How to Get a Transcript from a YouTube Video
Quick Answer: To get a transcript from a YouTube video natively: 1) Open the video. 2) Click the "..." (More actions) button below the player. 3) Select "Show transcript". The text will appear on the right. Alternatively, paste the video link into our free extractor above to instantly get the clean, unformatted text.
Trying to find the exact words spoken in a YouTube video? Getting the transcript is the easiest way to read along, pull quotes, or take notes without repeatedly rewinding the video. In this guide, we will show you both the native YouTube method and the fastest automated method to get the transcript.
Why Use Our Tool?
Save Time
Instantly locate the information you need in long videos.
Clean Formatting
Our tool strips out the timestamps so the text flows like an article.
No Software Needed
Get transcripts directly from your browser.
Core Features
Native Method
Uses YouTube's built-in interface.
Automated Method
Uses our free tool to bypass messy formatting.
Mobile & Desktop
Instructions work across all your devices.
How It Works
Find Video
Go to your desired YouTube video.
Copy Link
Copy the URL from the address bar.
Extract Text
Paste it into our tool to instantly get the full transcript.
Step-by-Step Guide
Step 1: Copy the Video Link
Open YouTube and copy the URL of the video you want the transcript for.
Step 2: Paste into the Extractor
Paste the link into the transcript tool at the top of this page.
Step 3: Click Extract
Hit the "Get Transcript" button to fetch the data from YouTube.
Step 4: Copy or Download
Once the text appears, use the copy button or download it as a TXT file.
Who is this for?
Students
Get transcripts of educational videos to use as study notes.
Journalists
Accurately quote video interviews without manual typing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can't I get a transcript for a specific video?
If a video has no spoken audio, or if the creator specifically disabled auto-captions, a transcript will not be available.
Is getting a transcript free?
Yes, viewing transcripts on YouTube and extracting them with our tool is 100% free.