YouTube videos are packed with valuable information that's often trapped in audio form. Maybe you need to reference a specific detail without rewatching an entire tutorial, or you're a creator looking to make videos on your YouTube channel more accessible. Or perhaps you're trying to transform that brilliant interview into social media posts without transcribing it manually—a task about as enjoyable as untangling earbuds.

A transcript isn't just helpful—it's transformative. It turns spoken words into searchable, copyable text that you can reference, quote, or repurpose. It makes your content accessible to more people and helps search engines understand what your videos are actually about. Yet many creators never tap into this resource simply because they don't know how.

YouTube doesn't exactly put this feature front and center, but you don't need a Premium account or technical skills to access transcripts. The process works on both computers and mobile devices, and in this guide, we'll walk through it step by step. Even if your tech skills stop at pressing play, you'll be extracting valuable transcripts in minutes.

Why you need YouTube video transcripts

Creating YouTube transcriptions might seem like an unnecessary step in your content creation workflow, but the document has lots of hidden potential. Transcripts improve accessibility, boost SEO, enable content repurposing, and make your videos searchable—all while reaching a wider audience including those who prefer reading to watching.

• Improve rankings. Your transcript is jam-packed with keywords that search engines use to determine the context of a video. Simply adding your transcript to your video description can help with YouTube SEO.
• Make content more accessible. Transcriptions are the foundation of subtitles. When people can see what you're saying on-screen in real-time, it instantly makes your YouTube videos more accessible to those who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing.
• Reach an international audience. Some YouTube transcript generators can support multiple languages, which opens you up to a global audience of non-English speakers.

💡 Pro tip: Streamline your video uploading workflow by letting AI do all the work for you. Descript's YouTube Description Generator will write a concise description—including timecodes and chapters—on your behalf.

Understanding W3C accessibility requirements for video transcripts

For publicly available videos, the W3C’s WCAG guidelines help ensure transcripts assist those who are d/Deaf or hard of hearing, as well as anyone who prefers text. They specify that transcripts must accurately reflect all spoken words, plus meaningful non-speech sounds, to meet WCAG 2.1 standards. Inaccurate or incomplete transcripts can lead to inadvertent exclusion of some viewers. By including speaker identification and relevant visual context, you align with W3C-recommended inclusivity principles. These efforts not only elevate content quality but also protect against potential legal issues related to accessibility compliance. Proper transcript implementation even bolsters your SEO, since search engines can index text-based material more effectively.

How to get YouTube video transcripts on desktop

Step 1: Select your YouTube video

Go to YouTube in your web browser and search for the video you want a transcript of. Make sure closed captions are enabled on the video. Most professional content like lectures, interviews, and tutorials will have captions available, though some music videos or informal content might not.

Step 2: Navigate to the video description

Open the video. Beneath the video title there'll be a set of options, including the option to view More.

Step 3: Click on "Show transcript" option

After clicking More, the video description will appear. You'll also see the option to Show transcript. This is the gateway to accessing the written content of the video.

The transcript will appear on the right hand side of the video.

Step 4: Select your transcript language

Fortunately, YouTube's auto-generated captions work in multiple languages. You can select any language for your YouTube transcription from the dropdown list. This multi-language support makes transcripts valuable for international audiences or language learners who want to follow along with content in different languages.

Step 5: Copy and save your YouTube transcript

There aren't many transcript options to adjust YouTube's default text. You can only toggle time stamps on and off. YouTube also doesn't have direct download options, which limits how you can work with the transcript.

If you want to download the transcript from YouTube, you'll have to copy and paste without formatting into a Google Doc or Microsoft Word file. For Macs, the paste without formatting keyboard shortcut is Command + Shift + V. For Windows, it's Ctrl + Shift + V for most apps.

Be warned: The newly pasted YouTube transcript isn't very sexy. You'll have to fix it up to get a good looking transcript that's ready to use. This typically means adding proper formatting, removing timestamps if needed, and correcting any transcription errors.

How to get YouTube video transcripts on mobile

Pulling a YouTube video transcript on an iPhone or Android device is pretty much the same as doing it on your desktop. The only difference is you can't copy and paste the transcript to a document—you can only read it. This limitation means mobile users need to access a computer for full transcript functionality. Below is a tutorial with more detail.

Step 1: Locate your YouTube video

On your phone, tap on the YouTube app icon to open it. Use the search bar at the top to type in keywords, titles, or the name of the channel to find the video you're interested in.

