How do I extract a YouTube transcript?

Simply paste a YouTube video URL on our homepage and click 'Extract Transcript'. The full transcript with timestamps will appear instantly. You can then search, copy, or export it as SRT, VTT, or plain text.

Is YTTranscript.AI free to use?

Yes! Free users get 25 transcripts per month with 5 AI actions. Paid plans start at $9.99/month for 1,000 transcripts and 500 AI actions.

What export formats are supported?

We support Plain Text (.txt), SRT (SubRip subtitles), and VTT (Web Video Text Tracks) export formats. All formats include timestamps.

What AI features does YTTranscript.AI offer?

Our AI features include Summary, Mindmap, Q&A, Quiz, Flashcards, Study Guide, Blog Article, Clean Transcript, and Translation. These help you transform video content into actionable formats.

Can I extract transcripts in bulk?

Yes! Paid plans support bulk transcript extraction from entire YouTube playlists and channels. You can process hundreds of videos at once and export all transcripts.

What languages are supported?

We support 100+ languages. Our tool auto-detects available caption languages for each video, and you can also use AI translation to translate transcripts into any language.

YTTranscript.AI

Step-by-step guide

How to View a Transcript
on YouTube

Two ways to access YouTube transcripts: the built-in method and the faster alternative. We'll show you both.

Skip the YouTube menus — paste any URL for instant transcript

Method 1: YouTube's Built-In Transcript

Works on desktop YouTube — limited features

Open the Video

Go to YouTube and open the video you want to view the transcript for.

Click the Three Dots

Below the video player, click the '...' (three dots) button next to the Save button.

Select 'Show Transcript'

Click 'Show Transcript' from the dropdown menu. The transcript panel opens on the right side.

View & Copy

The transcript appears with timestamps. You can click timestamps to jump to that part of the video.

Limitations of YouTube's Viewer:

Can't search within the transcript

Can't export as SRT or VTT files

Can't copy the entire transcript easily

No AI summaries or analysis tools

Doesn't work on all mobile browsers

No bulk extraction for playlists

Method 2: YTTranscript.AI (Recommended)

Faster, more features, works everywhere

Paste URL

Copy the YouTube URL and paste it above.

Click Extract

Full transcript with timestamps in 2-3 seconds.

Search, Copy, Export

Search, copy, export TXT/SRT/VTT, use AI tools.

The YouTube Built-In Transcript: What It Does (and Doesn't Do)

YouTube has a built-in transcript viewer that's useful for quick reference. You can see the text of what's being said, and click timestamps to jump to specific parts. However, it has significant limitations: you can't easily copy the full text, there's no search function, you can't export to subtitle formats, and it doesn't offer any AI-powered analysis. For simple viewing, it works. For anything beyond that — studying, content creation, research, accessibility compliance — you need a more powerful tool.

The Faster Alternative: YTTranscript.AI

Instead of navigating YouTube's menus, just paste the video URL above. In 2-3 seconds, you get the complete transcript in a clean interface where you can search for any word, copy the entire text with one click, export as TXT/SRT/VTT, and use AI to summarize, create quizzes, generate mindmaps, and more. It works on all devices and supports 100+ languages — everything YouTube's built-in viewer doesn't do.

How to View Transcripts on Mobile

On the YouTube mobile app, transcripts are accessed differently: tap the video title to expand the description, then tap 'Show Transcript'. On some devices and app versions, this option may not be available. YTTranscript.AI works on all mobile browsers — just paste the URL and extract. No app needed, no menu hunting, same full features as desktop.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I open a transcript on YouTube?

On desktop: click the three dots '...' below the video → 'Show Transcript'. On mobile: tap the video title → 'Show Transcript'. Or use our tool above for a faster, more feature-rich experience.

Why can't I see the transcript option on YouTube?

The transcript option doesn't appear if the video has captions disabled or if the creator has turned off the transcript feature. Some mobile app versions also hide this option. Our tool can still extract captions if they exist on YouTube's servers.

Can I copy the full transcript from YouTube?

YouTube's built-in viewer makes it hard to copy the full text. Our tool provides a clean, copyable transcript with one-click copy to clipboard functionality.

How do I get YouTube transcripts on mobile?

The YouTube app has limited transcript access. Use our tool in your mobile browser — paste the URL and get the full transcript with all features.

Is there a faster way to view YouTube transcripts?

Yes — paste the video URL in our tool above. You get the transcript in 2-3 seconds with search, export, and AI features that YouTube's viewer doesn't offer.

Try the Faster Way

Free. No sign-up. Full transcripts in seconds.

View pricing plans →

How to View a Transcripton YouTube