README file from
GithubYTranscript
Fetch the transcript of any YouTube video and use it in Obsidian: insert it into a note with clickable timestamps, or read and search it in a side panel.
Requires Obsidian 1.7.2 or later. Works on desktop and mobile.
Usage
Insert a transcript into your note (mobile-friendly)
- Position cursor where you want the transcript inserted
- Run the command YTranscript: Insert YouTube transcript
- The plugin will detect YouTube URLs from:
- Currently selected text in editor
- System clipboard
- Manual input (fallback)
- Confirm or edit the URL in the prompt
- Transcript will be inserted directly at cursor position with clickable timestamps
- Continue writing your notes with the transcript content inline
This new command is perfect for mobile users and provides a seamless note-taking experience.
Side panel (desktop)
- In editor window select link to Youtube video
- Run the command YTranscript: Get YouTube transcript from selected URL (or …from URL prompt to paste a link)
- Transcription will appear in side window with timestamp
- In settings you can control how often a timestamp appears (once every x lines, default: 5), and where the panel opens
- Clicking on timestamp opens video in that place
- Right-click to copy all, or use the copy button
- You can drag and drop lines of transcription or timestamp link
Both the classic side panel commands remain available for users who prefer the traditional workflow.

Network use and privacy
- Network: to fetch a transcript, the plugin sends the video ID and your language/country settings to YouTube (
youtube.com, its InnerTube player API), then downloads the caption track. No other servers are contacted. - Clipboard: the Insert YouTube transcript command reads your clipboard once, to pre-fill a YouTube link you copied. Copy actions write transcript text to the clipboard.
- No accounts, telemetry or analytics.
Contributing
See CONTRIBUTING.md.
Acknowledgments
Many thanks to creators and contributors of following plugins: