Kevin Yu This workflow corresponds to n8n.io template #17091 — we link there as the canonical source.
This workflow follows the Google Sheets → Slack recipe pattern — see all workflows that pair these two integrations.
The workflow JSON
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{
"meta": {
"builderVariant": "mcp",
"aiBuilderAssisted": true,
"templateCredsSetupCompleted": false
},
"name": "Auto un-publish expired YouTube videos on a schedule",
"tags": [],
"nodes": [
{
"id": "ba669071-0fd8-4c01-b350-781562df437d",
"name": "Run Daily at 6am",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.scheduleTrigger",
"position": [
560,
352
],
"parameters": {
"rule": {
"interval": [
{
"triggerAtHour": 6
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 1.3
},
{
"id": "6ae40f08-db74-452a-8879-84ea8e810a0d",
"name": "Read Embargo Schedule",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"position": [
736,
352
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"sheetName": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "list",
"value": 0,
"cachedResultUrl": "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/YOUR_GOOGLE_SHEET_ID/edit#gid=0",
"cachedResultName": "Sheet1"
},
"documentId": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "list",
"value": "YOUR_GOOGLE_SHEET_ID",
"cachedResultUrl": "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/YOUR_GOOGLE_SHEET_ID/edit?usp=drivesdk",
"cachedResultName": "Your Spreadsheet"
}
},
"typeVersion": 4.7
},
{
"id": "7963c245-b0d2-4e0a-bccf-036876fa4052",
"name": "Select Due Videos",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.code",
"position": [
912,
352
],
"parameters": {
"jsCode": "// === CONFIG ===\n// Set your channel timezone (IANA name, e.g. America/Halifax, Europe/London).\nconst TIMEZONE = 'America/Halifax';\n// Status to apply when a row leaves \"Target Status\" blank.\nconst DEFAULT_TARGET = 'private';\n\nconst today = DateTime.now().setZone(TIMEZONE).startOf('day');\nconst due = [];\n\nfor (const item of $input.all()) {\n const row = item.json;\n const videoId = (row.videoId || '').toString().trim();\n const rawDate = (row['Unpublish Date'] || '').toString().trim();\n const status = (row.Status || '').toString().trim().toLowerCase();\n\n if (!videoId || !rawDate) continue;\n if (status === 'expired') continue;\n\n let unpublish = DateTime.fromISO(rawDate, { zone: TIMEZONE });\n if (!unpublish.isValid) {\n unpublish = DateTime.fromFormat(rawDate, 'yyyy-MM-dd', { zone: TIMEZONE });\n }\n if (!unpublish.isValid) continue;\n\n if (unpublish.startOf('day') <= today) {\n let target = (row['Target Status'] || DEFAULT_TARGET).toString().trim().toLowerCase();\n if (target !== 'private' && target !== 'unlisted') target = DEFAULT_TARGET;\n due.push({\n videoId,\n targetStatus: target,\n unpublishDate: rawDate,\n title: (row.Title || '').toString()\n });\n }\n}\n\nreturn [{ json: { dueCount: due.length, due } }];"
},
"typeVersion": 2
},
{
"id": "744be8c2-82ee-4379-8c45-23784b7dd7e4",
"name": "If Any Videos Due",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"position": [
1152,
352
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"conditions": {
"options": {
"version": 2,
"leftValue": "",
"caseSensitive": true,
"typeValidation": "strict"
},
"combinator": "and",
"conditions": [
{
"operator": {
"type": "number",
"operation": "gt"
},
"leftValue": "={{ $json.dueCount }}",
"rightValue": 0
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.2
},
{
"id": "3c9601a6-9755-483d-8745-9592732a6eb9",
"name": "Split Due Videos",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.splitOut",
"position": [
1328,
256
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"fieldToSplitOut": "due"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "cc099a11-f8f0-4876-82a8-f93b70c3e695",
"name": "Get Current Video Details",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.youTube",
"position": [
1616,
256
],
"parameters": {
"part": [
"snippet",
"status"
],
"options": {},
"videoId": "={{ $json.videoId }}",
"resource": "video",
"operation": "get"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "4d533eec-3709-4560-a6ed-d164d9d3e725",
