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Derek-X-Wang
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youtube-transcript

Extract YouTube subtitles and transcripts via yt-dlp and optional Whisper.

Updated Mar 21, 2026
Search Tags:#transcript#subtitles#captions#youtube#transcription#yt-dlp#whisper
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/Derek-X-Wang/skills --skill youtube-transcript-derek-x-wang
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: youtube-transcript
Source: https://github.com/Derek-X-Wang/skills/tree/main/youtube-transcript
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/Derek-X-Wang/skills --skill youtube-transcript-derek-x-wang

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This Skill makes it easy to obtain transcripts and captions for YouTube videos by automating subtitle download and optional transcription, saving time and enabling text-based analysis or archiving.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Subtitle extraction: Retrieve manual or auto-generated subtitles from YouTube videos.
  • Transcript generation: Transcribe audio with Whisper if subtitles are not available (with user confirmation).
  • Use Case: Imagine researching a topic and needing a written record of a video to quote accurately or analyze the content.

Quick Start

Provide a YouTube URL and I will fetch the available transcripts and return the text.

Frequently Asked Questions about youtube-transcript

High-intent search queries and answers about installing and using this skill.

FAQPage Schema
How do I download YouTube transcripts and subtitles from a video link?▼

To download YouTube transcripts, provide a video URL and the Skill automates subtitle extraction using yt-dlp, returning the text for manual or auto-generated captions.

Can I transcribe YouTube audio when subtitles are not available?▼

Yes, you can transcribe YouTube audio when subtitles are missing by using optional openai-whisper, which generates a transcript after confirming the transcription workflow with the user.

Do I need yt-dlp to extract YouTube captions and subtitles?▼

Yes, yt-dlp is required to extract YouTube captions and subtitles, while a shell environment with Python is needed to post-process and deduplicate the downloaded transcript text.

What is the best way to get a text record of a YouTube video for research?▼

The best way to get a text record for research is automating subtitle retrieval, which quickly extracts captions for accurate quoting or text-based content analysis.

Does this YouTube transcript extraction handle both manual and auto-generated captions?▼

Yes, YouTube transcript extraction handles both manual and auto-generated captions, deduplicating the text in a Python shell environment to ensure a clean output.

Why are my YouTube subtitles not showing up during transcript extraction?▼

YouTube subtitles may not show up if the video lacks manual or auto-generated captions, requiring optional openai-whisper transcription to generate the text from audio.

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