How To Get a Transcript Of a YouTube Video? A Quick Guide
November 26, 2025Almost everyone has been using YouTube for quite a long time. Only a few of us know about the transcript feature of YouTube. It was primarily introduced to make the YouTube videos easily comprehensible for everyone.
It can help both creators and their audience in different ways. Are you curious about what a YouTube video transcript is? Why did YouTube introduce this feature?
In this article, we will talk about the transcript in detail including how the audience benefits from it. Continue reading to know the answers and detailed steps for getting a transcript from YouTube directly.
What is a YouTube Video Transcript?
A YouTube transcript is the text version of a YouTube video. You can make the transcript by yourself by writing and refining the text manually. For creator’s ease, YouTube can also generate the transcript automatically. This scrollable text can be copied and saved for later use.
Reasons for Transcribing a YouTube Video
Why do creators transcribe a YouTube video? It is because it helps:
Boosting SEO
To make search engine optimization easier, it may be beneficial for creators to add a transcript in every video they upload on YouTube. The search engines understand the context of the video better when it analyzes this text.
If the transcript is focused on the high-ranking keywords in your niche, algorithm will recommend your video as relevant content even when a user is not subscribing to your channel.
Enhancing Accessibility
How would a person with hearing issues or who is deaf get access to your content?
A transcript is similar to captions or subtitles in a video. In this way, they will be able to comprehend everything that is going on in the video.
In addition, providing a transcript with a YouTube video ensures compliance with the general accessibility laws. The law stipulates that all content that is posted on a web should be easy to access, as well as be understood by all, including persons with disabilities. It is to ensure inclusivity for everyone irrespective of their gender, race, or disabilities.
Improving User Experience
You would rather go to the important section of the video than wasting time on introduction, when you are in a hurry. There is where a transcript can help. Through this text description, you can take a glance at the content of the video. This enables you to directly find the section that has the information you require.
In addition, some people prefer audio for learning while others prefer data in the form of texts. Attaching a transcript along with the video makes your content accessible in different formats. People can even understand the context of the video in noisy environments by reading the transcript.
Repurposing the Content
When you have a transcript to your YouTube video, you can reuse it in the rest of your channels in different ways. You can also turn it into an insightful blog and post on your website. The data mentioned in the video can even be used for research purposes.
You can use it as a script for a live broadcast on any other channel. If there is a moment that got famous from your video, you can recreate it word by word and be a trend.
Attracting International Audience
Because the captions of a video on YouTube are created based on the transcript, a precise transcript can help YouTube in creating accurate auto-generated subtitles. It renders your content easier to understand by international audience.
In this way, a simple transcript can help a creator gain fans worldwide. It increases the reach of your channel, increases views, and ultimately improves SEO.
How To Get a Transcript Of a YouTube Video Using YouTube’s Built-In Transcript Option
How to Get a YouTube Video Transcript on a Mobile Device?
Here’s how to get transcript from YouTube video using a mobile device:
- Step 1: Go to the YouTube app on your phone and search the video.

- Step 2: Click on it to play it. Just below the title, you will see a “More” option.

- Step 4: Continue scrolling down and you will see a Transcript option below “chapters.”
- Step 5: Click on “Show transcript” and it will show you details including music, captions, etc.

How to Get a YouTube Video Transcript on a Desktop Browser?
Let’s be realistic. Not everyone wants to use a mobile to watch videos. Laptops or personal computers have big screens to provide a better immersive experience. Fortunately, you can even generate a transcript on a web-browser easily. Just follow these steps:
- Step 1: Open the YouTube official site on the web browser.

- Step 2: Enter the name of the video in the search bar to find it.
- Step 3: Open the video and tap on the “More” option.

- Step 4: Skip the description and continue scrolling. There you will find the “Transcript.”
- Step 5: Click on it and you will be able to view YouTube transcript with all the details.

When to Choose an External YouTube Transcription Application?
You can also use third-party transcription applications to get a transcript for the YouTube video of your interest. You can choose an external application when:
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- Transcript not available: The transcripts are not available in all the YouTube videos. Not all videos have the transcript because the creator might have disabled this option or the text has not yet been generated by YouTube yet.
- Misinterpreted Transcript: YouTube automatically generates the transcript by means of automatic speech recognition technology. In a case of loud music in the video or the audio is distorted or subpar, the transcript might contain false or incomplete details. So you will need an extra tool.
- Incomplete Formatting: If you want the transcript of a video for academics or blogs, it should have perfect formatting. However, YouTube’s built-in transcript generator does not precisely add formatting.
- Long Videos: If you want a transcript for long videos, it is better not to rely on YouTube. It may not always handle lengthy videos well and lag while generating transcripts. Third-party apps can process these videos more smoothly.
Using Vmake for Extracting YouTube Video Transcript
Vmake is a highly potent tool that can be used to extract transcript from a YouTube video effortlessly. Whether it is a video or just an audio, it can precisely generate a transcript. You can download the transcript in different formats and languages.
This allows users to download the text in their native language and understand the context easily. Since the tool provides an editable output, you can also adjust the text according to your requirements.
On top of everything, it is an online free tool so anyone can access it from any corner of the world. You just need to have the URL of that video and this text-generator will do the remaining work.
To use this YouTube video transcript generator:
- Open your web browser and go to Vmake Video to transcript tool.
- Click on “Upload” to provide the video you want text transcription for. You can upload 3 files at once.
- Choose the language you would like your file in and proceed.
- Once ready, click on “Download” to save it.
Conclusion
The availability of a transcription for a YouTube video has improved the accessibility of the video for everyone. Owing to this text format, even deaf and disabled people can have fun and enjoy their free times on YouTube. They can easily understand the context of the video.
Some people also use the transcript of a YouTube video for academic purposes like learning or research. However, an auto-generated transcript is not always accurate. Third-party apps like Vmake Video to transcript converter can help generate precise transcripts. Try it now and see the difference by yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is it possible to download YouTube transcript in the form of a text file?
The text may be directly copied in the transcript of a YouTube video and then pasted into a Word file to save it. Direct downloading of a file on YouTube is not possible. You will need the assistance of an external application to obtain the transcript in the form of a file directly in the video present on YouTube.
2. What is the accuracy of YouTube auto-generated transcripts?
The correctness of an auto-generated script of a YouTube video relies on a number of variables. These are music, background sound, sound quality and accent of the main host of the video. When an accident is easily understandable, music is not excessive, and there are very few background sounds, it may be accurate with up to 80%.
3. How to Get a Transcript that is Disabled by the Content Creator?
When a transcript of a video on YouTube is not provided directly, it can be downloaded in some other way. Install a third party application like Vmake which can help you create the text file with precise data. This powerful AI tool can help generate a YouTube video transcript within minutes.