I created this tutorial to show how to get the full transcript of any YouTube video — whether you’re the creator or just want to reference the content. Here’s the video:

Transcripts are incredibly useful. They can help you study a topic, quote a source, or repurpose content for blogs or captions. YouTube actually has a built-in transcript tool — but most people overlook it.

In the video, I show two main methods:

  1. On desktop, open any video, click the three dots (More options) under the video (next to the save button), then select “Show transcript.” This opens a side panel with the full text and timestamps.
  2. If you’re the video’s creator, go into YouTube Studio > Subtitles, where you can download your transcript in various formats, including plain text or with timecodes.

I also demonstrate how to copy and paste the transcript into Google Docs, remove timestamps if needed, and even turn it into blog content or subtitles for repurposing.

If you’re using the transcript for research or note-taking, it’s a game-changer.

Have you used YouTube transcripts before, or is this new to you?