How to convert a video to text
Video to Text writes down everything that’s said in a video. Add an MP4, MOV or WebM file, and the speech is transcribed in your browser into a transcript you can edit, copy, or download as text, Word or subtitles. It’s useful for turning videos into articles, finding a quote without scrubbing through the timeline, or making notes from a recorded talk. Your video is never uploaded.
- 1
Add the video
Drop in an MP4, MOV or WebM file, including recordings from an iPhone, a webcam or a screen recorder. Videos up to an hour work. Only the sound is read, so large 4K files are fine.
- 2
Transcribe it
The first time, the tool asks before loading its speech model. Then it finds the speech, transcribes it and times every word, while you watch the progress.
- 3
Check the words
The transcript appears under a small player. Click a paragraph’s time to see that moment in the video, and click any word to correct it.
- 4
Use the text
Copy it, or download TXT or Word for writing, or SRT and VTT if you want to add subtitles to the video on YouTube or in an editor.
Turn videos into writing
- Blog posts and newsletters. A ten-minute video holds well over a thousand words. Start from the transcript, cut the filler and you have a draft.
- Quotes and clips. Search the transcript for the line you remember, click its time, and you’re at that moment in the video. Then cut it out with Trim Video.
- Notes from talks and webinars. Read a recorded presentation in a few minutes instead of watching it again.
- Descriptions and chapters. Timestamped paragraphs make it easy to write a YouTube description with chapter times.
Transcript or captions?
A transcript is for reading: whole paragraphs, in a document. Captions are for watching: a few words at a time, timed to appear on screen. This page gives you the transcript, plus SRT and VTT subtitle files made from it. If you want animated captions burned into the picture for TikTok, Reels or Shorts, use Auto Captions instead, which uses the same speech engine and lets you style the words.
Works with any video you have
Because only the soundtrack is transcribed, the picture doesn’t matter: a phone video, a Zoom or Teams recording, a screen recording with narration or a downloaded lecture all work. iPhone videos in HEVC are fine in browsers that can read them (Chrome, Edge and Safari); in Firefox, the tool tells you if a video can’t be opened. If you only have the sound, use MP3 to Text, which takes audio files directly.
Accuracy and speed
Clear speech in English comes out nearly word for word, with punctuation. Music, crosstalk and unusual names cause most mistakes, and they are quick to fix in the editor. On a recent laptop in Chrome, Edge or Safari, an hour of video takes roughly 8 to 15 minutes to transcribe; Firefox takes longer. Short clips are ready in seconds.
No upload, no account
Video files are big, and uploading them to a transcription site takes time and hands your footage to a third party. Here, nothing is uploaded: the speech model runs in your browser and the video stays on your device. There is no account to create and no watermark, and it’s free.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a video to text for free?
Add the video to this page, let it transcribe, fix any words it got wrong, then copy the text or download it as TXT or Word. It’s free with no sign-up.
Can I transcribe a YouTube video?
Only from a file on your device: the tool can’t fetch videos from YouTube. If it’s your own video, download it from YouTube Studio first.
Which video formats work?
MP4, MOV and WebM, up to 60 minutes. Only the sound is transcribed, so resolution doesn’t matter.
Can I get subtitles too?
Yes. Download SRT or VTT subtitle files made from the same corrected words, or use Auto Captions for styled captions burned into the video.
Does it work for Zoom or Teams recordings?
Yes. Download the recording as a video or audio file and add it here. Speakers aren’t labeled, but a pause starts a new paragraph.
Is my video uploaded?
No. It is transcribed in your browser and never leaves your device.