YouTube Video Transcript Extractor

Extract a readable text transcript from public YouTube videos and Shorts with available captions. Review lessons, follow interviews, and find key moments in a timestamped TXT file with our free YouTube video transcript extractor. No login or installation needed.

Up to 1 GB and 1 hour. Files are available for 24 hours.

Supported platforms:YouTubeYouTube Shorts

SRT, VTT, ASS, and TXT include start and end times. LRC uses line start timestamps.

Choose a caption language available on the video. This does not translate or generate new subtitles.

Waiting for verification settings

Extracted YouTube Transcripts

Paste a YouTube video link to extract its text transcript

Extract YouTube Video Text in 3 Steps

  1. Copy the YouTube video link

    Copy the link to a public YouTube video with captions you are authorized to use, such as your own lecture, interview, or tutorial.

  2. Choose the caption language

    Paste the link and select an available caption language. Choose TXT for reading, or SRT, VTT, ASS, or LRC for subtitle and timed-text workflows.

  3. Read your video transcript

    Select Get file when extraction finishes. Open the TXT transcript in a text editor to read, search, or copy passages while keeping their timestamps.

Turn YouTube Captions into a Readable Transcript

Read videos as text

Review a captioned video’s words at your own pace. TXT presents each passage with its start and end time, without subtitle sequence numbers.

Find the moment you need

Search the downloaded transcript in your text editor, then use its timestamps to locate the matching section of the video.

YouTube video to text converter

Turn existing caption tracks into a text document for reference and note-taking. No new speech recognition or translation is performed.

TXT transcripts and subtitle formats

Download a readable TXT transcript by default. Choose SRT for timed captions in a compatible player or subtitle editor.

Choose the source language

Extract the caption track you want from the languages the video provides. Creator-provided and YouTube-generated captions are supported when available.

Use it in your browser

Extract transcripts on mobile or desktop without installing an app. Save the finished file to read in your preferred text editor.

Only download subtitles from YouTube videos and Shorts that you own, have permission to download, or are otherwise authorized to use. Public availability does not mean a video is free of copyright restrictions, and personal or non-commercial use alone does not grant permission to download it.

You are responsible for ensuring that your downloads and any copying, sharing, modification, or commercial use comply with applicable copyright laws, the content owner’s permissions, and the source platform’s terms. downvideo does not grant rights to third-party content and is not affiliated with or endorsed by YouTube or Google.

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FAQs

How do I extract a YouTube video transcript?

Paste the video link, select an available caption language, and choose Extract transcript. When processing finishes, select Get file to download your timestamped TXT transcript.

How is a transcript different from a subtitle file?

A transcript is useful for reading, searching, and taking notes about a video. SRT subtitles are designed for timed playback in a player or editor. This tool defaults to TXT for reading; both tools extract the same available caption tracks and preserve timing.

Can I use this as a YouTube transcript downloader?

Yes. Download the video’s existing captions as a TXT transcript with start and end timestamps. You can also select SRT, VTT, ASS, or LRC. LRC keeps line start times; the other formats keep start and end times.

Does the YouTube video to text converter work without captions?

No. A caption track must be available in the selected language. This extractor is not a YouTube video transcriber that recognizes speech from audio. It cannot generate text for videos without captions.

Can I copy or search the transcript?

Download the TXT file and open it in a text editor. Use the editor’s search and copy functions to work with the text. There is no transcript preview or editing interface on this page.

How accurate is the extracted text?

The text reflects the source captions, including any errors or omissions in automatically generated captions. Check important passages against the original video before quoting them.

Can I extract a transcript from YouTube Shorts?

Yes, if the public Short has a supported caption track in the selected language. Paste its Shorts link using the same process.

Do transcripts include timestamps and how long are files available?

Both TXT and SRT keep each caption’s start and end timestamps. Collect the completed file within 24 hours using the same browser session. Rate and capacity limits apply.

Which YouTube links are supported?

Use an HTTPS link to one public video from YouTube or YouTube Shorts. Standard watch links, youtube.com/shorts links, and youtu.be share links are supported. Playlists, live streams, and videos requiring login are not supported.

  • youtube.com/watch?v={video_id}
  • youtube.com/shorts/{video_id}
  • youtu.be/{video_id}