NowTextStudy lectures and courses
Transcribe educational videos to search concepts, review explanations, and write notes without replaying entire videos.
YouTube Transcript Generator
Convert YouTube videos to text for free. Paste a link to get transcripts instantly. No sign-up required.
YouTube transcript
Transcribe YouTube videos to text
Paste a YouTube URL and get a timestamped transcript. Click any sentence to replay that moment, verify quotes, and copy the full text.
- Auto punctuation for easy reading
- Timestamps for replaying specific moments
- Edit mistakes and copy finished text
YouTube · Productivity tips for remote work Copy Transcript
- 00:02Welcome back. Today I will share three productivity tips that helped me stay focused while working from home.
- 00:08The first tip is to create a dedicated workspace. Having a specific area for work helps your brain switch into focus mode.
- 00:15Second, use time blocking. I schedule specific tasks for specific hours, which prevents decision fatigue.
- 00:22Finally, take regular breaks. I use the Pomodoro technique: twenty-five minutes of work, then a five-minute break.
Example transcript. Accuracy depends on audio quality.
Use cases
What you can do with YouTube transcripts
Convert video to text. Review lectures, pull quotes for articles, or transcribe spoken content into written drafts.
Research interviews and talks
Find quotes in podcasts, conference talks, and interviews. Verify exact wording before citing.
Repurpose video content
Convert YouTube videos into blog posts, articles, or social media content by editing the transcript.
Create show notes and summaries
Transcribe podcast episodes, then pull key points and quotes for show notes.
Analyze competitor content
Study how others structure scripts and phrase messages by reading transcripts instead of rewatching.
Translate and localize
Start with an accurate transcript, then translate to other languages or adapt for different audiences.
How it works
How to transcribe YouTube videos
Works on desktop and mobile. No software needed.
- 01
Copy the YouTube URL
Open a YouTube video, click Share, then Copy. Or copy the URL from your browser address bar.
- 02
Paste and transcribe
Paste the link above, select the language or use Auto Detect, then click Start Transcribing.
- 03
Review and copy
Read the timestamped transcript, replay sentences to verify details, and copy text for your notes.
Troubleshooting
Link not working? Check these first
Most issues come from link format, video access, or audio quality.
Use the share link
Click Share on the video and copy the link. Channel or playlist URLs will not work.
Check video access
Private, unlisted, deleted, or region-restricted videos may not be accessible. Ensure the video is public.
Check the video length
The maximum supported YouTube video length is 60 minutes.
Verify important details
Use timestamps to replay and check names, numbers, and technical terms before quoting.
More tools
Other ways to transcribe
Video to Text Upload MP4, MOV, or other video files to transcribe spoken audio.Audio to Text Transcribe MP3, WAV, and other audio recordings into editable text.Link to Text Convert video links from YouTube, TikTok, and other platforms to text.TikTok Transcribe TikTok videos. Supports short-form video.
FAQs
Common questions
Is YouTube transcript generator free?
Yes. Paste a link and start transcribing—no payment, no signup.
What is the duration limit for YouTube videos?
NowText supports YouTube videos up to 60 minutes long. For longer videos, save the audio, use Audio Trimmer to cut it into clips of 60 minutes or less, then upload the clips for transcription.
How do I get a transcript?
Copy the YouTube video URL, paste it above, choose the language or Auto Detect, then click Start Transcribing. Works independently of YouTube captions.
Can I transcribe on mobile?
Yes. Open a video in the YouTube app, tap Share and Copy link, then paste the link in your mobile browser. No app installation needed.
What is the difference from YouTube captions?
YouTube captions are subtitles created by the uploader or auto-generated by YouTube. NowText creates a new transcript from video audio using AI, so it works even when captions are disabled.
Can I download as a text file?
Yes. Download as TXT or copy the full text. SRT subtitle export is not supported yet.
Why does my link fail?
The video may be private, deleted, region-restricted, or longer than your duration limit. Check that the video is public, copy a fresh link, and try again.
Can I transcribe YouTube Shorts?
Yes. YouTube Shorts are supported. Paste the Shorts URL the same way as regular video links.
How accurate is the transcript?
Accuracy depends on audio quality, background noise, and speech clarity. Use timestamps to replay and correct names, numbers, or technical terms.
Can I use transcripts for blog posts?
Yes. Transcribe your own videos and edit into blog posts or articles. For others' content, respect copyright and get permission before republishing.
Does this extract YouTube captions?
No. NowText generates a new transcript from video audio. It does not download YouTube's existing captions.
How can I get help?
Email support@nowtext.ai or use the feedback button below.
Have a downloaded video file?
If you already have the video saved, use the video-to-text tool to upload and transcribe it directly.
Upload video file