01
Paste the YouTube link
Copy a standard youtube.com watch URL, a YouTube Shorts URL or a youtu.be short link, then paste it into the link field above.
Works with public YouTube videos & Shorts
Free YouTube Transcript Generator
Turn a public YouTube video into searchable, editable text with timestamps and speaker labels. Link tasks started here currently use English (US) recognition.
Drop audio or video here
Choose a file from your device and turn it into an editable transcript.
Choose a fileMP3, WAV, M4A, MP4, MOV, WebM and more
No app or extensionPublic videos only10 free minutes monthly
Need to record?Start live transcriptionDefault English (US) recognition
Timestamped lines
Speaker labels
5 export formats
What is a YouTube transcript?
A YouTube transcript is the spoken audio of a YouTube video written out as searchable text. Unlike playback captions, it lets you read the full conversation, find a phrase, follow timestamps, correct names and reuse quotations in one place. ScribeTo turns accessible audio from a public video or YouTube Short into an editable document without downloading the media first.
- Do I need to download the video?
- No. Paste a supported public link; ScribeTo retrieves the accessible media without saving a video file to your device.
- Do I need an app or extension?
- No. The generator runs in desktop and mobile browsers, with no extension or separate application to install.
- Which videos can be processed?
- Public videos and YouTube Shorts usually work when their media is accessible. Privacy, location, age, membership and live-stream restrictions can prevent access.
- How much can I try for free?
- A free account includes 10 transcription minutes each month. Review the result before deciding whether you need more.
How to get a YouTube transcript in 3 steps
Go from a public link to an editable YouTube video transcript without moving a video file onto your device or installing extra software.
02
Let speech recognition transcribe it
ScribeTo accesses the available audio and runs speech recognition while showing task progress. Link tasks started here currently use the default English (US) recognition setting.
03
Review, edit and export
Correct wording, rename speaker labels and search the full transcript. Then copy the text or export it as TXT, Markdown, SRT, VTT, JSON.
Which YouTube links work?
ScribeTo accepts these three common link forms when they point to public, accessible media. Tracking parameters do not change the underlying video.
Supported link formats
youtube.com/watch?v=UxxajLWwzqYUse the regular watch-page address copied from a desktop or mobile browser.
youtube.com/shorts/UxxajLWwzqYPublic YouTube Shorts use the same transcription workspace as standard videos.
youtu.be/UxxajLWwzqYYouTube's official youtu.be short link resolves to the same video ID.
Why a link may be unavailable
Private or members-only videos
Private and members-only videos require access that ScribeTo does not request or bypass.
Deleted or unavailable videos
Deleted or unavailable videos cannot provide audio for speech recognition.
Region-restricted or age-restricted videos
Region-restricted and age-restricted media may block audio access even when some viewers can open the page.
Inaccessible live media
An unfinished live stream or one without accessible media cannot be processed like a public upload.
What your YouTube transcript includes
The result is a working transcript, not unstructured text. Read beside the audio, navigate by timestamp and make corrections before exporting.
00:12
Host
The useful question is not how much information we collected, but what decision it changes.
03:48
Host
Start by naming the claim, then return to the original evidence before quoting it.
17:05
Guest
That timestamp matters because listeners can check the surrounding context for themselves.
31:22
Host
Once the wording is correct, the transcript can become notes, captions or a draft without another round of listening.
Export transcript
TXTMarkdownSRTVTTJSON
Editable textTimestampsSpeaker labelsTXT / SRT / VTT
One searchable, editable transcript
Read the complete spoken content, search phrases and edit terminology, names or punctuation directly.
Timestamps for every segment
Each segment keeps its source position. Select a line to check a quotation, lesson or interview answer.
YouTube captions vs a ScribeTo transcript
YouTube captions support playback. ScribeTo turns accessible audio into a document for reading, correction, search and reuse.
Transcript needYouTube captionsScribeTo transcript
Transcript need
Read the whole video as text
YouTube captions
Captions appear in timed pieces, and transcript availability depends on the video.
ScribeTo transcript
The complete transcript is one document you can scan, select and copy.
Transcript need
Correct names and terminology
YouTube captions
Viewers generally cannot rewrite another creator's caption track.