Step 2: Access the video details section

Tap the video you want a transcript for. Once it's loaded, tap ...More underneath the title.

Step 3: Tap "Show transcript" button

Next, you'll see details about the video, including the amount of likes, number of views, publish date, and a description. Scroll down until you see the Show transcript button, and tap it.

Step 4: Use timestamps to navigate the video

Once you have the transcript open, there will be a toggle option for time stamps. You can turn these on or off, depending on your preference. Clicking on a specific timestamp will jump to that part of the video.

Step 5: Select your transcript language

Not all videos will have translated transcripts, but if they do, there will be an option to choose from the available languages.

Step 6: Review your YouTube transcript

Unfortunately, YouTube doesn't provide a direct download option for transcripts. You can't copy and paste the text into another document to edit, either. If you just need to grab a quote, your best bet is to type it into a document manually. If you want to download the entire transcript, you'll need to go on a computer and grab the transcript there.

Expanding your reach with multilingual transcripts

For creators looking to engage global audiences, multilingual transcripts open doors to new viewership and inclusive experiences. When you provide translations using ITS 2.0 markup, you can maintain crucial metadata for text clarity and layout alignment. Additionally, XLIFF-supported workflows ensure seamless integration with professional translation services. Subtitles primarily handle language translation, whereas captions focus on accessibility needs, so combining both can reach multiple user segments effectively. Generating transcripts in various languages fosters brand loyalty by honoring diverse linguistic backgrounds. A well-structured approach can even reveal unexpected growth periods as new viewers discover your multilingual content.

3 tools to extract YouTube video transcripts

YouTube's default transcript tool is a little hit and miss. Its accuracy isn't the greatest—you'll likely need to spend time combing through the text file to fix errors, add proper punctuation, and correct speaker identification. That's where these four alternatives come in handy.

1. Descript's free automated transcription tool

In the past, transcription was a labor-intensive process that required manual effort or outsourcing. Automated transcription services like Descript have emerged as a result of machine learning, drastically cutting transcription time and effort.

Descript is an audio and video editing software that allows users to edit multimedia content like a text document. With it, you can automatically transcribe audio and video files. You can even import YouTube videos with just a link, making it a powerful YouTube transcript generator for content creators.

If you want to go through with a fine-tooth comb, you can manually correct the transcript in a user-friendly editing interface. It even has keyboard shortcuts that let you automatically change capitalization and punctuation without typing them out manually.

Descript can distinguish between different speakers and label them accordingly in the transcript. Your transcript is also time-coded and synced with the audio or video. So, you can click on a word in the transcript and immediately jump to that part in the audio or video—a feature that makes navigating long content much easier.

Podcasters, video editors, and creators can all benefit from automated transcription. Say you're editing an interview and realize there's a section you want to cut. You can simply edit the text version, and the audio will adjust automatically, leaving you with a highly accurate transcript that saves hours of manual work.

Pros of Descript's YouTube transcription tool: • Automatically identifies and labels different speakers • Allows you to easily edit the transcript and audio simultaneously • Provides accurate timestamps for easy navigation • Offers translation capabilities for international audiences • Integrates with your video editing workflow

• Fast, automatic transcription
• Editing the transcript also edits the audio or video, though you can make text corrections without editing the file as well
• Import YouTube videos by pasting in the link
• Cloud-based and accessible anywhere
• Export the YouTube transcript as an SRT file for easy repurposing
• Excellent speech recognition

Cons of Descript's YouTube transcription tool: • Requires an account to use (though there is a free tier) • May need minor manual corrections for perfect accuracy • Learning curve for new users unfamiliar with the platform

• Not 100% accurate; might require manual revisions
• Subscription-based pricing might not be suitable for one-time users

2. Manual transcription methods

Before AI technology, transcribing was done manually. This involved someone diligently typing out every word with the help of headphones and a foot pedal. Even today, manual transcription is preferred for important projects like legal cases or qualitative research.

It can take hours to transcribe a long video, or even just an hour of content. If you're not a professional transcriptionist, you probably won't enjoy manually transcribing YouTube videos.

