Authentication
YouTube extensions require access to your YouTube account to read channel data, analytics, and manage competitor tracking. Watt uses Google OAuth, a secure token-based flow, so you never paste raw credentials.
What you’ll need
A Google Cloud project with two YouTube APIs enabled and an OAuth 2.0 Client ID. This is a one-time setup that takes about 5 minutes.
APIs to enable
You must enable both APIs in your Google Cloud project. Go to APIs & Services → Library, search for each name, and click Enable.
| API | What it unlocks | Daily quota |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube Data API v3 | Video metadata, statistics, channel details, playlists, comments, search | 10,000 units (default) |
| YouTube Analytics and Reporting API | Watch time, views, traffic sources, device types, demographics, cards, end screens | Separate free quota |
YouTube Data API v3 is used by every YouTube extension. The quota costs vary by tool: search_videos costs 102 units per call, while most read operations cost 1 unit. Watt tracks your daily usage and warns you when you’re approaching the limit.
YouTube Analytics and Reporting API is used by the analytics reports (watch time, traffic sources, demographics, etc.). These calls are free and do not count against the Data API quota.
If you only enable the Data API, analytics reports will fail with an
insufficientPermissionserror. Enable both.
Create a Google OAuth Client
Go to Google Cloud Console
Visit console.cloud.google.com and create a new project (or use an existing one).
Enable both YouTube APIs
In your project, go to APIs & Services → Library and enable:
- YouTube Data API v3
- YouTube Analytics and Reporting API
Create OAuth credentials
Go to APIs & Services → Credentials → Create Credentials → OAuth client ID. Select Desktop app as the application type and give it a name (e.g. “Watt Desktop”).
Copy your Client ID and Secret
After creating, you’ll see your Client ID and Client Secret. Keep these ready for the next step.
Enter credentials in Watt
Open Watt Settings
In the Watt app, go to Settings and find the Google OAuth section.
Paste Client ID and Secret
Enter your Client ID and Client Secret and click Save. These are stored in macOS Keychain.
Authorise YouTube access
The first time you use a YouTube tool, Watt will open your system browser with a Google consent screen. Sign in with the Google account connected to your YouTube channel and grant the requested permissions.
Token management
After you authorise once, Watt stores your access token and refresh token securely in Keychain. Tokens are refreshed automatically when they expire. You won’t need to re-authorise unless you explicitly revoke access.
To disconnect a YouTube account, go to Settings and click Disconnect next to the Google OAuth section.
Next step
Install extensions to add YouTube analytics, competitor research, and more to your agent.