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youtube-transcript

Download YouTube subtitles with yt-dlp and convert them to plain text.

Updated Aug 27, 2026
Search Tags:#automation#transcript#subtitles#youtube#transcription#whisper#caption
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/yousufjoyian/claude-skills --skill youtube-transcript-yousufjoyian
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: youtube-transcript
Source: https://github.com/yousufjoyian/claude-skills/tree/main/youtube-transcript
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/yousufjoyian/claude-skills --skill youtube-transcript-yousufjoyian

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

This skill automates the extraction of transcripts from YouTube videos by using yt-dlp to fetch available subtitles and convert them into readable text, saving time and enabling quick analysis or content repurposing.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Subtitle retrieval: List and download manual subtitles or auto-generated subtitles when available.
  • Plain-text output: Convert subtitles into clean, deduplicated text suitable for notes, summaries, or data pipelines.
  • Use Case: Imagine you need to compile key quotes from multiple YouTube videos for a literature review; this skill lets you batch fetch transcripts and generate a single text file per video.

Quick Start

Provide a YouTube URL to the skill (e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID). The skill will check for available subtitles, download the best quality version (manual preferred, then auto-generated), and present a plain-text transcript. If no subtitles exist, you will be guided through options to transcribe with Whisper and post-process the result.

Frequently Asked Questions about youtube-transcript

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I extract transcripts from YouTube videos automatically?▼

YouTube transcript extraction downloads available subtitles using yt-dlp and converts them to plain text. If subtitles aren't available, you can transcribe the video using Whisper. Provide a YouTube URL and the skill retrieves the best-quality transcript—manual subtitles first, then auto-generated captions.

Can I get transcripts when YouTube videos don't have subtitles?▼

Yes. When subtitles are unavailable, the skill falls back to Whisper transcription after guiding you through optional installation. Whisper generates a transcript from the audio, which is then converted to clean, deduplicated plain text.

What do I need to use this for YouTube transcript extraction?▼

You need yt-dlp installed on your system to download subtitles. Whisper is optional but required only if you want to transcribe videos without subtitles. The skill prompts you during setup for any missing tools.

How do I batch extract transcripts from multiple YouTube videos?▼

Provide multiple YouTube URLs to the skill. It processes each video sequentially, downloading subtitles or transcribing with Whisper, and outputs a separate plain-text file per video for notes, summaries, or data pipelines.

Can I convert YouTube subtitles to plain text for analysis?▼

Yes. The skill downloads subtitles and automatically converts them to clean, deduplicated plain text suitable for analysis, content repurposing, or extraction of key quotes without timestamp or formatting clutter.

What's the difference between manual and auto-generated YouTube subtitles?▼

Manual subtitles are creator-provided captions, typically more accurate; auto-generated subtitles are YouTube's AI-created captions. The skill prioritizes manual subtitles when available, then falls back to auto-generated ones for maximum coverage.

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