YouTube videos to text
YouTube to transcript converts a public YouTube video or Short into editable, timestamped text. Paste the link and the tool imports the creator’s captions when they exist, which costs no credits, or transcribes the audio when they do not. Copy the text or download TXT, SRT or VTT.
Public YouTube videos and Shorts only. Private, members-only and removed videos cannot be read.
Simple workflow
Copy the link from the address bar or the Share button. youtu.be short links and Shorts work too.
Paste the URL above and press the arrow. Existing captions are imported; otherwise the audio is transcribed.
Review the timestamped transcript, correct names and terms, then copy it or download TXT, SRT or VTT.
Import existing captions for free or transcribe the audio. Search a long video like a document, jump to any timestamp and export TXT, SRT or VTT.
YouTube video
Transcript
Click a timestamp to jump to that moment
Good content starts with a clear idea, but the useful details often live inside the recording.
A timestamped transcript makes every quote searchable and keeps it connected to the original moment.
Review the wording, fix names, then export the transcript or turn it into the next piece of content.
When the video already has usable captions, they are imported without spending transcription credits.
No captions? The audio is transcribed instead, so almost any public video works.
Jump from any line back to the matching moment in the video.
Fix names, jargon and punctuation directly in the browser editor.
Export notes as plain text or reuse the words as subtitles.
Lectures, podcasts and interviews work within your plan’s duration limit.
Compare
YouTube has a built-in transcript panel, but it is not available on every video and is awkward to copy. Here is how the options compare.
| Method | Best for | Limitation |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube’s transcript panel | Quick reading on one video | Missing on some videos, hard to export or edit |
| Typing it by hand | A few sentences | Far too slow for anything long |
| YouTube to transcript (this tool) | Clean, editable text with exports | Public videos only |
| Download audio, then upload | Files you own | More steps and local storage |
Built for real work
Turn a lecture into searchable notes and review key points faster.
Repurpose your own videos into blog posts, newsletters and threads.
Search a long interview for the exact quote you need.
Start from clean source text before translating or subtitling.
Practical guidance
01
A long YouTube video hides its best moments. A transcript lets you search the whole thing like a document, copy a quote and jump to its timestamp. For creators, it is also the fastest way to turn a finished video into written content without retyping a word.
Because existing captions are imported for free when they are usable, you only pay for transcription when the video really needs it.
02
A transcript turns a video into a document you can work with. Search it for a name or a number, copy the passages you need into your notes, translate it, or use it as the base for an article, a summary or a set of subtitles. Each line keeps its timestamp, so you can always jump back to the exact moment and check the context.
For long videos such as lectures, interviews and podcasts, reading is often faster than watching. Skim the transcript first, then watch only the parts that matter.
03
Only public videos can be fetched from a link. Private, members-only, age-restricted and removed videos, and some live streams, may fail. Review the transcript before quoting it, and only reuse a video’s words when you own it or have permission.
Curious who built this and why? About IG to Transcript.
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