How to Create a Google Cloud Project for YouTube Shorts Automation
Welcome to Part 1 of Automate YouTube Shorts with Python. Today, you will learn how to create a Google Cloud project, the first step toward turning existing videos into Shorts and uploading them to your channel. I am signing in with my Dumb IT Dude account. The steps are the same, so use your own project name.
Before our Python script can work with YouTube, we need a Google Cloud project to hold its API and authorization settings. This article covers project creation only. We will enable the YouTube Data API and create the OAuth credentials in the following parts.
The setup has five stages: create a Google Cloud project, enable YouTube Data API v3, configure Google Auth Platform and test users, create a Desktop app OAuth client, and store its credentials in a local .env file. Today we are completing the first stage.
How to Create a Project in Google Cloud Console
Step 1: Open Google Cloud Console and create a project.
Step 2: Sign in with the Google account you want to use for this setup. In my case, I am choosing the account for my Dumb IT Dude channel.
Step 3: If this is your first visit, Google may show a welcome dialog asking you to select your country and review its terms. Read the information and continue if you agree.
Once done you will see the actual page of Google Cloud Console and its many options.
Step 4: Click Select a project in the top bar. Even if you have not created a project yet, this is where you open the project picker and find the option to create one.
Step 5: In the project picker, click New project near the top-right corner.
Name and Create Your Project
Step 6: Replace the default project name with something recognizable, such as DumbITDudeShorts. If you are using a personal account and No organization is available, leave that selected for the parent resource.
Note: You do not need to set up an organization for this personal-channel walkthrough. If you are using a managed work account, your available parent resources may be controlled by your administrator.
Step 7: Check the project name, then click Create.
Wait for Google Cloud to finish creating the project. The notification will show a completion indicator and a Select project option.
Step 8: Click Select project in that notification. Alternatively, open the project picker again and select the project you just created.
There you go: your Google Cloud project is ready. Check the project name in the top bar before continuing, so you do not accidentally configure a different project.
Creating the project does not yet give the script access to your YouTube channel. We still need to enable the YouTube API and complete the OAuth setup. You do not need to create a virtual machine or buy cloud hosting for the local Python workflow in this series.
Named Your Project Differently?
You may have noticed The Hidden Pea Shorts Maker in some of my screenshots instead of Dumb IT Dude Shorts Maker. I mixed up the name while setting up projects for my channels, which gave us a useful opportunity for another walkthrough!
If you have done something similar, there is no need to start over. Follow my step-by-step guide to renaming a Google Cloud project. It shows how I corrected the display name while keeping the same project ID. Once you are happy with your project name, come back here and continue with the next part.
Next in Automate YouTube Shorts with Python: Part 2: enable YouTube Data API v3. After that, we will configure Google Auth Platform, add test users, and create the Desktop app credentials. Keep this project selected for the next part.
For another route to the same project-creation form, see Google’s official project setup instructions. You can also explore more beginner-friendly tutorials on Dumb IT Dude.
