Creating a YouTube RSS with IFTTT

We all know and love YouTube: the reigning champion of internet spaces for users to share and watch videos. At face value, YouTube seems simple, with a suggested video feed, options to like and follow, and a comments tab. However, we can expand YouTube's functionality beyond what you thought was possible with the help of RSS feeds and IFTTT.

Following your favorite creators is a good way to see more content you like, but YouTube doesn't do a great job of displaying videos from your subscribed channels. Instead, these videos are often clouded by other suggestions by the algorithm, or buried at the bottom of the home page.

For die-hard fans or simply those looking to minimalize distractions to their YouTube experience, trying an RSS feed is an excellent option. RSS feeds can collect videos when they get posted and streamline them to a special reader built just for you, or send you automatic YouTube updates. This way, there is nothing getting between you and your favorite YouTube creators.

In this article, we'll go over the steps needed to set up your own YouTube RSS feed with IFTTT, as well as some of the benefits of creating this automation. So, let's get right into it.

Understanding RSS feeds and their importance

An RSS Feed (Really Simple Syndication) is a type of web feed that enables users to quickly access a web page's content without having to browse multiple websites. Instead of checking your favorite social media and news sites for information, an RSS feed can compile all these into one convenient space.

An RSS allows websites and major blogs to broadcast their content in an organized manner, which can then be "fed" into a reader or aggregator program. This makes it easy for users to keep up with the latest news, updates, and other information from their favorite sites all in one place.

RSS Feeds are generally formatted using XML code, which gives them a consistent look and feel across different digital platforms. This makes them easily recognizable no matter where they appear online. RSS Feeds also usually contain summaries of content along with links back to the source website so readers can easily access more detailed information if needed. Additionally, RSS Feeds often contain metadata about the content such as the author's name, publication date, keywords, and so on.

Why set up a YouTube RSS Feed?

Some may be wondering why setting up a YouTube RSS feed can be so effective at delivering you the best content. Here are a few reasons why we think using a YouTube RSS feed is a great choice:

1. Stay updated

With an RSS feed, you don't have to constantly visit your favorite YouTube channels to check for new uploads. You'll receive updates in real time whenever new content is published.

2. Content management

RSS feeds let you consolidate content from multiple channels into one convenient location, such as a feed reader or email inbox. This makes it easier to manage and consume content without toggling between different sources.

3. Custom and minimalist viewing experience

You can tailor your feed to include only the topics, creators, or genres you're interested in, ensuring you spend time consuming content that matters to you. If you are easily distracted on YouTube, this is an awesome solution, as you can hand-pick which videos appear on your feed.

4. Ad-free notifications

Unlike YouTube's native notifications, RSS feeds allow you to bypass in-app ads or promotional distractions. This means a cleaner, less intrusive way to stay informed.

A quick background on IFTTT

IFTTT is the most trusted automation system on the market, helping millions of people like you easily set up bots and other helpful tools. The basic idea behind IFTTT is to create Applets that trigger when certain conditions are met.

These Applets are created by IFTTT engineers and the community and can be enabled in just a couple of clicks. With very little technical knowledge, you can get your bot up and running in just a few minutes. 

IFTTT also offers automation capabilities with other similar services, including:

And thousands more!

Founded in 2010, IFTTT has since been used by over 30 million individuals around the globe to automate both business and smart home tasks. With IFTTT you can connect over 1000 digital tools together to create beautiful automations. Best of all, it's free to start and only takes a couple of minutes to set up.

How to set up a YouTube RSS feed with IFTTT

We hope you've been convinced why setting up an RSS feed with IFTTT and YouTube can be a great way to aggregate all the videos you are interested in. Now, we'll dive into the process of how to make all these moving parts work together.

With IFTTT, you have two options. You can browse our library of millions of user-made Applets (feeds that have already been set up by the community) or create your own in just a few minutes with our Applet builder. We encourage users to check out what the community has already set up, because oftentimes your perfect bot idea is already a reality! Keep your eyes peeled for our small Applet cubes throughout the article, which you can click on to get started.

