Automated YouTube Description Update with Text Insertion - n8n Workflow

• Content creators or marketing teams needing to quickly add new sponsorship links or affiliate disclosures.


• YouTubers managing large video libraries who require consistent description formats and easy mass updates.


• Technical users looking for practical n8n templates that combine service integrations with custom scripting using the n8n node framework.

Manually updating descriptions across a large catalog of YouTube videos is time-consuming and prone to errors. This sophisticated n8n workflow streamlines the process, allowing users to define a new line of text or a link and specify exactly where it should be placed—between two existing lines in the description. The solution uses the YouTube n8n node to interact with the video data and leverages a Code n8n node for precise string manipulation. This particular n8n template is ideal for ensuring consistent branding, adding required disclosures, or inserting new calls-to-action efficiently across all your content. It demonstrates the power of combining standard n8n nodes with custom scripting to create highly specific automation solutions on the n8n platform.

This automation is triggered manually and processes videos one by one, ensuring accurate updates.

1. Start (n8n trigger): The execution is initiated using the Manual n8n trigger (When clicking ‘Test workflow’), which allows for on-demand execution.


2. Configuration: The Set String to Insert n8n node defines the critical variables: rowBefore (the existing text line the new row follows), rowToInsert (the new link or text to be added), and rowAfter (the existing line the new row precedes).


3. Video Retrieval: The first YouTube n8n node (Get All Videos) fetches a list of videos (configurable limit).


4. Looping: The Loop Over Videos n8n node ensures that subsequent steps are executed individually for every video retrieved.


5. Data Fetch: The Get Specific Video YouTube n8n node retrieves the full metadata, including the current description, for the video currently being processed in the n8n workflow.


6. Core Logic: The Create New Video Description with Row Inserted Code n8n node performs the custom logic. It splits the description into lines, locates the marker lines (rowBefore and rowAfter), and programmatically inserts rowToInsert exactly where required. This is a key technical function of this n8n template.


7. Final Update: The final YouTube n8n node (Update Video Description) uses the data from the preceding n8n node to patch the video on YouTube, overriding the old description with the new, updated text.

1. Import: Copy the provided n8n workflow JSON and paste it into your n8n instance using the 'New' menu and selecting 'Import from JSON'.


2. Credentials: You must configure a YouTube credential for the YouTube n8n node. This typically requires setting up OAuth 2.0 access via Google Cloud Console, enabling the YouTube Data API v3, and configuring the OAuth application within n8n.


3. Customize Variables: Access the Set String to Insert n8n node and update the values for rowBefore, rowToInsert, and rowAfter to match the specific content and structure of your video descriptions.


4. Execution: Ensure the n8n workflow is active, and click the 'Test workflow' button to run the automation against your video library.

• When clicking ‘Test workflow’ (Manual n8n trigger): The starting point of this n8n workflow, enabling manual runs.


• Set String to Insert (Set n8n node): Defines the insertion parameters (rowBefore, rowToInsert, rowAfter) used by the Code n8n node for accurate placement.


• Get All Videos / Get Specific Video (YouTube n8n node): These nodes handle API interaction. 'Get All Videos' lists videos, and 'Get Specific Video' retrieves the full description necessary for the modification step.


• Loop Over Videos (Split In Batches n8n node): Essential control flow element, ensuring the complex insertion logic runs individually for every video fetched by the YouTube n8n node.


• Create New Video Description with Row Inserted (Code n8n node): Executes the custom JavaScript logic to split, locate, and insert the new text string, returning the updated description for use in the next n8n node.


• Update Video Description (YouTube n8n node): The final action n8n node, responsible for pushing the modified description back to YouTube, completing the synchronization within the n8n workflow.