How to Export YouTube Transcript to Google Docs [2026]

Google Docs is an excellent destination for YouTube transcripts—cloud-based, collaborative, and easy to format. This guide covers multiple methods to get transcripts into Google Docs efficiently.

Why Use Google Docs for Transcripts?

Method 1: Manual Copy and Paste

Using NoteLM.ai + Google Docs

1. 1.Copy YouTube video URL
2. 2.Open NoteLM.ai
3. 3.Paste URL and click "Get Transcript"
4. 4.Click "Copy" button

1. 1.Open Google Docs (docs.google.com)
2. 2.Click "Blank" to create new document
3. 3.Give it a descriptive title

1. 1.Click in the document
2. 2.Paste (Ctrl+V / Cmd+V)
3. 3.Format as needed

Formatting Tips After Pasting

Add a header:

[Video Title]
Channel: [Channel Name]
URL: [Link]
Date: [Access Date]

---

[Transcript content]

Format timestamps:

• Select timestamp text
• Apply bold or different color
• Or use "Heading 3" for sections

Add table of contents:

1. 1.Format major sections as Headings
2. 2.Insert → Table of contents
3. 3.Auto-generates clickable TOC

Method 2: Direct from YouTube to Docs

Steps

1. 1.Go to video on YouTube
2. 2.Click three-dot menu → "Show transcript"

1. 1.Click in transcript panel
2. 2.Ctrl+A (select all)
3. 3.Ctrl+C (copy)

1. 1.Open new Google Doc
2. 2.Ctrl+V (paste)

Limitations of This Method

• Timestamps don't copy well
• No formatting preserved
• May include extra YouTube text
• Requires manual cleanup

Method 3: Google Apps Script Automation

Basic Script

Create a Google Apps Script to automate transcript importing:

function createTranscriptDoc(videoTitle, transcriptText, videoUrl) {
  // Create new document
  const doc = DocumentApp.create(`Transcript: ${videoTitle}`);
  const body = doc.getBody();
  
  // Add header
  body.appendParagraph(videoTitle)
      .setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING1);
  
  body.appendParagraph(`URL: ${videoUrl}`);
  body.appendParagraph(`Exported: ${new Date().toLocaleDateString()}`);
  body.appendParagraph('---');
  
  // Add transcript
  body.appendParagraph('Transcript')
      .setHeading(DocumentApp.ParagraphHeading.HEADING2);
  body.appendParagraph(transcriptText);
  
  // Save and return URL
  doc.saveAndClose();
  return doc.getUrl();
}

Usage

1. 1.Open Google Apps Script (script.google.com)
2. 2.Create new project
3. 3.Paste the function
4. 4.Call with your transcript data

Extended Version with Formatting

function createFormattedTranscript(videoTitle, transcript, videoUrl) {
  const doc = DocumentApp.create(`Transcript: ${videoTitle}`);
  const body = doc.getBody();
  
  // Styles
  const headerStyle = {};
  headerStyle[DocumentApp.Attribute.FONT_SIZE] = 18;
  headerStyle[DocumentApp.Attribute.BOLD] = true;
  
  const timestampStyle = {};
  timestampStyle[DocumentApp.Attribute.FOREGROUND_COLOR] = '#666666';
  timestampStyle[DocumentApp.Attribute.FONT_SIZE] = 10;
  
  // Header section
  const header = body.appendParagraph(videoTitle);
  header.setAttributes(headerStyle);
  
  body.appendParagraph(`Source: ${videoUrl}`);
  body.appendParagraph(`Date: ${new Date().toISOString().split('T')[0]}`);
  body.appendHorizontalRule();
  
  // Parse and format transcript
  // Assuming transcript is array of {time, text}
  transcript.forEach(segment => {
    const para = body.appendParagraph('');
    para.appendText(`[${segment.time}] `).setAttributes(timestampStyle);
    para.appendText(segment.text);
  });
  
  doc.saveAndClose();
  Logger.log('Document created: ' + doc.getUrl());
  return doc.getUrl();
}

Method 4: Google Docs Add-ons

Using Third-Party Add-ons

Some add-ons can help import video content:

1. 1.Open Google Docs
2. 2.Extensions → Add-ons → Get add-ons
3. 3.Search for video/transcript tools
4. 4.Install and authorize
5. 5.Use within Google Docs

Considerations

• Check add-on permissions carefully
• Some require paid subscriptions
• Reliability varies

Google Docs Template for Transcripts

Create a Reusable Template

📺 Video Transcript

═══════════════════════════════════
📋 VIDEO INFORMATION
═══════════════════════════════════

Title: [Enter title]
Channel: [Enter channel]
URL: [Enter URL]
Duration: [Enter duration]
Date Watched: [Enter date]

═══════════════════════════════════
📝 TRANSCRIPT
═══════════════════════════════════

[Paste transcript here]

═══════════════════════════════════
💡 KEY TAKEAWAYS
═══════════════════════════════════

1. 
2. 
3. 

═══════════════════════════════════
📌 NOTES
═══════════════════════════════════

[Your notes here]

1. 1.File → Make a copy (to start new docs)
2. 2.Or use Google Docs template gallery

Organizing Transcripts in Google Drive

Folder Structure

📁 YouTube Transcripts
├── 📁 By Topic
│   ├── 📁 Technology
│   ├── 📁 Business
│   └── 📁 Education
├── 📁 By Channel
│   ├── 📁 [Channel 1]
│   └── 📁 [Channel 2]
└── 📁 Archive

Naming Convention

[Date] - [Channel] - [Video Title]
Example: 2026-01-16 - TechChannel - How to Use AI Tools

Using Google Drive Search

Search across all transcripts:

1. 1.Go to Google Drive
2. 2.Use search bar with keywords
3. 3.Filter by file type: Google Docs
4. 4.Find content in any transcript

Formatting Best Practices

Readability

• Use Heading styles for sections
• Add spacing between paragraphs
• Bold key terms or timestamps
• Use bullet points for lists

Timestamps as Bookmarks

Create clickable timestamp links:

[3:45](https://youtube.com/watch?v=xxx&t=225) - Important topic discussed

Color Coding

Use text colors for:

• Timestamps: Gray
• Speaker names: Blue
• Key quotes: Bold
• Your notes: Green

Table of Contents

For long transcripts:

1. 1.Format sections with Headings
2. 2.Insert → Table of contents
3. 3.Auto-updates when you edit

Sharing and Collaboration

Share Settings

• View only: For reference sharing
• Comment: For feedback without editing
• Edit: For collaborative annotation

Collaborative Annotation

Multiple people can:

• Add comments on specific text
• Suggest edits
• Add their own notes sections
• Discuss via comment threads

Quick workflow:

1. 1.Get transcript from NoteLM.ai
2. 2.Copy all text
3. 3.Paste into Google Docs template
4. 4.Add video metadata
5. 5.Format and organize

Start building your Google Docs transcript library today!