Transcribing YouTube videos is simple. Just paste the video URL and get a complete transcript with AI-powered summaries and notes.
How to Transcribe a YouTube Video
Step 1: Copy the YouTube URL
Go to YouTube and copy the URL of the video you want to transcribe. You can use:
- The full URL from your browser address bar (e.g.,
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...) - The share link from YouTube’s share button
- Short links (e.g.,
https://youtu.be/...)
Step 2: Paste the URL
In your dashboard, click the Import button and paste the YouTube URL into the input field.
Step 3: Start Transcription
Click Import or Transcribe. The video is processed automatically. How long that takes depends on which route the video qualifies for: if it already publishes a caption track, that track is read straight from YouTube and the length of the video barely matters. If it does not, the audio has to be transcribed, and then length does matter.
Step 4: Access Your Transcript
Once complete, the transcript appears in your library. You’ll get:
- Full transcript with timestamps
- AI summary of the key points
- Searchable text to find specific moments
- Shareable link to send to others
Email Delivery Option
You can also receive transcripts directly by email:
- Enable email notifications in your account settings
- Paste the YouTube URL
- The completed transcript is delivered straight to your inbox
This is perfect for processing videos while you’re away from your dashboard.
What You Can Do with Your Transcript
- Search: Find specific words or phrases instantly
- Export: Download as text, SRT subtitles, or other formats
- Share: Send a link to colleagues or embed in documents
- Ask AI: Use the AI chat to ask questions about the video content
- Create clips: Navigate to specific timestamps and create highlights
Supported YouTube Content
You can transcribe most public YouTube videos including:
- Educational content and tutorials
- Podcasts and interviews
- Conference talks and presentations
- Product reviews and demos
- Lectures and webinars
Limitations
- Private videos: You can only transcribe videos that are publicly accessible
- Age-restricted content: Some restricted videos may not be available for import
- Live streams: Currently airing live streams cannot be transcribed until they end
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does transcription take?
It depends on whether the video already has captions.
Videos with a caption track are read directly from YouTube, so they come back in about 15 seconds regardless of how long the video runs. Measured across 1,774 production imports in July 2026, the median was 14.7 seconds and nine in ten finished inside 29 seconds. That text is YouTube’s own, so the accuracy figures we publish describe our AI transcription rather than those captions. Videos with no caption track are transcribed from the audio, which takes longer and scales with the length of the video.
What languages are supported?
Transcription supports 99 languages. The system automatically detects the spoken language. See our Supported Transcription Languages guide for the full list.
Can I transcribe private YouTube videos?
No, only publicly accessible videos can be imported. For private content, download the video and upload it directly.
Is there a video length limit?
Your plan determines the maximum video length. Check your account limits in the dashboard.
Need Help?
If you encounter issues transcribing YouTube videos, contact us at [email protected].