How to Get a YouTube Transcript in 5 Steps [Desktop & Mobile] in 2025
98% accurate, real-time transcription in just a few clicks. 58 languages and multiple platforms supported.
Do you need a YouTube transcript for work, school, or just for fun? You could use YouTube's built-in transcription feature, but it's basic and sometimes makes silly mistakes. Even though it's easy to use, it may not be worth it. You'll have to spend a lot of time editing to get an accurate, readable transcript.
If you need a high-quality transcript, there are other great options available, like Notta's AI-powered transcription tool. Notta creates a much more accurate YouTube transcript, with proper punctuation, formatting, and over 40 language translation options.
In this article, we’ll show you how to get a transcript of a YouTube video on your computer or mobile device in five simple steps. We’ll also show you how to use Notta to get an accurate, polished transcript that's ready to share without any extra editing.
How to get the transcript of a YouTube video on a computer
These are the steps to follow if you’re accessing YouTube via a web browser on your desktop or laptop.
Follow these steps if you're visiting YouTube through a web browser on your desktop or laptop.
Step 1: Select the video on YouTube
Go to YouTube and navigate to the video content you want to transcribe.
Step 2: Expand the video description
Scroll to the description section below the video. Look for the ‘...more’ link in the description, and click it to expand the section to see more details.
Step 3: Click on ‘Show transcript’
Scroll through the description box until you see the ‘Show transcript’ button.
Click the 'Show transcript' button to display the transcript on the right-hand side of the video (shown below). You can click on each timestamp to jump directly to that moment in the video.
You can also use the search bar in the top right corner to find specific keywords and save time. It’s helpful if you’re watching long or complex videos, like educational content.
AI places the timestamps in YouTube transcripts automatically, so it may be hard to find a specific moment. You may even see timestamps located in the middle of sentences. If they aren't helpful, open the 'Options' menu using the three vertical dots in the top corner of the transcript window. Select 'Toggle timestamps' to hide them.
Step 4: Select the correct language
In the bottom left of the transcript box, you'll see the current transcript language. Click the down arrow to display a list of other languages available.
Some videos do not have multiple language options to choose from, so you may only see the default language.
Step 5: Copy, paste, and save the transcript
Now you’re ready to save the transcript. However, YouTube doesn’t allow you to download transcripts directly. Use your cursor to select the transcript text, then copy and paste it into a Google Doc, Microsoft Word document, or your favorite text editor.
At this point, you have a raw transcript ready to save and review.
As you can see in the screenshot above, you'll have to go over each line manually to create a readable text document.
If you want to avoid time-consuming edits, your best bet is to automatically generate transcripts with Notta’s advanced AI.
Skip the manual work and generate accurate YouTube transcripts in just one click.
How to get the transcript of a YouTube video on mobile
The steps for getting a YouTube video transcript on your mobile device are similar to getting one on your computer. The key difference is that you can't copy and paste the transcript text into a document to save it.
Here's how it works:
Step 1: Open the video in the YouTube app
Launch the YouTube app and open the video you want to transcribe.
Step 2: Click ‘...more’ in the description
Locate the ‘...more’ button below the video title. It may be hard to see at first!
Click the '...more' button to display the full description box.
Step 3: Click the ‘Show transcript’ button
Click the ‘Show transcript’ button, and the transcript will appear on your screen below the video. Depending on the content in the description box, you may need to scroll down to see the button.
The YouTube transcript generator doesn’t label multiple speakers, so long videos with a lot of dialogue may be hard to follow.
Step 4: Select your preferred language
To select your preferred language, tap the three vertical dots in the upper right corner of the transcript box.
Some videos may not have multiple language options. You also won’t be able to hide the timestamps on mobile.
Step 5: Save the transcript
To save a copy of the transcript, use your mobile device to screenshot the transcript text.
Unfortunately, screenshots are the only way to save transcripts in the YouTube mobile app. It does not allow you to copy and paste the transcript text into another app.
Accurate YouTube video transcripts that you can download and share with ease
The easiest way to get accurate YouTube transcripts: Use Notta
YouTube's automatic transcription is not very accurate, which means you'll need to spend time reviewing and heavily editing transcripts. For a 30-minute YouTube video, that could take hours of manual work.
Notta AI is a more reliable alternative with an accuracy of up to 98%. That means your transcripts come out nearly perfect from the start. It also has features you won't get with YouTube, like a built-in editor, speaker identification, and AI summaries.
Notta's transcription services also support 58 languages, including English, German, Japanese, and Hindi.
Here’s how to get a full transcript from a YouTube video using Notta in just a few clicks.
Step 1: Sign up for Notta
Sign up for an account on Notta’s web app and head over to the dashboard. You can also download the free Notta Chrome extension and create an account.
Step 2: Accurately transcribe your videos
There are three options for transcribing YouTube videos on Notta:
Import the YouTube URL: Click 'Upload & transcribe' on your dashboard, then copy and paste the video URL. Notta will then automatically generate transcripts for your video.
Notta Chrome Extension: Play the video you want on YouTube, and the extension will automatically convert speech to text by recording audio from the active Chrome tab.
Live transcribe on the web app: Use your computer’s microphone to record high-quality audio and transcribe it in real-time from a video playing on YouTube.
Step 3: Edit your YouTube transcript
Once the video-to-text conversion is done, you can edit, highlight, or delete text from the transcript using Notta's built-in editing tools.
Notta also offers intelligent features like speaker identification and timestamps for clearer video transcripts with better readability.
Step 4: Summarize the YouTube video
Once you're finished editing your transcript, you can generate a YouTube video summary using Notta’s AI Notes feature.
Navigate to the AI notes column on the left-hand side of your window. Click ‘YouTube Video’ and the AI will generate your summary using the template.
Step 5: Get your transcripts on mobile
To access your transcripts on an iPhone or Android device, download the Notta app from the Apple App Store or the Google Play Store.
Open the app on your phone, log into your account, and you’ll find all the transcripts you’ve created.
Select the YouTube video transcript you’d like to access, and then you can view or edit it on the go.
Step 6: Download your transcripts
Once Notta has finished transcribing the audio or video, Pro and Business users can download the entire text as an SRT, DOCX, PDF, or TXT file and convert the audio to MP3.
Whether it's a lecture, interview, or business meeting on YouTube - Notta's AI instantly recognizes and delivers a detailed word-for-word transcript within minutes. Aiding your note-taking and studying.
Get YouTube transcripts quickly and easily
With Notta, you can easily generate and share a full transcript file of any YouTube video you want. You can live transcribe or record a YouTube video while you watch it, use the Chrome extension to convert audio to text without a microphone, or quickly generate text directly from the video URL. It’s also easy to access the files on multiple devices, including mobile.
FAQs
How do I get a transcript from YouTube?
To get a video transcript from YouTube, scroll to the description box and click ‘Show transcript.’ A pop-up with the transcript text will appear to the right of the YT video.
YouTube’s auto-generated text is often filled with errors. Notta can generate a more accurate transcript in just a few clicks, saving you time and effort during the editing process.
Can I download a YouTube transcript?
No, you can’t download YouTube subtitles or transcripts directly from the platform. It only lets you view the auto-generated transcripts and subtitles of YouTube videos.
To get a transcript file of a YouTube video, click ‘Show transcript’ under the video's description. Copy the text from the transcript and paste it into your favorite text editor.
Do all YouTube videos have transcripts?
No, not all YouTube videos have transcripts. If the video you want doesn’t have one, you'll have to use third-party transcription software. The Notta Chrome extension allows you to transcribe and translate YouTube videos in real time. Once your transcript is ready, you can export it into multiple file formats or share it online with a handy link.
