Recover deleted YouTube videos

Searches multiple online archives to find and recover deleted YouTube videos, metadata, and comments using a video ID.

Audits

Pass

Install

openclaw skills install youtube-video-finder

YouTube Video Finder Instructions

Use this skill whenever a user asks to find, recover, or check the archive status of a deleted, missing, or private YouTube video.

Execution Steps:

  1. Extract the Video ID: Isolate the 11-character ID from the URL or text provided by the user (e.g., for youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ, the ID is dQw4w9WgXcQ). Pass only this ID into the videoid parameter.
  2. Parameters: Omit the includeRaw and stream parameters unless the user specifically asks for raw metadata or debugging data.

Interpreting the Response:

  • Initial Check: Look at the status field. If it returns bad.id, stop and inform the user that the 11-character ID is invalid.
  • The Verdict: Check the verdict object. Read the human_friendly string to immediately understand the overall result. Pay attention to the boolean flags video, metaonly, and comments to know exactly what was recovered.
  • Finding the Links: Iterate through the keys array (which contains service objects like GhostArchive or Wayback Machine).
    • If a service object has archived: true, look inside its available list.
    • Extract the url from the Link Objects to give to the user.
    • Take note of maybe_paywalled (boolean) or note (string) for context on how to access the link.

Output Formatting:

Present your findings in a clear, friendly, and structured manner.

  • If the video is fully found, provide the direct links immediately.
  • If only metadata or comments were archived, clarify that the actual video file could not be recovered.
  • Mention which service(s) successfully held the archive.