Ijharul Islam
To see the transcript of a YouTube video, open the video, expand the description below it and click Show transcript. On a computer the transcript opens next to the player; in the YouTube app on iPhone or Android it opens in a panel under the video. Click or tap any line to jump to that moment. The button only appears when the video has captions.
More on this topic: Subtitles and captions, every guide in one place.
Here are the steps for each device, the reasons the button sometimes isn't there, and quick ways to search or copy what's said.
The short answer
On a computer: open the video, click ...more under the title to expand the description, scroll down and click Show transcript. In the YouTube app: tap the title or description to expand it, scroll down and tap Show transcript. No button usually means the video has no captions (auto or uploaded), so there's no transcript to show.
Key takeaways
- The Show transcript button lives at the bottom of the expanded description.
- YouTube's help page says transcripts exist only for videos that have captions.
- Clicking a line jumps the video to that point; the transcript scrolls along as it plays.
- Use the three-dot menu in the transcript panel to hide timestamps or change the language, where offered.
- For your own videos, download captions from YouTube Studio or make a better transcript from the file.
How to see a YouTube transcript on a computer
- Open the video on youtube.com.
- Click ...more under the video title to expand the description.
- Scroll to the bottom of the description and click Show transcript.
- The transcript opens beside the player, with a timestamp on each line. Click a line to jump there.
YouTube's help page notes that the transcript follows along with the current caption as the video plays. To search it, press Ctrl+F (Command-F on a Mac) once the panel is open and type a word; the browser highlights matches inside the transcript.
How to see a YouTube transcript on iPhone or Android
- Open the video in the YouTube app.
- Tap the title or the description under the video to expand it (on some versions, tap ...more).
- Scroll down the description and tap Show transcript.
- The transcript opens below the player. Tap a line to jump to it.
YouTube's own help page documents the computer steps; the app's menus change between versions, so if the button isn't where you expect, look at the end of the expanded description. On the mobile website (m.youtube.com) the option may not appear; use the app, or request the desktop site in your phone's browser.
Why is there no Show transcript button?
| Reason | What you can do |
|---|---|
| The video has no captions at all (auto-captions off, or a language YouTube can't auto-caption) | Nothing on YouTube; ask the creator, or transcribe a copy you have the right to use |
| Auto-captions haven't been generated yet (new uploads) | Check back later |
| Music videos and very noisy audio | Auto-captions may be missing or poor |
| Live streams in progress | Wait for the replay |
| You're on the mobile website or an embedded player | Open the video on youtube.com or in the app |
YouTube's help page says the transcript is available only for videos with captions. If the CC button on the player is greyed out or missing, there won't be a transcript either.
How to copy or save the transcript
- On a computer: open the transcript, use the three-dot menu in the panel to toggle timestamps off where the option is offered, then select the text and copy it.
- From your own video: in YouTube Studio, open Subtitles, choose the language and download the captions file (SRT or similar). Convert it to plain paragraphs with the free SRT to text converter, which runs in your browser.
- In the app: copying usually isn't possible; open the video on a computer instead.
The full download and clean-up process is in how to get the transcript of a YouTube video. Remember that the words belong to the creator: quote briefly and link back, and ask before republishing a transcript.
Better transcripts for your own videos
YouTube's automatic captions miss names, product terms and punctuation. For videos you own, transcribe the original file instead: QuickVeed's auto subtitles transcribe videos up to 3 hours, let you fix lines with a live preview, translate into 32 languages and export SRT, VTT or TXT. A transcript costs 1.5 credits a minute, rounded up (15 credits for 10 minutes). Upload the SRT to YouTube Studio and your viewers get the better transcript too.
Related: how to transcribe a video, YouTube chapters and timestamps and, if you'd rather skim by watching, how long a video takes at 1.5x or 2x.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see the transcript of a YouTube video?
Expand the description under the video and click or tap Show transcript at the bottom. It works on a computer and in the YouTube app.
Where is Show transcript on YouTube mobile?
In the YouTube app, tap the title or description to expand it, then scroll down to Show transcript.
Why can't I see a transcript on YouTube?
The video probably has no captions. YouTube only shows a transcript for videos with captions, whether uploaded or automatic.
Can I get a YouTube transcript without timestamps?
On a computer, use the three-dot menu in the transcript panel to toggle timestamps where offered, or convert a downloaded SRT to plain text.
Can I download a YouTube transcript?
For your own videos, download the captions file in YouTube Studio. For other people's videos, YouTube offers no download button; copy short parts and respect copyright.
Are YouTube transcripts accurate?
Uploaded captions usually are; automatic ones can miss names, jargon and punctuation.
Try it with your own video
Make an accurate transcript and captions for your own videos, in 32 languages. Upload a video, check the transcript line by line, and judge it for yourself. QuickVeed plans start at $18/month, and new accounts get a 14-day trial with 250 credits, no card needed. Sign up or see pricing.
Sources
Competitor details in this post were checked against these public pages in October 2026. Products and prices change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
