How to get a YouTube video transcript

YouTube transcripts are useful for people who are hard of hearing or for those who are on the subway and want to listen to their favorite podcast. With a transcript enabled, you can read what the person in the video says, without even having to listen to the video.

If you are interested in knowing how to get a YouTube video transcript on different devices, read on.

How to find the transcript of a YouTube video on a computer

Finding the transcription option for a YouTube video is relatively simple. However, not all videos will have transcripts. Only those with subtitles allow you to watch one. Please note that many videos have automatic transcripts which may not always be of the best quality. But some video creators make their own transcriptions, which are often more accurate.

In general, the quality of the transcription depends on the clarity of the video audio, accents, dialects, etc. Here’s how to find the transcript if the video has subtitles:

1. Open your favorite browser and launch YouTube.

2. Log in to your account.

   

3. Play the video you need a transcript for and click the three horizontal dots below the video.

   

4. Select Open transcript.

   

5. The transcript will be visible to the right of the video.

   

Note: Below the transcript, you’ll probably see English. If you tap on that, there may be several language options, including English (automatically generated). It is always better to choose English instead of Auto generated option for greater precision.

How to download the CC transcript of a YouTube video

What if you saw a recipe on YouTube and would like to download the transcript for reference? Can you do that? Although there is no “Download” button, it is still possible to download the transcript:

1. Once you’ve turned on transcription, tap the three dots in the top right corner.

   

2. Choose Toggle timestamps.

   

3. The transcript will not include a time period.

   

4. Select the transcript as you would select any text.

   

5. Open your preferred application, such as Notes or Word.

   

6. Right click on the transcript and select Copy.

   

7. Paste it into the document using Ctrl + V on Windows or Cmd + V on Mac.

   

How to get a YouTube video transcript on phones

Phones don’t have the same option to search for a YouTube video transcript as computers. Therefore, you can’t turn it on and watch it on the side of the video. Instead, users can activate CC or subtitles. However, this feature still allows you to see the words and understand what the video is about without having to listen to it.

Depending on the video, you will have a variety of languages ​​available or only English. Subtitles are usually accurate, with a small chance of errors.

Check out the steps below to enable CC on a YouTube video:

1. Open the YouTube app.

   

2. Find and select the video and then tap the three dots in the top right corner of the video.

   

3. Choose Subtitle and then select the desired language.

   

4. Click anywhere on the screen and play the video with CC.

   

How to get a YouTube video transcript on computers

If you prefer to see the subtitles on the video, all you have to do is activate CC:

1. Open the browser and start YouTube.

   

2. Click the gear icon on the video.

   

3. Click on Subtitles/CC.

   

4. Choose the language.

   

5. Tap anywhere on the screen.

   

How to get a YouTube video transcript for each video

If you watch CC videos frequently, you don’t need to turn on subtitles for every video. Instead, it is possible to enable the CC option for all videos when you watch them on a computer. Here’s how to do it:

1. Launch the browser and open YouTube.

   

2. Log in to your account.

   

3. Click on the profile picture in the upper right corner of the screen.

   

4. Scroll down to Settings.

   

5. Find Playback and performance on the left.

   

6. Low Subtitles and closed captionsallow Always show subtitles.

   

That’s all. All videos you play on your computer will display subtitles.

How to transcribe a YouTube video with Google Docs

Downloading video transcripts is not a problem if a transcript is available. But if there is not, you will have to resort to Google Docs and its voice function. This handy tool does a good job of transcribing the video. It may not be the best quality, but you can always go back to the video and make the necessary changes. Here’s how to transcribe the video with Google Docs:

1. Open Google Docs and click Tools main menu tab.

   

2. Select voice typing.

   

3. A microphone icon will appear to the left of the blank space.

   

4. Open YouTube and search for the video to transcribe.

   

5. Now, go back to Google Docs and click on the icon.

   

6. Play the YouTube video to start transcribing.

   

The only problem with this tool is that the transcription time is the same as the length of the video. So, if you need to transcribe a 30-minute video, Google Docs will take the same amount of time to finish the process.

In addition to English, Google Docs can also transcribe other languages. Here’s how you can do it:

1. Once you enable voice typing, you’ll see a microphone icon.

   

2. Click the drop-down menu above the microphone to see all available languages.

   

3. Choose the language you need.

   

Additional FAQs

Is there anything we haven’t answered about YouTube video transcriptions? If so, see the next p for more information.

How do I create a transcript for YouTube?

If you are a content creator, transcribing YouTube videos should be one of your skills. Take a look at the steps below:

1. Sign in to your YouTube Studio.

2. On the left, select the Subtitle eyelash.

3. Tap the video where you want to add a transcript.

4. Choose Add language and choose your preferred language.

5. Under subtitles, select Add.

How do I convert a YouTube video to text?

There are many applications that allow users to convert a YouTube video to text. Some of the most popular ones are Rev Voice Recorder, Tami Record and Transcribe, etc.

Between these two, Rev Voice Recorder offers the best results because it is possible to choose human transcription services, which means that transcribers will listen to a video and transcribe it for you. The other uses speech recognition to provide transcripts.

Why should you know how to transcribe a YouTube video?

Learning to transcribe YouTube videos is not only beneficial for people with hearing problems. It’s also a good trick to remember when you want to watch a video but can’t hear it very well. For example, perhaps you are in a crowded environment, such as a subway or a busy coffee shop, or the speaker is not working clearly and consistently.