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How to See YouTube Video Transcript
Every method to see a YouTube transcript on desktop, mobile, and embedded players, plus a fallback when the transcript button does not appear.
Published November 7, 2025
YouTube bakes transcripts into every video that has captions. Here is how to see them quickly.
Desktop instructions
- Open the video and locate the
...button next to Save. - Click Show transcript.
- A transcript column slides out on the right. Resize or undock it as needed.
- Click any line to jump to that timestamp.
Mobile instructions
- Tap the video title (or the downward chevron) to expand the description area.
- Scroll until you find Show transcript and tap it.
- The transcript appears under the video with a search icon and timestamp chips.
- Tap a timestamp to seek instantly.
Embedded or shared links
- If the video is embedded on a website, click the YouTube logo to open it in a new tab—only the full watch page has the transcript drawer.
- In a shared playlist link, add
&t=0sto the URL to reset the player; the transcript option appears more reliably.
If transcripts are unavailable
- Captions have not been generated yet (common right after premieres and live streams).
- The creator disabled captions manually.
- The video is age-restricted or private.
- YouTube rolled out the transcript UI to your region later than others.
When that happens, paste the URL into YouTube Transcript Fast. We fetch captions through the same back-end YouTube uses, so you can still read, copy, or download the text even if the button is missing.
Bonus features in YouTube Transcript Fast
- Works with Shorts and ultra-long podcasts.
- Lets you copy or download without timestamps.
- Includes a word counter so you can estimate reading time.
- Requires zero installs or sign-ups.
FAQ
Can I search within the transcript? Yes. Use the search box inside the panel, or press Ctrl/Cmd + F. Our tool also has a built-in keyword search.
Do I need Premium? No. Transcripts are free for every account type.
Will private videos show transcripts? Only if you are logged into the channel that uploaded the video. The same rule applies when using our converter—you must be able to watch the video in your browser.