YouTube to Claude Code

YouTube Data is an MCP server published by kirbah that runs on your machine, and this guide connects it to Claude Code through npx. The listing marks both YOUTUBE_API_KEY and MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING as optional, so you can start without either. The command and config come from the listing's install data and Claude Code's documentation, last read on 2026-10-26.

Updated Oct 26, 2026 · Built from catalog data; how we rank and grade

Checked against Claude Code's documentation on Oct 26, 2026. Commands and config blocks are generated from the same install data as each listing page.

Before you start

  • Claude Code installed and able to start.
  • Node.js with npx (the server starts with npx).
  • YOUTUBE_API_KEY (optional): YouTube Data API v3 key.
  • MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING (optional): MongoDB connection string for caching.

  1. 1. Check what you need

    Node.js provides npx, so check it first. Neither optional value is needed to pass this check.

    Check that it is installed
    node --version
    • It can take YOUTUBE_API_KEY and MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING (next step).

  2. 2. Get YOUTUBE_API_KEY and MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING

    Decide whether you want either value before you continue, and gather only what you plan to use.

    • YOUTUBE_API_KEY (optional): YouTube Data API v3 key.
    • MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING (optional): MongoDB connection string for caching.

  3. 3. Add YouTube Data to Claude Code

    The claude mcp add command takes both values as flags, and the .mcp.json alternative refers to them as environment variables that the final block exports.

    Add it for you in every project
    claude mcp add --transport stdio --env YOUTUBE_API_KEY=YOUR_YOUTUBE_API_KEY --env MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING=YOUR_MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING --scope user mcp-youtube -- npx -y @kirbah/mcp-youtube@1.1.15
    Or share it with the project: put this in .mcp.json at the project root.mcp.json
    {
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-youtube": {
      "command": "npx",
      "args": [
        "-y",
        "@kirbah/mcp-youtube@1.1.15"
      ],
      "env": {
        "YOUTUBE_API_KEY": "${YOUTUBE_API_KEY}",
        "MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING": "${MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING}"
      }
    }
  }
}
    Set the variable in the shell you start the host from
    export YOUTUBE_API_KEY="paste-your-value-here"
export MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING="paste-your-value-here"
    • The command keeps the value in ~/.claude.json; the .mcp.json version refers to an environment variable, so nothing secret is committed.

  4. 4. Restart or reload if it does not appear

    If YouTube Data does not appear, this step lists what the docs say about connecting at startup and reconnecting from /mcp.

    • The docs do not say a restart is needed after claude mcp add. Servers connect at startup and can be reconnected from the /mcp menu.
    • In an interactive session Claude Code asks you to approve servers from a project .mcp.json before it uses them; claude mcp reset-project-choices resets those answers.

Check that it works

Check the state with claude mcp list or /mcp. Once connected, the catalog records 9 tools for YouTube Data, such as getChannelStatistics.

claude mcp list
  • Run claude mcp list from the shell, or /mcp inside a session. The list shows each server as Connected, Needs authentication, Failed to connect, or Pending approval.
  • Once it is connected, Claude Code should list its tools; the catalog records 9 for YouTube Data, including findConsistentOutlierChannels, getChannelStatistics and getChannelTopVideos.

Troubleshooting

Error: MCP server has a "url" but no "type"
Add "type": "http" (or sse) to the entry in the JSON file. Source
MCP server already exists in local config
Remove it from the other scope first with claude mcp remove <name> --scope <scope>, then add it again. Source
A ${VAR} in the config stays literal
The variable is unset. Export it before starting Claude Code or give it a default with ${VAR:-default}; claude mcp list shows a warning. Source
Server shows disconnected in a session
Open /mcp and reconnect it. Source

Security notes

  • Publisher: kirbah, not listed as the vendor's own server; license MIT.
  • It runs on your machine with your user account's permissions, so it can reach any file or network resource you can. Read its source before you give it access: https://github.com/kirbah/mcp-youtube.
  • Keep YOUTUBE_API_KEY and MDB_MCP_CONNECTION_STRING in an environment variable; the config above refers to it by name, so the value is not written to the file.
  • This listing has no security grade: Agent Market has not published security grades yet, so the choice is yours to make from the source and the permissions.

How we grade security · Trust policy

Servers and skills in this guide

Next up: other YouTube servers, a comparison, or the general Claude Code guide.

  1. 1
    YouTube Data

    kirbah

    YouTube MCP server for token-optimized, structured data using the YouTube Data API v3.

    ★ 32↓ 296/wkLast active Oct 20, 2026Local (stdio)Claude Code, Codex, VS Code, Cursor +2

Related

Sources

Cite this page

How to connect YouTube to Claude Code. Agent Mart. https://agentmart.dev/guides/connect-youtube-to-claude-code (last updated 2026-10-26)