How to Download Transcript from YouTube

Need a readable copy of what was said in a YouTube video? You can save it in a couple of clicks.

Built-in download workflow

1. Open the video on desktop and click the ... (More actions) button next to Save.
2. Choose Show transcript. A transcript panel appears on the right side.
3. Click the ⋮ menu inside the panel and turn Toggle timestamps off if you want plain sentences.
4. Select all text in the panel (Cmd/Ctrl + A) and copy it.
5. Paste into your notes app or Google Docs and save as .txt or .docx.

This works, but there is no native “Download” button—especially painful for 2-hour podcasts. Use the faster options below if you need a clean file instantly.

YouTube Transcript Fast method

1. Visit YouTube Transcript Fast.
2. Paste the video, live stream, or Shorts URL.
3. Click Convert.
4. Once the transcript appears, hit Download to save a tidy .txt file or Copy for the clipboard.

Why this is easier

• Removes timestamps automatically so you can drop the text into blogs or summaries.
• Works even when YouTube’s transcript button is greyed out.
• Handles very long uploads without freezing the browser panel.
• Requires no login, API key, or extensions.

Tips for perfect exports

• Keep timestamps if you are editing video. Leave them on and paste into Excel—each line is ready to align with clips.
• Switch languages first. Inside YouTube’s transcript panel, choose the language you want before copying so you don’t have to translate later.
• Need SRT or subtitles format? Copy with timestamps on, then use any timestamp-to-SRT converter. Our tool currently outputs clean text for easier reading.
• Batch downloads: Keep our converter tab open and paste the next URL—no rate limits.

FAQ

Can I download transcripts from the mobile app? Not directly. Use our converter in your mobile browser, or open youtube.com in desktop mode.

Will this capture auto-generated captions? Yes. As soon as YouTube generates them, the transcript becomes available for copying or downloading.

Is it legal to download transcripts from other channels? You can save them for research, note-taking, or accessibility. Always follow copyright rules before republishing.