youtube-transcript

Download YouTube transcripts as WebVTT and plain text.

1|Updated Nov 25, 2025
One-click install
npx skills add https://github.com/jykim/AI4BM --skill youtube-transcript-jykim
Or copy as Structured Prompt for Agent▼
Please help me install this Agent Skill.
Skill: youtube-transcript
Source: https://github.com/jykim/AI4BM/tree/main/_Settings_/Skills/youtube-transcript-skill
Command: npx skills add https://github.com/jykim/AI4BM --skill youtube-transcript-jykim

SYSTEM DOCUMENTATION & REQUIREMENTS

What problem does it solve?

It automates obtaining transcripts for YouTube videos, including manual subtitles, auto-generated subtitles, and Whisper-based transcriptions as a last resort.

Core Features & Use Cases

  • Subtitle Availability Check: List available subtitles before download.
  • Manual Subtitles: Prefer manual subtitles when available.
  • Auto-Generated Subtitles: Fallback to auto-generated subtitles if manual isn't available.
  • Whisper Transcription: Last-resort transcription option using Whisper.
  • Post-Processing: Deduplicate and clean VTT to plain text.
  • Use Case: Capture interview content from a YouTube video for notes and citations.

Quick Start

Provide a YouTube URL to download its transcript. Example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID

Frequently Asked Questions about youtube-transcript

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

FAQPage Schema
How do I download transcripts from YouTube videos?▼

Download transcripts by providing a YouTube URL to this Skill. It automatically checks for available subtitles—manual, auto-generated, or Whisper-transcribed—then saves the transcript as WebVTT format, with optional conversion to plain text.

Can I get captions from YouTube videos without manual subtitles?▼

Yes. If manual subtitles aren't available, the Skill falls back to auto-generated subtitles. If those are unavailable, it can transcribe the video using Whisper as a last resort, with your confirmation.

What subtitle formats does this Skill support?▼

The Skill downloads subtitles in WebVTT format and can convert them to plain text. It retrieves manual subtitles, auto-generated subtitles, or generates transcriptions via Whisper if neither is available.

Do I need yt-dlp installed to download YouTube transcripts?▼

Yes. The Skill checks for yt-dlp as a prerequisite. It uses yt-dlp to list available subtitles and download them from YouTube videos before post-processing and cleanup.

What happens if a YouTube video has no subtitles?▼

If manual and auto-generated subtitles are unavailable, the Skill prompts you to enable Whisper transcription. With your confirmation, it transcribes the video's audio and saves the result as a transcript.

Can I convert downloaded transcripts to plain text?▼

Yes. After downloading the WebVTT transcript, the Skill can deduplicate and convert it to plain text format, then optionally clean up temporary files.