Pros of manual transcription: • Complete control over formatting and style • No reliance on technology or internet connection • Ability to add custom notes or annotations • Perfect for highly technical or specialized content with unique terminology

• High accuracy if done properly
• Transcriber can add notes, time stamps, and nuances

Cons of manual transcription: • Extremely time-consuming (typically 4-5 hours per hour of content) • Prone to human error and inconsistencies • Requires good typing skills and attention to detail • Can be physically taxing for long videos

• Time-consuming
• Requires human resources; can be costly

3. Professional video transcription services

If you want manually generated YouTube transcripts without actually typing it out yourself, consider leaning on a professional transcription service. Popular options include Rev, GoTranscript, and TranscribeMe.

While accuracy is high with this YouTube transcription option, turnaround times can be slow. It's also more expensive since you're paying a person (not a free tool) to transcribe the content for you.

Pros of professional transcription services: • High accuracy rates (typically 99%+) • Professional formatting and speaker identification • Time savings for content creators • Available in multiple languages • Good for legal or medical content requiring certification

• High accuracy rate
• Most services offer quality control for things like grammar, spelling, and punctuation
• Good contextual understanding to clarify questions in the transcription

Cons of professional transcription services: • Expensive (typically $1-$3 per minute of audio) • Turnaround times can range from hours to days • Limited control over formatting choices • May struggle with heavy accents or poor audio quality

• Can be very expensive, especially if you're transcribing lots of videos
• Transcripts aren't instant—there's a delay for someone to manually transcribe the video

Best YouTube video transcription software

Gone are the days of trying to transcribe an audio clip or podcast episode, or paying an expensive transcription service to do the hard work for you. With Descript, you can easily convert spoken words into written ones with our free audio-to-text tool.

Simply paste in the YouTube link to Descript, and within minutes you'll have an accurate, time stamped transcript ready for editing. Even if your video has multiple people speaking, Descript identifies and labels them accurately. This makes it especially valuable for interviews, podcasts, and panel discussions where speaker identification is crucial.

How to repurpose YouTube transcripts with Descript

We're biased, but Descript is the best YouTube transcription tool for YouTubers. And we're not the only ones who think so. Millions of creators rely on Descript's video editing suite to produce top-notch videos.

All free plans include advanced features that let you create world-class transcriptions, including: • Speaker detection to identify who's talking • Timestamp accuracy for easy navigation • Filler word removal to clean up transcripts • Editing capabilities for both text and audio • Export options for various formats

• Filler Word Removal to banish “ums” and “uhs” from your YouTube transcript
• Speaker labels to clearly identify who's talking
• Automated subtitles that turn your transcripts into on-screen captions
• Timestamps that help people find specific parts of your video through the transcript
• Collaboration tools to work on a transcript with your team

Millions of brands and creators are already using Descript for their audio and video content. Join them by signing up for your free account today.

YouTube video transcript FAQ

Can I turn a YouTube video into a transcript?

To turn a YouTube video into a transcript, locate the three dots beneath the video and choose Show transcript from the drop down menu. YouTube will show the auto-generated transcript in the side menu. This method works for any YouTube video that has captions enabled.

How do I transcribe a YouTube video for free?

1. Download the YouTube video file
2. Upload the video into Descript's free transcription tool
3. Wait for Descript to transcribe the video
4. Edit your transcription

How to save a YouTube transcript as a Word document?

To turn your YouTube video transcript into a Word Document, upload the file into Descript. Use AI features to remove filler words and add speaker tags, then copy and paste the edited YouTube transcript into a new Google Doc or Microsoft Word file. This gives you a clean, formatted transcript ready for publishing or sharing.

Do all YouTube videos have transcripts?

YouTube doesn't create an automated transcript for every video. If the creator has disabled the transcript for a video you want to transcribe, download the file and upload it into Descript. The transcription software will automatically generate one for you, even when YouTube's built-in options aren't available.

Why are transcripts useful for teachers?

For teachers, video transcripts turn lengthy lectures into searchable text, helping them pinpoint specific moments for lesson planning. This structure aligns with W3C recommendations because it ensures accessibility for all students, including non-native speakers and those who prefer reading. They can also clip particular segments for flipped classrooms, saving time once spent manually scanning for the right passage. Overall, transcripts streamline lesson creation and encourage active learning.

How can I format subtitles for different languages effectively?

Employing ITS 2.0 markup ensures that vital metadata, like language identifiers, remain intact throughout translation. For more advanced projects, XLIFF helps integrate professional translation services without disrupting formatting. These standards maintain synchronization in your subtitles, so the text aligns with on-screen dialogue. Using a single structured workflow prevents errors and seamlessly accommodates multiple languages. By adhering to these global best practices, you give your multilingual audience a frictionless experience.