How to Copy YouTube Transcript with Timestamps (3 Methods)

To copy a YouTube transcript with timestamps, use an online transcript generator like NoteLM.ai. YouTube's built-in transcript feature removes timestamps when you copy the text. This guide shows you three methods to get the full timestamped transcript you need.

Why YouTube Removes Timestamps When Copying

When you use YouTube's "Show transcript" feature and copy the text, the timestamps are stripped. This is because YouTube displays timestamps as clickable links, not as part of the selectable text.

What you see:

0:00 Introduction to the topic
0:45 First main point
1:30 Example demonstration

What you get when copying:

Introduction to the topic
First main point
Example demonstration

The timestamps aren't included in the clipboard data—only the spoken text copies over.

Method 1: Online Transcript Generator (Recommended)

The fastest way to get a YouTube transcript with timestamps is using an online tool like NoteLM.ai.

Step-by-Step Instructions

[0:00] We're no strangers to love
[0:04] You know the rules and so do I
[0:08] A full commitment's what I'm thinking of
[0:12] You wouldn't get this from any other guy

Format Options

Most online tools offer multiple timestamp formats:

Why This Method Works Best

✅ Timestamps are always included

✅ Takes only 2-3 seconds

✅ No account or login required

✅ Multiple format options

✅ Works on mobile devices

Method 2: Browser Developer Tools

For tech-savvy users, you can extract the raw transcript data using browser developer tools.

Step-by-Step Instructions

<ytd-transcript-segment-list-renderer>

• Timestamp in
• Text in

// Run this in browser console
const segments = document.querySelectorAll('ytd-transcript-segment-renderer');
let transcript = '';
segments.forEach(seg => {
  const time = seg.querySelector('.segment-timestamp')?.textContent?.trim();
  const text = seg.querySelector('yt-formatted-string')?.textContent?.trim();
  if (time && text) transcript += `[${time}] ${text}\n`;
});
console.log(transcript);

When to Use This Method

• You're debugging or developing tools
• You want to understand how YouTube structures data
• External tools aren't working

Method 3: Browser Extensions

Browser extensions can add "copy with timestamps" functionality directly to YouTube.

How Extensions Work

Transcript extensions typically:

1. 1.Detect when you're on a YouTube video page
2. 2.Add a button near the video player
3. 3.Extract transcript data via YouTube's API
4. 4.Provide copy/download options with timestamps

Popular Extensions

For Chrome:

• YouTube Transcript Copier
• Video Transcript Pro
• Transcript Export

For Firefox:

• Similar functionality via add-ons

Installation Steps

Comparing the Three Methods

Our Recommendation

For most users, Method 1 (Online Transcript Generator) provides the best experience:

• Zero setup required
• Fastest results
• Works on any device
• No privacy concerns
• Always includes timestamps

Use Method 2 only if you're a developer or need offline capability. Use Method 3 if you copy transcripts daily and want one-click access.

Formatting Tips After Copying

Cleaning Up the Transcript

After copying, you may want to:

1. 1.Remove extra line breaks:

- Find: \n\n

- Replace: \n

1. 1.Convert timestamp format:

- Find: [(d+:d+)]

- Replace: ($1) or your preferred format

1. 1.Add paragraph breaks:

- Insert blank lines at topic changes

- Group related content together

Organizing for Different Uses

For study notes:

## Video: [Video Title]
Source: [URL]

[0:00] Introduction
- Key point 1
- Key point 2

[2:30] Main concept
- Detail A
- Detail B

For citations:

According to [Author Name] at timestamp 2:30, "direct quote here."

For content repurposing:

---
Title: [New Article Title]
Source: [YouTube Video]
---

[Rewritten content with citations]

Troubleshooting

"Transcript not available" message

Causes:

• Video has no captions (auto or manual)
• Creator disabled transcript feature
• Video is very new (auto-captions take 12-24 hours)

Solutions:

• Wait 24 hours for new videos
• Try a different video
• Use AI transcription tools for caption-less videos

Copied text has formatting issues

Causes:

• Special characters in original captions
• Encoding problems
• Source had formatting errors

Solutions:

• Paste as plain text (Ctrl+Shift+V)
• Run text through a cleanup tool
• Manually fix obvious errors

Online tool shows error

Causes:

• Invalid URL format
• Video is private or region-locked
• Temporary server issues

Solutions:

• Verify the URL is complete and correct
• Try a public video to test
• Wait a few minutes and retry

Quick summary:

1. 1.Best method: Online transcript generator (NoteLM.ai)
2. 2.Technical method: Browser developer tools
3. 3.Power user method: Browser extensions

Start with Method 1—paste a YouTube URL into NoteLM.ai and get your timestamped transcript in seconds.

Try NoteLM.ai Transcript Generator →