How to Copy YouTube Transcript

Copying text from a YouTube transcript should not be a chore. Use the shortcuts below so you can move straight to summarizing, translating, or quoting.

Use YouTube’s transcript panel

1. Click the ... menu beneath the video title and select Show transcript.
2. Inside the panel, toggle timestamps off if you want plain sentences.
3. Click inside the panel, press Ctrl/Cmd + A to select everything, and then Ctrl/Cmd + C to copy.
4. Paste into Notes, Notion, Google Docs, or any word processor.

Common hiccups

• Long videos lag: Scroll once to the bottom before selecting everything so the panel loads every line.
• Line breaks look messy: Use a text editor that supports paste without formatting (Shift + Cmd + V on macOS).
• The panel closes when you click outside: Open it in a separate window by popping out the video (Picture-in-Picture) so you can keep the transcript visible while editing.

One-click copy with YouTube Transcript Fast

For instant results, paste the URL into YouTube Transcript Fast and hit Convert. When the transcript loads, press Copy—the tool removes timestamps and odd line breaks automatically.

Extra perks

• Works on Shorts, live replays, and standard videos.
• Captures transcripts even when the YouTube UI says “Transcript not available”.
• Keeps the text in a clean panel where you can count words or search without reloading the watch page.

Power tips

• Need only a quote? Use the search box inside the transcript panel. Each result shows the timestamp you can click.
• Keyboard workflow: Cmd/Ctrl + F for search, Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + C to copy with formatting, Shift + Cmd/Ctrl + V to paste plain text.
• Batch copy: Keep our converter open; press Copy, paste into your doc, swap the link, repeat. No rate limits.

FAQ

Will captions from other languages copy correctly? Yes. Select the language track you need before copying. Our converter outputs UTF-8 text, so every character set stays intact.

Can I copy transcripts from unlisted videos? If you have permission to watch the video, yes. Paste the unlisted URL into the converter and you will get the text privately.

Is there a way to export to Word or PDF automatically? Copy the transcript into Google Docs or Word and choose Download > PDF—that is the fastest way today. We focus on clean text output so you can format it however you like.