ScribeTo transcript
Edit words and punctuation while listening, then reuse the corrected version.
Transcript need
Identify speakers
YouTube captions
A caption track may not name who said each line.
ScribeTo transcript
Speaker labels separate the conversation and can be renamed throughout.
Transcript need
Search and return to context
YouTube captions
Playback captions follow the current moment rather than act as a research document.
ScribeTo transcript
Search a phrase, select its line and use the timestamp to verify context.
Transcript need
Use the transcript elsewhere
YouTube captions
The viewing interface does not offer ScribeTo's editable export set.
ScribeTo transcript
After review, export TXT, Markdown, SRT, VTT or JSON.
Transcript need
When existing captions are unavailable
YouTube captions
Without creator captions or a usable automatic track, a native transcript may be unavailable.
ScribeTo transcript
ScribeTo can run speech recognition on accessible audio. Private or otherwise inaccessible media may fail.
Who uses YouTube transcripts?
A transcript keeps a long video useful after the first watch, without repeated timeline scrubbing.
Students reviewing lectures
Turn a lecture or tutorial into searchable study material. Revisit difficult explanations by timestamp and build notes from the full argument.
Explore this workflowResearchers checking interviews
Find an interview quotation, correct it while listening and retain the timestamp needed to verify context.
Explore this workflowCreators repurposing long videos
Use the reviewed transcript for show notes, article outlines, clips or captions while keeping the original timing nearby.
Explore this workflowMarketers extracting audience insights
Read webinars and public interviews as text to compare recurring questions, positioning and language without replacing the original source.
Explore this workflow99 languages across configurable workflows
ScribeTo's wider transcription and translation workflows offer a broad language catalog, with availability depending on task configuration. Link tasks started here currently use the default English (US) recognition setting.
English
Simplified Chinese
Spanish
French
German
Japanese
Portuguese
Arabic
Start free, then choose how to continue
Try real YouTube transcription with the free allowance, then choose a one-time minute pack or recurring plan if needed.
Free monthly allowance
A free account receives 10 transcription minutes and 3 AI actions each month, with no card required.
One-time minute packs
Buy non-expiring transcription minutes without a subscription for occasional or project-based work.
Plus and Pro subscriptions
Subscriptions raise monthly transcription and AI allowances while keeping the same editor and export workflow.
YouTube transcript questions
Answers about supported links, missing captions, exports, timing and access limits.
How do I get the transcript of a YouTube video?+
Copy a public youtube.com watch, YouTube Shorts or youtu.be link. Paste it above and start the task. ScribeTo turns accessible audio into timestamped text for review, copying and export.
Is this YouTube transcript generator free?+
A free account includes 10 transcription minutes and 3 AI actions monthly, with no card required. For more time, add a minute pack or subscription; free access is not unlimited.
Can I get a YouTube transcript without downloading the video?+
Yes. Paste a supported public link; ScribeTo retrieves accessible media for speech recognition. No local video download is needed, although access restrictions can stop the task.
Can ScribeTo transcribe YouTube Shorts?+
Yes. Public, accessible YouTube Shorts use the regular video workflow. Paste the youtube.com/shorts address and review the transcript before export.
Can I transcribe a YouTube video that has no captions?+
ScribeTo can run speech recognition on accessible audio instead of requiring an existing caption track. Private, deleted, restricted or unavailable media cannot provide usable audio.
Does the YouTube transcript include timestamps and speaker labels?+
The transcript has timestamped segments for returning to relevant moments. Distinguishable voices receive speaker labels that you can rename during review.
Which YouTube transcript formats can I export?+
Export the reviewed transcript as TXT, Markdown, SRT, VTT, JSON. Choose text for writing, SRT or VTT for timed subtitles, or JSON for structured segments.
Why is a private or restricted YouTube transcript unavailable?+
ScribeTo needs accessible media. Private, deleted, region-restricted, age-restricted, members-only and inaccessible live media can fail. ScribeTo does not request your YouTube login or bypass restrictions.
Turn a public YouTube link into text you can use
Paste a public video or YouTube Shorts link for searchable text with timestamps and speaker labels. Review it against the source, then export.