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What is yt-remote?

rohithmr12/yt-remote — explained in plain English

Analysis updated 2026-05-18

★ 1JavaScriptAudience · generalComplexity · 2/5LicenseSetup · easy

In one sentence

YT Remote is a local, no-account tool that lets you control YouTube playback in your PC browser from your phone over the same Wi-Fi network, using a Node server and a browser extension.

Mindmap

mindmap
  root((yt-remote))
    What it does
      Phone controls PC YouTube
      Local Wi-Fi only
      No accounts or cloud
    Architecture
      Phone web remote
      Node server
      Browser extension bridge
    Controls
      Play pause skip
      Volume and speed
      Quality and captions
      Keyless search
    Setup
      npm install and start
      Load unpacked extension
      Scan QR to pair
    Audience
      Home YouTube watchers

Code map

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filefunction / class

What do people build with it?

USE CASE 1

Control YouTube playback on your PC, including play, pause, and volume, from your phone on the couch.

USE CASE 2

Search for and play a new YouTube video on your PC directly from your phone without typing on a keyboard.

USE CASE 3

Scan a QR code to pair your phone with your PC instantly instead of typing a pairing code.

What is it built with?

JavaScriptNode.jsWebSocketChrome Extension

How does it compare?

rohithmr12/yt-remote0xmukesh/docusaurus-tutorial1tsmejp/palworld-docker-wine
Stars111
LanguageJavaScriptJavaScriptJavaScript
Last pushed—2021-12-27—
Maintenance—Dormant—
Setup difficultyeasyeasymoderate
Complexity2/52/54/5
Audiencegeneraldeveloperops devops

Figures from each repo's GitHub metadata at analysis time.

How do you get it running?

Difficulty · easy Time to first run · 30min

Requires Node.js and loading the extension in developer mode, phone and PC must be on the same Wi-Fi network.

MIT license: use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

So what is it?

YT Remote lets you control a YouTube video playing in your PC's browser using your phone, as long as both devices are on the same Wi-Fi network. There are no accounts, no cloud service, and no API key involved, since everything runs locally on your own network. It works through three pieces: a small Node.js server that runs on your PC, a browser extension that acts as a bridge between that server and the actual YouTube tab, and a web page you open on your phone that acts as the remote control. The phone talks to the Node server, and the server talks to the extension, which then controls the YouTube tab. The project describes itself as an improved rebuild of an existing tool called TubeControl, simplified down to a single command to start, one network port instead of two, pairing by scanning a QR code instead of typing a code, and richer now-playing information including a live progress bar. It also adds playback speed control and a search feature that does not need any API key. Setup involves installing the Node dependencies and starting the server on the PC, then loading the browser extension as an unpacked extension in Chrome or Edge's developer mode. From then on, starting the server and opening a YouTube tab lets you scan a QR code from your phone to start controlling playback, including play and pause, skipping forward or back, adjusting volume and speed, switching video quality, toggling captions or fullscreen, and searching for and playing a new video. The README includes troubleshooting notes for common connection issues, such as firewall prompts blocking the local server, and an optional advanced setup that lets the extension automatically launch the server for you. The project is released under the MIT license.

Copy-paste prompts

Prompt 1
Walk me through setting up YT Remote's Node server and Chrome extension on my PC.
Prompt 2
How do I change the port YT Remote uses if 3000 is already taken on my machine?
Prompt 3
Explain how the phone, Node server, and browser extension communicate with each other in this project.
Prompt 4
Set up the optional auto-start native messaging host so the extension launches the server for me.

Frequently asked questions

What is yt-remote?

YT Remote is a local, no-account tool that lets you control YouTube playback in your PC browser from your phone over the same Wi-Fi network, using a Node server and a browser extension.

What language is yt-remote written in?

Mainly JavaScript. The stack also includes JavaScript, Node.js, WebSocket.

What license does yt-remote use?

MIT license: use freely for any purpose, including commercial use, as long as you keep the copyright notice.

How hard is yt-remote to set up?

Setup difficulty is rated easy, with roughly 30min to a first successful run.

Who is yt-remote for?

Mainly general.

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