youtube-transcript

Download YouTube transcripts and captions using yt-dlp and Whisper.

276|46|Updated Jan 16, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/nicepkg/ai-workflow --skill youtube-transcript-nicepkg
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: youtube-transcript
Source: https://github.com/nicepkg/ai-workflow/tree/main/workflows/video-creator-workflow/.claude/skills/youtube-transcript
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/nicepkg/ai-workflow --skill youtube-transcript-nicepkg

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

💡 This Skill requires yt-dlp, openai-whisper, and includes scripts (resource) components.

What problem does it solve?

This Skill automates the process of downloading transcripts, captions, or subtitles from YouTube videos, making video content accessible as text.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Transcript Download: Fetches available manual or auto-generated subtitles from YouTube URLs.
  • Audio Transcription: Utilizes Whisper for transcription when no subtitles are present.
  • Use Case: You need the spoken content of a tutorial video for a blog post. Provide the YouTube URL, and the Skill will download the transcript as a clean text file.

Quick Start

Use the youtube-transcript skill to download the transcript for the YouTube video at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=example.

Frequently Asked Questions about youtube-transcript

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I download a YouTube transcript as plain text?

To download a YouTube transcript as plain text, provide the video URL to the Skill, which fetches available subtitles using yt-dlp and allows output in VTT or plain text format.

Can I get subtitles for a YouTube video if they are auto-generated?

Yes, you can get auto-generated captions from YouTube videos. The Skill uses yt-dlp to detect and fetch both manually uploaded subtitles and auto-generated captions from the provided URL.

What is the best way to transcribe YouTube audio when no subtitles exist?

The best way to transcribe YouTube audio without subtitles is using Whisper. The Skill automatically utilizes openai-whisper to perform speech-to-text transcription when no captions are available.

Do I need to install yt-dlp and Whisper to extract video captions?

Yes, you need yt-dlp and Whisper installed. The Skill ensures the installation of these necessary tools to handle subtitle extraction and audio transcription for provided YouTube URLs.

Does this tool work with VTT format for video subtitles?

Yes, the tool works with VTT format for video subtitles. It fetches available YouTube captions and provides options to output the downloaded transcript in either VTT or plain text format.