Frequently Asked Questions

YoutubeIQ is a free online tool that uses AI to transcribe YouTube videos into readable text with timestamps. You paste a YouTube link, and YoutubeIQ delivers a full transcription in seconds — no software to install and no account required.

Simply copy the URL of any YouTube video and paste it into the input field on the YoutubeIQ homepage. Click "Transcribe" and wait a few seconds. Once the transcription is ready, you can read it directly on the page, copy it to your clipboard, or download it as a text file.

Yes, YoutubeIQ is completely free. We support the service through non-intrusive advertising. There are no hidden charges, premium tiers, or usage limits for standard transcriptions.

No account is required to transcribe videos. However, if you sign in with your Google account, YoutubeIQ will save your transcription history so you can access past transcriptions anytime.

YoutubeIQ supports transcription in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, and many more. The AI automatically detects the spoken language and transcribes accordingly.

YoutubeIQ uses advanced AI speech recognition that delivers high accuracy for clear audio. Accuracy depends on factors like audio quality, background noise, speaker clarity, and accents. For most YouTube videos with clear speech, you can expect accuracy above 90%.

Most videos are transcribed within 10 to 60 seconds, depending on the video length. Short clips (under 10 minutes) are typically ready in under 15 seconds. Longer videos (1-2 hours) may take up to a minute.

YoutubeIQ can handle YouTube videos of virtually any length, from short clips to multi-hour recordings. Longer videos simply take a bit more processing time.

Every line in your transcription includes a clickable timestamp that corresponds to the exact moment in the original YouTube video. Clicking a timestamp opens the video at that precise point, making it easy to verify quotes or find specific sections.

Yes. After a transcription is complete, you can download it as a plain text file using the download button. You can also copy the entire transcription to your clipboard with a single click.

If you use YoutubeIQ without signing in, transcriptions are temporarily available and will expire after a period of time. If you sign in, your transcription history is saved to your account so you can revisit it later. We never share your transcription data with third parties.

YoutubeIQ works well with any YouTube video that contains speech — lectures, tutorials, interviews, podcasts, vlogs, news segments, conference talks, and more. Videos with clear audio and minimal background music produce the best results.

YoutubeIQ can only transcribe YouTube videos that are publicly accessible. Private videos cannot be accessed by our service. Unlisted videos may work if you provide the direct URL.

We take privacy seriously. YoutubeIQ is fully compliant with GDPR and CCPA. We don't store video content on our servers, we don't sell personal data, and we use a consent management platform to give you control over cookies and tracking. Read our full Privacy Policy for details.

Transcription accuracy can be affected by poor audio quality, heavy background music, overlapping speakers, strong accents, or technical jargon. If a video has low audio quality, the AI may struggle with certain words. You can use the timestamps to verify unclear sections against the original video.