youtube-transcript

Download YouTube subtitles or transcripts via yt-dlp from provided URLs.

Updated Apr 23, 2026

Search Tags:#subtitles #captions #youtube #transcription #yt-dlp #whisper #transcripts

Ready to run

npx skills add https://github.com/Ocean326/Agents --skill youtube-transcript-ocean326

💬 Prompt for ChatGPT / Claude Chat▼

Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: youtube-transcript
Source: https://github.com/Ocean326/Agents/tree/main/skills/global/youtube-transcript
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/Ocean326/Agents --skill youtube-transcript-ocean326

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This skill helps download transcripts (subtitles/captions) from YouTube videos using yt-dlp.

Core Features & Use Cases

Download transcripts: Retrieve manual or auto-generated subtitles for a given YouTube URL.
Fallback transcription: When subtitles are unavailable, optionally transcribe audio with Whisper after user confirmation.
Post-processing: Clean and deduplicate transcripts for convenient reading.

Quick Start

Provide a YouTube URL and I will fetch the available subtitles and save them as a transcript.

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 captions automatically?▼

To download YouTube transcripts automatically, provide a YouTube URL and the skill retrieves subtitles via yt-dlp. It checks availability and supports both manual and auto-generated captions, saving them as a readable transcript.

Can I transcribe YouTube audio when subtitles are unavailable?▼

When subtitles are unavailable, you can transcribe YouTube audio using Whisper as a fallback. The skill prompts for user confirmation before initiating the Whisper transcription process.

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

Yes, you need yt-dlp installed to extract YouTube subtitles. The skill relies on yt-dlp to retrieve available manual or auto-generated captions and handles the installation checks automatically.

How are YouTube transcripts cleaned and deduplicated for reading?▼

YouTube transcripts are cleaned and deduplicated through post-processing. The skill retrieves raw subtitles via yt-dlp and formats the transcript output for convenient reading without redundant entries.

Does this tool support both manual and auto-generated YouTube captions?▼

Yes, this tool supports both manual and auto-generated YouTube captions. It fetches available subtitles via yt-dlp and falls back to Whisper transcription if no subtitles are found.

What is the best way to get subtitles from a YouTube video URL?▼

The best way to get subtitles from a YouTube video URL is using yt-dlp to fetch available captions. If no subtitles exist, the skill optionally transcribes the audio with Whisper after user confirmation.