How to Copy and Paste YouTube Transcript [2026]

Copying YouTube transcripts should be simple—and it can be. This guide covers the fastest methods to copy transcript text for your notes, documents, and projects.

Method Comparison

Method 1: NoteLM.ai (Fastest)

Steps

1. 1.Copy video URL from YouTube
2. 2.Paste into NoteLM.ai
3. 3.Click "Get Transcript"
4. 4.Click "Copy" button

Done. Full transcript with timestamps in your clipboard.

Method 2: YouTube Native (No Tools)

Steps

1. 1.Open video on YouTube
2. 2.Click three-dot menu below video
3. 3.Select "Show transcript"
4. 4.Click in transcript panel
5. 5.Ctrl+A (select all)
6. 6.Ctrl+C (copy)
7. 7.Paste where needed

Issues with This Method

Problem 1: Timestamps paste separately

0:00
Welcome to this video
0:15
Today we'll cover

Problem 2: Extra text included

• "Show transcript" header
• Language selector text
• Timestamps on separate lines

Cleaning Up YouTube Native Copy

After pasting, you may need to:

• Remove header text
• Merge timestamps with text
• Remove extra line breaks

Method 3: Browser Extensions

Popular Options

Using YouTube Transcript Copier

1. 1.Install from Chrome Web Store
2. 2.Navigate to YouTube video
3. 3.Click extension icon
4. 4.Click "Copy Transcript"
5. 5.Paste anywhere

Formatting After Paste

Remove Line Breaks

If your paste has too many line breaks:

In Word:

• Find: ^p^p (double paragraph)
• Replace: ^p (single paragraph)

In Notepad++:

• Find: \n\n
• Replace: \n
• Enable "Regular expression"

Merge Timestamps with Text

Turn this:

0:00
Welcome to this video

Into this:

[0:00] Welcome to this video

Using Find & Replace:

• Find: (\d+:\d+)\n
• Replace: [$1]
• Use regex mode

Remove Timestamps Entirely

If you don't want timestamps:

• Find: \[\d+:\d+\]
• Replace: (empty)
• Use regex mode

Where to Paste Transcripts

Note-Taking Apps

Word Processors

• Microsoft Word - Paste Special → "Keep Text Only" for clean text
• Google Docs - Ctrl+Shift+V for plain text paste
• Pages - Edit → Paste and Match Style

Text Editors

• Notepad - Strips all formatting
• VS Code - Good for regex cleanup
• Sublime Text - Fast for large transcripts

Keyboard Shortcuts Reference

Copying

Pasting

Copying Partial Transcripts

YouTube Native

1. 1.Open transcript panel
2. 2.Click at start of desired section
3. 3.Drag to end of section
4. 4.Ctrl+C to copy selection

NoteLM.ai

1. 1.Get full transcript
2. 2.Select desired text
3. 3.Copy selection
4. 4.Or download and edit

Copying Transcript to Different Formats

For Email

1. 1.Copy transcript
2. 2.Paste into email
3. 3.Add context above:

Hi [Name],

Here's the transcript from the video we discussed:

[Video Title]
[URL]

---

[Paste transcript]

---

Key points:
- Point 1
- Point 2

For Documents

Add a header section:

# Video Transcript

**Title:** [Video Title]
**Channel:** [Channel Name]
**URL:** [Link]
**Duration:** [Length]
**Date:** [Access Date]

---

## Transcript

[Paste transcript here]

For Code/Reference

Wrap in code block:

[0:00] Content here...

[0:15] More content...

Troubleshooting Copy Issues

Can't Select Text in YouTube Panel

• Click in the white space first
• Try Ctrl+A from within panel
• Use NoteLM.ai instead

Paste Includes HTML/Formatting

Solution:

• Use "Paste as plain text" (Ctrl+Shift+V)
• Paste into Notepad first, then copy again
• Use "Paste Special" → "Unformatted text"

Transcript Too Long to Copy

Solution:

• Copy in sections
• Use NoteLM.ai download feature
• Use browser extension with download

Timestamps Missing After Copy

Solution:

• Use NoteLM.ai (includes timestamps)
• Download SRT file instead
• Copy from full transcript view

Quick workflow:

1. 1.Copy YouTube URL
2. 2.Paste in NoteLM.ai
3. 3.Click "Get Transcript"
4. 4.Click "Copy"
5. 5.Paste where needed

Start copying transcripts efficiently today.