How to upload to YouTube from Claude Code

Set it up and upload, step by step

Prompt to copy once YouTube is connected: Write a YouTube title and description for ./videos/v2-demo.mp4 from README.md, show them to me with the title length, and upload it unlisted.

1. Add PostWire to Claude Code

   In your terminal run claude mcp add --transport http postwire https://postwire.io/api/mcp (add --scope user to have it in every project), then type /mcp in Claude Code and pick postwire to sign in. The sign-in asks for your email and a 6-digit code, which also creates a free PostWire account if you have none: no password and no card.

2. Or install the YouTube skill instead

   npx skills add https://postwire.io --skill youtube-upload adds the skill to Claude Code (and to the other agents on the machine). It uses your key from the environment: copy it in the dashboard under API & MCP and set POSTWIRE_API_KEY. The skill is a plain file you can read first: youtube-upload/SKILL.md.

3. Connect your YouTube channel

   Ask "connect my YouTube". Claude Code calls create_connect_link and prints a link; open it, sign in on Google's own page and pick the channel. You do this once per channel.

4. Give it the video

   Give Claude Code a public https link to an MP4 or MOV file. A file on your computer goes through an upload page: ask for one (create_upload_link), pick the file there, and Claude Code gets its link. One file can be up to 100 MB on the free plan and 1 GB on paid plans. Large files are sent to YouTube with its resumable upload, so a slow connection does not start over. No video yet? make_video_from_text turns a few lines into an 8-12 second vertical MP4 (1080×1920), which YouTube shows as a Short.

5. Ask for the title, description and tags

   "Write the title and description." generate_posts returns a draft and publishes nothing: a title with the words people search in its first 40 characters (YouTube takes up to 100), a description whose first lines repeat the promise, 3-5 hashtags, and 5-8 tags. Then say who can see it: public, unlisted (only people with the link) or private.

6. Upload now, or schedule it

   Say "upload it" and Claude Code calls post_to_social; the result carries the video's link. Say "schedule it for Tuesday at 10" and it calls schedule_post, up to 365 days ahead, or with run_at: "next_slot" for your next free posting hour. This is the call:

   {
     "name": "schedule_post",
     "arguments": {
       "platforms": ["youtube"],
       "per_platform": { "youtube": {
         "title": "PostWire v2 in 90 seconds: schedule to 10 networks from one request",
         "text": "Schedule one post to 10 networks from a single request.\n\nIn this demo: …\n\n#devtools #api #automation",
         "tags": ["social media api", "schedule posts api", "youtube upload api"]
       } },
       "video_url": "https://example.com/videos/v2-demo.mp4",
       "privacy": "public",
       "run_at": "2026-10-20T10:00:00-05:00"
     }
   }

"What's scheduled on YouTube?" calls list_scheduled_posts and "cancel Tuesday's upload" calls cancel_scheduled_post; the same queue is on the dashboard's Queue page. Prefer to set it up by hand first? Open the dashboard, connect the account under Accounts and copy your key under API & MCP.