SpiikHow do I see the transcript of a YouTube video for free?
- Open the video on YouTube.
- Expand the description below the video.
- Choose Show transcript.
- Tap or click any line to jump to that part of the video.
YouTube shows a transcript for any video that has captions. Captions come from the creator, or from YouTube's automatic captions, which YouTube says are made by speech recognition and can get words wrong because of accents, dialects or background noise. If a video has no captions, there's no transcript to show.
When to use Spiik instead
Use Spiik when the video has no captions, when you need the text in a file, or when you'd rather read a summary than watch. Spiik transcribes the audio itself in more than 100 languages, labels speakers, and exports text, PDF, SRT or VTT. From the transcript, AI Tools can write a summary or notes, and you can ask the chat about the video.
For your own video files, see how to convert a video to text.
Only transcribe videos you have the right to use, such as your own uploads or content whose owner allows it.
Frequently asked questions
Does YouTube have a transcript feature?
Yes. For videos with captions, open the description and choose Show transcript. The transcript scrolls with the video, and you can tap a line to jump to that point.
Why can't I see Show transcript on a YouTube video?
YouTube only shows a transcript for videos that have captions. If a video has none, Spiik can transcribe it from the link.
Can I download a YouTube transcript?
YouTube's help page on transcripts doesn't describe a download option. In Spiik, you can export the transcript as text or PDF, or as SRT or VTT subtitles with timestamps.
Can I get a YouTube transcript in another language?
Yes, with Spiik. Turn on Translation and choose a language before you tap Transcribe. Spiik transcribes and translates in more than 100 languages.
How long can the video be?
Spiik Pro transcribes up to 2.5 hours per video, with no monthly minute cap. The free version transcribes the first 60 seconds.