Why is there no "Show transcript" button on a YouTube video?
YouTube shows a transcript only when the video has captions. Without captions there is nothing to show, so the audio has to be transcribed, for example by pasting the link into WhoScribe.
How to get the transcript of any YouTube video, including videos without captions
If a video has captions, YouTube shows its transcript itself. If it has none, the audio has to be transcribed: paste the link into a speech-to-text service such as WhoScribe, or run an open-source model on your own computer. Each way, step by step (checked Oct 23, 2026).
First: does the video have captions?
On a computer, open the video and expand its description. If you see "Show transcript", the video has captions and Way 1 is enough. If there is no such button, use Way 2 or Way 3.
Way 1: YouTube's "Show transcript" (videos with captions)
- Open the video on YouTube. Use a computer browser and play the video you want.
- Click "Show transcript". YouTube's help page: "In the video description, click Show transcript."
- Read along or jump. The transcript scrolls with the video; click any line to jump to that moment.
This only works when the video has captions, and the text is the caption file as it is: no speaker names, and automatic captions keep their mistakes.
Way 2: Paste the link into WhoScribe (any video, with or without captions)
WhoScribe transcribes the audio itself, so it works when the video has no captions at all, for videos up to 10 hours.
- Copy the video link. Open the video on YouTube and copy the address from your browser. A share link works too.
- Paste it on the YouTube transcript page. Drop the link into the box on the YouTube transcript page. The audio is read from YouTube; nothing is downloaded to your device and nothing is installed.
- Read the opening for free. The first 5 minutes are free without an account, the first 15 minutes with a free account.
- Unlock the whole video if you need it. $5 per file, paid once, the same price at any length up to 10 hours. No subscription.
- Copy or download. Copy the text, or download TXT, SRT, VTT, DOCX and PDF with timestamps.
Way 3: On your own computer (technical)
yt-dlp downloads a video's audio and OpenAI's open-source Whisper model transcribes it on your machine. Both are free; you need Python, ffmpeg, a capable computer and some time. Our guide to YouTube videos without captions walks through it.
While you watch: the Chrome extension
If you are already on the YouTube page in Chrome, the WhoScribe Chrome extension transcribes the video you are watching. WhoScribe Chrome extension
Which way to use
- The video has captions and you only need to read along: Way 1.
- No captions, a long video, or you need a file with timestamps: Way 2.
- You are comfortable on the command line and have time: Way 3.
FAQ
Questions before you upload
Is it free to get a YouTube transcript?
YouTube's own transcript is free when the video has captions. With WhoScribe, the first 5 minutes of any video are free without an account and the first 15 with a free account; $5 per file, paid once, the same price at any length up to 10 hours.
Can I get the transcript of a long YouTube video?
Yes. WhoScribe takes videos up to 10 hours from a link: $5 per file, paid once, the same price at any length up to 10 hours.
Can I download the transcript as subtitles?
Yes. An unlocked video downloads as TXT, SRT, VTT, DOCX and PDF; SRT and VTT are timed subtitle files.
Transcribe a YouTube video
Paste the link. The first 5 minutes are free without an account, 15 with a free account. The whole file is $5, a one-time payment.
Paste a YouTube linkFacts about other services come from each vendor's own page, checked on Oct 23, 2026. Prices change, so follow the source link to see their current page.