MCP Directory

How to add yutu to Cursor

CLI and MCP server for YouTube — upload, optimize, and manage videos, playlists, comments, and channel branding. Paste the config into ~/.cursor/mcp.json and restart Cursor.

Last updated June 14, 2026 · 518★ · stdio · oauth

Cursor config for yutu

npm i -g @eat-pray-ai/yutu
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "yutu": {
      "command": "yutu",
      "args": [
        "mcp"
      ],
      "env": {
        "YUTU_CREDENTIAL": "/absolute/path/to/client_secret.json",
        "YUTU_CACHE_TOKEN": "/absolute/path/to/youtube.token.json"
      }
    }
  }
}

Setup steps

  1. 1Open Cursor → Settings → MCP → Add new MCP server (or edit ~/.cursor/mcp.json directly).
  2. 2Paste the yutu config below into the "mcpServers" object.
  3. 3Fill in placeholder secrets, then save.
  4. 4Cursor reloads MCP servers automatically — check Settings → MCP for a green status dot.
  5. 5Ask Cursor to use one of yutu's tools to confirm it's connected.

Before you start

  • A Google Cloud Platform account with a GCP project
  • YouTube Data API v3 enabled (Required); YouTube Analytics API and YouTube Reporting API optional
  • OAuth Client ID credentials (Desktop app) saved as client_secret.json
  • A cached OAuth token (youtube.token.json) generated by running `yutu auth --credential client_secret.json`
  • yutu installed (via npm, Homebrew, WinGet, go install, Docker, or release binary)

What yutu can do in Cursor

video

Manage YouTube videos: upload, list, update metadata, and delete videos.

playlist

Manage YouTube playlists: create, list, update, and delete playlists.

playlistItem

Manage items within YouTube playlists.

playlistImage

Manage playlist images.

comment

Manage YouTube comments: post, list, update, and delete comments.

commentThread

Manage YouTube comment threads.

caption

Manage YouTube video captions: list, upload, update, and delete captions.

channel

Manage YouTube channels and channel metadata.

Security

Requires Google Cloud OAuth credentials with YouTube Data API v3 access. You must create a GCP project, enable the YouTube Data API v3, create an OAuth Client ID (Desktop app), save it as client_secret.json, then run `yutu auth` to generate youtube.token.json. The MCP server reads these credential and token files via YUTU_CREDENTIAL and YUTU_CACHE_TOKEN. The server can perform destructive operations (delete videos, playlists, comments, captions, subscriptions, channel sections, watermarks) on the authenticated YouTube account, so grant access carefully. Optional HTTP mode supports OAuth client-id/secret authentication. Releases ship cryptographically signed attestations verifiable with `gh attestation verify`.

yutu + Cursor FAQ

Where is the Cursor config file?

Cursor reads MCP servers from ~/.cursor/mcp.json. Paste the yutu config there under the "mcpServers" key and restart the client.

Is yutu safe to use with Cursor?

Requires Google Cloud OAuth credentials with YouTube Data API v3 access. You must create a GCP project, enable the YouTube Data API v3, create an OAuth Client ID (Desktop app), save it as client_secret.json, then run `yutu auth` to generate youtube.token.json. The MCP server reads these credential and token files via YUTU_CREDENTIAL and YUTU_CACHE_TOKEN. The server can perform destructive operations (delete videos, playlists, comments, captions, subscriptions, channel sections, watermarks) on the authenticated YouTube account, so grant access carefully. Optional HTTP mode supports OAuth client-id/secret authentication. Releases ship cryptographically signed attestations verifiable with `gh attestation verify`.

How does authentication work?

yutu uses Google OAuth. Create an OAuth Client ID (Desktop app) in Google Cloud, save it as client_secret.json, and run `yutu auth --credential client_secret.json`. A browser window opens to grant YouTube access, and a token is saved to youtube.token.json. The MCP server reads both files via the YUTU_CREDENTIAL and YUTU_CACHE_TOKEN environment variables.

Which transports does the MCP server support?

Stdio mode by default (`yutu mcp`), and HTTP mode (`yutu mcp --mode http --auth`) which runs on port 8216 and supports OAuth client-id/secret authentication.

How do I add yutu to Claude Code?

Run `claude mcp add -e YUTU_CREDENTIAL=/absolute/path/to/client_secret.json -e YUTU_CACHE_TOKEN=/absolute/path/to/youtube.token.json yutu -- yutu mcp` for stdio mode.

View repo Full yutu page