Creating short-form videos like YouTube Shorts doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right workflow, you can automate idea generation, script writing, voiceover, video creation, and publishing — all powered by AI. In this guide, you’ll learn how to automate YouTube Shorts creation with n8n, an open-source workflow automation tool that connects AI services and content platforms with minimal effort.
If you’re new to this tool, don’t worry — here’s a full guide on how to use n8n to get started before setting up your workflow.
This powerful workflow is built for:
Content creators who want to publish Shorts consistently
Digital marketers who need scalable video strategies
Social media managers automating their content pipelines
Brands and startups with limited time or editing teams
If you’ve been manually editing every video, now is the time to automate YouTube Shorts creation with n8n and shift your focus back to creative strategy and growth.
What Problem Does This Workflow Solve?
Publishing high-quality YouTube Shorts regularly takes:
Time-consuming script writing
Natural-sounding voiceovers
Engaging visuals and precise editing
SEO optimization and metadata setup
Doing this manually drains creative teams. This workflow lets you automate YouTube Shorts creation with n8n, reducing the entire process to a 2-step approval system through Telegram — without compromising quality.
What This Workflow Automates for You
Here’s what happens inside this AI-powered n8n workflow:
AI Content Ideas & SEO Scripts
OpenAI generates titles, descriptions, and complete scripts based on your spreadsheet inputs. They’re optimized for YouTube’s algorithm to boost engagement.
Voiceover Creation
The ElevenLabs API produces natural, human-like voiceovers automatically — no microphones or editing software needed.
Visual Asset Generation
Replicate or custom AI image models create thumbnails and visuals aligned with your content branding.
Auto Video Assembly
Tools like Creatomate or FFmpeg combine voice, visuals, and transitions to produce ready-to-upload Shorts with a consistent look and feel.
YouTube Publishing
The final video is published automatically through the YouTube API with proper metadata, tags, visibility settings, and scheduling if needed.
You stay in control by reviewing and approving the AI’s initial script and final video from Telegram. The rest is 100% automated.
Setup: What You Need Before You Begin
To automate YouTube Shorts creation with n8n, prepare the following:
✅ n8n installation (self-hosted or cloud)
✅ Telegram Bot (for approvals and notifications)
✅ OpenAI API Key (for script generation)
✅ ElevenLabs API Key (for voice synthesis)
✅ Replicate API Key (for visual creation)
✅ Cloudinary or image hosting
✅ Creatomate API (for video generation)
✅ 0CodeKit API (for script processing)
✅ YouTube Data API (to publish content)
All API keys are stored securely inside n8n using the “Set API Keys” node, and setup typically takes just 15 minutes with our visual step-by-step instructions.
Learn how to get API Key in these platforms
Customization Options for Your Brand
This isn’t a one-size-fits-all setup — here’s how to tailor it:
Voice options: Choose the voice that best fits your brand
Visual styles: Over 40+ image models for different aesthetics
Video types: Switch between animation, talking head, or infographic formats
Script prompts: Refine tone, length, humor, and language level
Publishing settings: Control tags, categories, and privacy options
Each step includes color-coded notes for easy customization — even for beginners.
By learning how to automate YouTube Shorts creation with n8n, you’re not just saving time — you’re building a sustainable, AI-enhanced content pipeline. Whether you’re running one channel or managing video content across multiple platforms, this setup helps you scale output without burning out your team.