How to enable an Applet

Enabling Applets requires a free IFTTT account, so make sure to sign up or log in if prompted. Then the steps are as follows:

1. Make sure the Applet is fit for you. Read the title and description to learn about the process. Additionally, make sure you have an account with all the applications involved or create an account. Then, click the "Connect" bar.

2. You will then be redirected to log in to those accounts, and grant IFTTT access to certain data. IFTTT uses this data to complete your Applet tasks, and your data is never sold or distributed to any third party, ever.

3. Once you have you granted IFTTT access, the Applet is set up. You can see more details about what Applets you have enabled in the "My Applets" tab, where you can manage and edit tasks as well.

Building your own YouTube RSS Feed with IFTTT

Unfortunately, YouTube does not provide obvious public RSS feed links for channels. This means setting up your own Applet will involve using a third-party RSS link creator, such as RSS.App. Don't worry, as this process is simple and only takes a few minutes.

Step 1: Set up an IFTTT account

Create an account: Sign up or log in to IFTTT.

Connect services: Connect the services you want to use (e.g., RSS Feed, email, social media, or notifications). This makes it easier to set up an Applet later.

Step 2: Create an IFTTT Applet

Start creating an Applet:

Go to the "Create" section in IFTTT. Click on "If This" to set the trigger.

Set the trigger to RSS feed:

Choose the RSS Feed service. Select "New Feed Item" as the trigger.

You will then be asked to input an RSS link. For this next step, you will have to use RSS.app.

Step 3: Using RSS.app to generate a link

To set up a YouTube RSS feed through RSS.app and integrate it with IFTTT, follow these steps:

Go to RSS.app

Visit RSS.app and create an account or log in if you already have one. You'll see a box under "RSS Generator."

Enter the YouTube channel or playlist URL

Copy the URL of the YouTube channel or playlist for which you want to generate an RSS feed. Paste the URL into the input box on RSS.app.

Generate the RSS link

RSS.app will generate an RSS link for the selected YouTube channel or playlist. Copy the generated RSS link.

Step 4: Finish setting up your Applet

Now, go back to your Applet setup on IFTTT.

Set the Action:

Click on "Then That" to set the action. Select the service where you want the updates to appear, such as:

Email: Send the RSS feed item to email subscribers. Slack: Share updates in a Slack channel. Twitter: Automatically tweet the news for your followers. Push notifications: Notify users on their mobile devices.

Customize the Action:

For example, if using Twitter, customize the tweet to include the feed title, link, and hashtags (e.g., #Finance, #Investing). For email, format the subject line and body with the feed details.

Step 5: Test and refine

Trigger the applet manually by checking for new items in the RSS feed. Ensure that the action (e.g., sending an email or posting a tweet) works as intended.

And congratulations, just like that you've set up your first YouTube RSS feed Applet with IFTTT.

YouTube RSS Feed ideas with IFTTT

Real-time YouTube video alerts via notifications

Keep users updated whenever a favorite YouTube channel uploads a new video by sending a notification directly to their smartphones. Available on both iPhones and Android phones.

Daily YouTube video digest via email

Deliver a daily summary of new videos from a selected channel to subscribers via email. You can schedule it at the end of the day or at the start, so you know you have time to keep up with your favorite YouTuber.

Automate social media posts about new YouTube videos

Share new uploads from a favorite YouTube channel to Twitter or LinkedIn, helping your favorite creator expand their reach.

Even more automation with IFTTT

IFTTT doesn't offer only RSS feed automations. Our platform helps users automate smart home devices, customer management systems, social media postings, and much more. With the simple principle of bringing back more precious time, our automations do the heavy lifting to allow you to be your most creative and productive self.

Founded in 2010, IFTTT has since been used by over 30 million individuals around the globe to automate both business and personal tasks. With IFTTT you can connect over 1000 digital tools together to create beautiful automations. Best of all, it's free to start and only takes a couple of minutes to set up.

So why wait, join today and see why IFTTT is the most trusted automation solution on the market today.