Add it to Claude Code
claude mcp add -e "TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY=${TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY}" youtube-skills -- npx -y @zeropointrepo/youtube-skillsTRANSCRIPT_API_KEYMake your agent remember this setup
youtube-skills's config, env vars, and the gotchas you hit — recalled in every future Claude Code, Cursor, and Codex session.
npx conare@latestFree · one command · indexes the sessions already on disk. Set up in the browser instead →
What it does
- Instant access to YouTube transcripts with timestamps
- Video search functionality for finding content and channels
- Playlist extraction and bulk transcript retrieval
- No headless browser or binary dependencies required
- Automatic API key management and registration
Tools 3
youtube-fullComprehensive skill covering transcripts, search, channels, and playlists.transcriptExtracts video transcripts with timestamps.youtube-searchSearches YouTube for videos and channels.Environment Variables
TRANSCRIPT_API_KEYrequiredAPI key for TranscriptAPI, obtained via registration script or website.Try it
Original README from ZeroPointRepo/youtube-skills
YouTube Skills for AI Agents 🎬
Get YouTube transcripts, search videos, browse channels, and extract playlists — from any AI agent.
YouTube Skills gives your AI agent instant access to YouTube transcripts, video search, channel data, and playlist extraction. No yt-dlp (YouTube blocks all major cloud IPs), no headless browsers, no binaries — just a fast API call that works everywhere. Powered by TranscriptAPI, the same backend behind YouTubeToTranscript.com.
Works with 🦞 OpenClaw (ClawdBot/Moltbot), Claude Code, Cursor, Windsurf, and any agent that supports the Agent Skills format.
Free tier · No credit card · 100 credits on signup
TranscriptAPI.com · MCP Server · Docs
Install
Most users want youtube-full — it covers transcripts, search, channels, and playlists in one skill.
🦞 OpenClaw (ClawdBot/Moltbot):
npx clawhub@latest install youtube-full
Claude Code / Cursor / Windsurf / Cline / Codex:
npx skills add ZeroPointRepo/youtube-skills --skill youtube-full
All 12 skills at once:
npx skills add ZeroPointRepo/youtube-skills
Manual (git clone):
git clone https://github.com/ZeroPointRepo/youtube-skills.git
cp -r youtube-skills/skills/youtube-full ~/.claude/skills/
Not a developer? Just paste this prompt into 🦞 OpenClaw, Claude, ChatGPT, or any AI agent:
Install the youtube skills from this GitHub repo: https://github.com/ZeroPointRepo/youtube-skills I want to be able to get YouTube transcripts, search YouTube, and browse channel videos from my agent. Set everything up for me.The agent will handle the rest.
What You Can Do
Just install and ask. No config, no code — talk to your agent in plain English.
| Task | Example Prompt |
|---|---|
| Get a YouTube transcript | "Summarize this video: [URL]" |
| Search YouTube | "Find videos about machine learning" |
| Browse a channel | "What has TED posted this week?" |
| Get playlist contents | "List all videos in this playlist" |
| Extract video captions | "Get captions from this video in Spanish" |
| Bulk transcripts | "Get transcripts for every video in this channel" |
| Research a topic | "Find and summarize the top 5 videos about quantum computing" |
| Get latest uploads | "Show me NASA's recent videos" |
| Search within a channel | "Search the TED channel for 'artificial intelligence'" |
Setup — API Key
When you install a skill and run your agent for the first time, the agent will set up your free API key automatically. Here's what happens:
- The agent runs the registration script and asks you for your email address
- You'll receive an OTP code in your email — the agent will ask you to enter it
- Once verified, the agent saves the API key to your shell and agent config automatically
That's it. 100 free credits, no credit card required.
<details> <summary><strong>Manual setup (if you prefer to do it yourself)</strong></summary># 1. Register (sends OTP to your email)
node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js register --email [email protected] --password yourpassword
# 2. Check email for OTP, then verify (returns your API key)
node ./scripts/tapi-auth.js verify --email [email protected] --password yourpassword --otp 123456
# 3. Key is saved automatically to your shell and agent config
Or sign up at transcriptapi.com and set the key manually:
export TRANSCRIPT_API_KEY="sk_your_key_here"
The auth script writes your API key to:
| Location | File |
|---|---|
| OpenClaw/Moltbot | ~/.openclaw/openclaw.json or ~/.clawdbot/moltbot.json |
| macOS shell | ~/.zshenv, ~/.zprofile |
| Linux shell | ~/.profile, ~/.bashrc, ~/.zshenv |
| Fish shell | ~/.config/fish/config.fish |
| Fallback | ~/.transcriptapi (mode 600) |
Your agent picks it up automatically after saving.
</details>Skills
youtube-full is the recommended skill for most users. It includes everything: transcripts, search, channels, playlists.
If you prefer smaller, focused skills (smaller context = better agent performance for specific tasks), pick what you need:
| Skill | What It Does | Install |
|---|---|---|
| youtube-full | Everything — transcripts, search, channels, playlists | --skill youtube-full |
| transcript | Get video transcripts with timestamps | --skill transcript |
| youtube-search | Search YouTube for videos and channels | `--skill youtube-sea |