"name": "If Already at Target",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.if",
"position": [
1776,
256
],
"parameters": {
"options": {},
"conditions": {
"options": {
"version": 2,
"leftValue": "",
"caseSensitive": true,
"typeValidation": "strict"
},
"combinator": "and",
"conditions": [
{
"operator": {
"type": "string",
"operation": "equals"
},
"leftValue": "={{ $json.status.privacyStatus }}",
"rightValue": "={{ $(\"Split Due Videos\").item.json.targetStatus }}"
}
]
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.2
},
{
"id": "b8097d75-bc7d-4efd-a773-2e4710f4ef17",
"name": "Mark Row as Expired",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets",
"position": [
2192,
240
],
"parameters": {
"columns": {
"value": {
"Status": "Expired",
"videoId": "={{ $(\"Split Due Videos\").item.json.videoId }}",
"Unpublished At": "={{ $now.toISO() }}"
},
"schema": [
{
"id": "videoId",
"type": "string",
"display": true,
"required": false,
"displayName": "videoId",
"defaultMatch": false,
"canBeUsedToMatch": true
},
{
"id": "Status",
"type": "string",
"display": true,
"required": false,
"displayName": "Status",
"defaultMatch": false,
"canBeUsedToMatch": false
},
{
"id": "Unpublished At",
"type": "string",
"display": true,
"required": false,
"displayName": "Unpublished At",
"defaultMatch": false,
"canBeUsedToMatch": false
}
],
"mappingMode": "defineBelow",
"matchingColumns": [
"videoId"
]
},
"options": {},
"operation": "update",
"sheetName": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "list",
"value": 0,
"cachedResultUrl": "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/YOUR_GOOGLE_SHEET_ID/edit#gid=0",
"cachedResultName": "Sheet1"
},
"documentId": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "list",
"value": "YOUR_GOOGLE_SHEET_ID",
"cachedResultUrl": "https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/YOUR_GOOGLE_SHEET_ID/edit?usp=drivesdk",
"cachedResultName": "Your Spreadsheet"
}
},
"typeVersion": 4.7
},
{
"id": "7382aa66-57a2-4b51-a88f-c6f17254c2ba",
"name": "Set Video to Embargo Status",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.youTube",
"position": [
1936,
384
],
"parameters": {
"title": "={{ $json.snippet.title }}",
"videoId": "={{ $json.id }}",
"resource": "video",
"operation": "update",
"categoryId": "={{ $json.snippet.categoryId }}",
"updateFields": {
"privacyStatus": "={{ $(\"Split Due Videos\").item.json.targetStatus }}"
}
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "7a4f4d94-4b94-435b-9c15-730966db6d8b",
"name": "Post Nothing Due Notice",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
"position": [
1328,
448
],
"parameters": {
"text": "No YouTube videos were due for embargo today. Nothing to un-publish.",
"select": "channel",
"channelId": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "list",
"value": "YOUR_SLACK_CHANNEL_ID",
"cachedResultName": "your-channel"
},
"otherOptions": {
"includeLinkToWorkflow": false
}
},
"typeVersion": 2.5
},
{
"id": "28e5a9fb-636d-4532-b86c-2493f3e68ca3",
"name": "Post Embargo Recap",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.slack",
"position": [
2368,
240
],
"parameters": {
"text": "=*YouTube embargo run complete*\n\nThe following videos are now at their embargo status:\n{{ $(\"Get Current Video Details\").all().map((v, i) => \"\u2022 \" + (v.json.snippet.title || v.json.id) + \" (\" + v.json.id + \") is now \" + $(\"Split Due Videos\").all()[i].json.targetStatus).join(\"\\n\") }}",
"select": "channel",
"channelId": {
"__rl": true,
"mode": "list",
"value": "YOUR_SLACK_CHANNEL_ID",
"cachedResultName": "your-channel"
},
"otherOptions": {
"includeLinkToWorkflow": false
}
},
"executeOnce": true,
"typeVersion": 2.5
},
{
"id": "64347221-ddd6-4045-a07e-b060e4038848",
"name": "Sticky Note 0276c973",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
-96,
-32
],
"parameters": {
"width": 556,
"height": 776,
