youtube-transcribe-skill

Extract YouTube subtitles and transcripts into a local text file.

2|Updated Mar 25, 2026
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/billlzzz26/note-taker-convex-ai-convex --skill youtube-transcribe-skill-billlzzz26
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: youtube-transcribe-skill
Source: https://github.com/billlzzz26/note-taker-convex-ai-convex/tree/main/.agents/skills/youtube-transcribe-skill
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/billlzzz26/note-taker-convex-ai-convex --skill youtube-transcribe-skill-billlzzz26

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

YouTube transcripts and subtitles are often scattered across pages and formats; this skill fetches and saves them as a single, searchable text file.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Retrieve subtitles from YouTube video URLs in zh-Hans, zh-Hant, and en languages.
  • Save transcripts as a plain text file named after the video title for easy archiving and reuse.
  • Use cases include research notes, content creation, accessibility improvements, and archival transcripts.

Quick Start

Provide a YouTube video URL and let the skill extract and save subtitles as a local text file.

Frequently Asked Questions about youtube-transcribe-skill

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I download YouTube subtitles as a plain text file?▼

To download YouTube subtitles as a plain text file, provide the video URL to extract transcripts using yt-dlp. The skill saves subtitles locally with a filename based on the video title.

Can I extract video transcripts in languages other than English?▼

Yes, you can extract video transcripts in zh-Hans, zh-Hant, and en languages. Multi-language options allow fetching subtitles for diverse research and accessibility workflows.

What is the best way to save YouTube transcripts for research notes?▼

The best way to save YouTube transcripts for research notes is extracting subtitles from the video URL into a single searchable text file. This provides a clean archive named after the video title.

Does yt-dlp require cookies to download video subtitles?▼

Yt-dlp supports cookie usage for downloading video subtitles when authentication is needed. If standard CLI extraction fails, a browser automation fallback retrieves the transcript.

Why does my YouTube transcript download return no subtitles?▼

A YouTube transcript download returns no subtitles when the video lacks captions or requires authentication. Use cookie support or the browser automation fallback to bypass extraction limitations.