How to Get Transcripts from YouTube Shorts
YouTube Shorts do not show a transcript button — but you can still extract the full text. Paste any Shorts URL into YouTubeTranscript.dev and get the transcript instantly.
THE PROBLEM WITH SHORTS TRANSCRIPTS
YouTube Shorts use a vertical video format that does not display the standard transcript button you find on regular videos. Even if auto-captions exist, there is no built-in way to view or copy the transcript text from a Short.
This makes it impossible to search, copy, or repurpose Shorts content using YouTube's native tools. If you are a content creator, researcher, or marketer working with Shorts, you need an external tool.
THE SOLUTION
YouTubeTranscript.dev works with Shorts just like regular videos. Paste the Shorts URL, click Extract, and get the full transcript with timestamps. It works because our system extracts captions (or uses AI transcription) regardless of the video format.
HOW TO EXTRACT A SHORTS TRANSCRIPT
Copy the Shorts URL
Open the YouTube Short and copy its URL. Shorts URLs look like youtube.com/shorts/VIDEO_ID.
Paste into YouTubeTranscript.dev
Go to YouTubeTranscript.dev and paste the Shorts URL into the search bar on the homepage or dashboard.
Click Extract
Click the Extract button. The transcript is generated in seconds — even for Shorts without visible captions.
Copy or Download
Copy the transcript text, or download it in TXT, SRT, VTT, or JSON format.
USE CASES FOR SHORTS TRANSCRIPTS
Repurpose Shorts Content
Turn Shorts into tweets, Instagram captions, blog snippets, or newsletter content.
Create Captions for Reposting
Extract the text to add captions when reposting Shorts to TikTok, Reels, or other platforms.
Translate Shorts
Get the transcript and translate it to reach audiences in other languages.
Content Analysis
Analyze trending Shorts at scale by extracting and processing their text content.
PREGUNTAS FRECUENTES
Can you get transcripts from YouTube Shorts?+
Yes. YouTubeTranscript.dev extracts transcripts from YouTube Shorts just like regular videos. Paste the Shorts URL and click Extract. If the Short has auto-captions, they are extracted instantly. If not, our AI transcription generates the text from the audio.
Why does YouTube not show a transcript button on Shorts?+
YouTube's Shorts player uses a simplified mobile-first interface that omits many features available on regular videos, including the transcript button. The captions data often still exists — YouTube just does not expose it in the Shorts UI.
Do I need a paid plan to transcribe Shorts?+
No. The free plan includes 10 extractions per month, and Shorts count the same as regular videos. No credit card required.
Can I extract transcripts from multiple Shorts at once?+
Yes. If your Shorts are in a playlist, use our playlist extraction tool. Otherwise, use the bulk extraction page to paste multiple Shorts URLs.
Are Shorts transcripts accurate?+
Accuracy depends on the audio quality. For Shorts with auto-captions, accuracy matches YouTube's own captions. For AI-transcribed Shorts, accuracy is typically 90-95% for clear speech.