"content": "## Auto un-publish expired YouTube videos on a schedule\n\n### How it works\n1. A schedule trigger runs the workflow once a day.\n2. Google Sheets reads a control sheet of videos, each with an unpublish date and an optional target status.\n3. A Code step selects rows whose unpublish date has passed and that are not yet marked `Expired`, using a fixed timezone.\n4. For each due video, YouTube fetches the current details and any video already at its target status is skipped.\n5. YouTube sets the remaining videos to `private` or `unlisted`, preserving the existing title and category.\n6. Google Sheets marks each processed row `Expired` and Slack posts a recap, or a \"nothing due\" note.\n\n### Setup steps\n- [ ] Connect a YouTube (Google) OAuth2 credential on both YouTube nodes.\n- [ ] Connect a Google Sheets credential and pick your embargo control sheet.\n- [ ] Give the sheet the columns `videoId`, `Unpublish Date`, `Target Status`, and `Status`.\n- [ ] Connect a Slack credential and choose the channel for the recap.\n- [ ] Set the `TIMEZONE` constant at the top of the `Select Due Videos` node.\n\n### Customization\nRun the schedule more than once a day, switch the default target from `private` to `unlisted`, or keep the `Unpublished At` column to timestamp every change."
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "fc23712d-b2f6-4f06-97f8-e91c9536e1a3",
"name": "Sticky Note 359ba2dc",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
512,
256
],
"parameters": {
"color": 7,
"width": 548,
"height": 264,
"content": "## Read and select due rows"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "1904ce18-362e-484e-9af0-d854134e4875",
"name": "Sticky Note 0b2f745e",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
1104,
160
],
"parameters": {
"color": 7,
"width": 412,
"height": 480,
"content": "## Branch on due count"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "1556509d-c78c-42e0-8e64-14d71548c96c",
"name": "Sticky Note 803ce945",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
1568,
160
],
"parameters": {
"color": 7,
"width": 520,
"height": 412,
"content": "## Confirm and un-publish"
},
"typeVersion": 1
},
{
"id": "03fa87ed-c2f2-4106-b752-23f664afc43c",
"name": "Sticky Note e880fa60",
"type": "n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote",
"position": [
2144,
160
],
"parameters": {
"color": 7,
"width": 412,
"height": 248,
"content": "## Log and notify"
},
"typeVersion": 1
}
],
"active": false,
"settings": {
"binaryMode": "separate",
"availableInMCP": true,
"executionOrder": "v1"
},
"connections": {
"Run Daily at 6am": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Read Embargo Schedule",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Split Due Videos": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Get Current Video Details",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"If Any Videos Due": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Split Due Videos",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Post Nothing Due Notice",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Select Due Videos": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "If Any Videos Due",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Mark Row as Expired": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Post Embargo Recap",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"If Already at Target": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Mark Row as Expired",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
],
[
{
"node": "Set Video to Embargo Status",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Read Embargo Schedule": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Select Due Videos",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Get Current Video Details": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "If Already at Target",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
},
"Set Video to Embargo Status": {
"main": [
[
{
"node": "Mark Row as Expired",
"type": "main",
"index": 0
}
]
]
}
}
}
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About this workflow
This workflow runs daily and checks a Google Sheets embargo schedule for YouTube videos whose unpublish date has passed, then updates their privacy status on YouTube and logs the result back to the sheet while sending a recap (or “nothing due”) message to Slack. Runs every day…
Source: https://n8n.io/workflows/17091/ — original creator credit. Request a take-down →
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