YouTube Transcript on iPhone and Android
You can open a YouTube transcript on a phone when that video already has captions. Expand the description and tap Show transcript. The list is the caption text, and tapping a line jumps to that moment.
Direct answer: in the YouTube app, expand the description, then tap Show transcript. On iPhone or iPad, tap the video title to expand it. On Android, tap More. If Show transcript is missing, the video has no caption track.
Key facts
- Show transcript sits in the description, not in the player settings menu.
- The control appears only when a caption track exists for that video.
- The transcript follows the current line as the video plays. Tap a line to jump.
- Some videos also offer a search field at the top of the transcript.
- Copying a long section is easier on a computer. The phone view is for reading and jumping.
- Youtube To Transcript is a Chrome extension for supported watch pages on a computer. It does not run inside the YouTube iPhone or Android app.
Open the transcript in the app
- Open the YouTube app and start the video.
- Expand the description. On iPhone or iPad, tap the video title. On Android, tap More.
- Scroll until you see Show transcript.
- Tap it. Caption lines appear with timestamps.
- Tap a line to jump, then replay it if the wording matters.
- If Show transcript is not listed, stop. That video has no caption text.
On a computer, the same control is covered in how to show the transcript. If the control is missing on every device, read why the transcript is not available.
What you can and cannot do on a phone
| What you see | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Description is collapsed on iPhone | The transcript control is hidden | Tap the video title |
| Description is collapsed on Android | The transcript control is hidden | Tap More |
| Show transcript is listed | A caption track exists | Tap it, then tap a line to jump |
| No Show transcript control | No caption track | Try another video |
| You need a quote in your notes | Phone selection is limited | Open the same video on a computer |
Captions on the player and the transcript list come from the same track. The difference is explained in captions versus the transcript.
How Youtube To Transcript fits
Youtube To Transcript shows available captions in a sidebar on supported YouTube watch pages in Chrome on a computer. It can search timestamps, copy text, and draft summaries, notes, key insights, action items, and quizzes from that caption text.
It does not install in the YouTube mobile app, and it cannot create a transcript when no caption track exists. Review the how-to guide and privacy policy before installing.
Related guides
- Show the transcript on YouTube
- Captions versus the transcript
- Transcript not available
- Save a checked section as text
Frequently asked questions
How do I see a YouTube transcript on iPhone?
Open the video in the YouTube app, tap the title to expand the description, then tap Show transcript. Tap a line to jump to that moment.
How do I see a YouTube transcript on Android?
Open the video, tap More to expand the description, then tap Show transcript. The list is the caption text for that video.
Why is there no transcript on my phone?
The video has no caption track. YouTube shows the transcript only when captions already exist. The same video will also lack Show transcript on a computer.
Can I copy the transcript on my phone?
The app is built for reading and jumping. For a section you will quote or study, open the video on a computer, check the timestamp, and copy the caption text.
Does a Chrome transcript extension work in the YouTube app?
No. A Chrome extension runs on supported watch pages in the Chrome browser on a computer. It does not run inside the YouTube iPhone or Android app.