YouTube#
Publish videos and start live streams on YouTube channels.
Quick Reference#
| Property | Value |
|---|
| Max title length | 100 characters |
| Max description length | 5,000 characters |
| Max tags | 500 characters total |
| Video formats | MP4, MOV, AVI, MKV, WebM, FLV, MPEG |
| Max video size | 256 GB |
| Max video duration (unverified) | 15 minutes |
| Max video duration (verified) | 12 hours |
| Scheduling | Supported |
| Delete via API | Yes |
Before You Start#
Unverified channels are limited to 15-minute videos. To upload longer videos, the channel owner must complete phone verification in YouTube Studio. This is a YouTube account-level setting and cannot be bypassed via the API.
YouTube requires OAuth 2.0 — it does not use API keys for publishing. The connected account must grant upload permissions. Tokens expire and the account will need to be reconnected periodically.
YouTube enforces a daily upload quota based on API units, not just post count. Large uploads consume more quota. Monitor usage to avoid hitting limits mid-day.
Content Types#
Video Upload
Upload video files directly. Supports resumable uploads for large files. Up to 256 GB or 12 hours (verified channels).
Live Stream
Real-time broadcast via RTMP or RTMPS. Returns a stream key and ingest URL. No minimum follower requirement.
Specs#
Privacy Levels#
| API Value | Description |
|---|
public | Visible to everyone |
unlisted | Accessible only via direct link |
private | Only visible to you |
Features#
| Feature | Supported |
|---|
| Scheduling | Yes |
| Delete via API | Yes |
| Privacy control | Yes (public, unlisted, private) |
| Live streaming | Yes (no follower minimum) |
| Chapters via description | Yes |
| Analytics | Views, watch time, likes, comments, subscribers gained |
| Playlists | No (via Kabonshare API) |
| Community posts | No |
| Shorts | No (upload as standard video) |
Limitations#
Unverified channels cannot upload videos longer than 15 minutes. The channel must be phone-verified in YouTube Studio to unlock longer uploads.
Cannot post YouTube Shorts, Community posts, or manage playlists via the Kabonshare API.
Cannot add end screens, cards, or chapter markers via the API — these must be added manually in YouTube Studio after publishing.
YouTube has a reported ~8% API publishing failure rate. Most failures are caused by quota exhaustion, file format issues, or account-level restrictions.