YouTube Transcripts - NVDA Add-on

An accessible solution for reading YouTube video transcripts directly within NVDA screen reader.

Overview

The YouTube Transcripts add-on empowers blind and visually impaired users to easily access and read transcripts from YouTube videos. With a simple interface and powerful features, you can now get captions from any YouTube video or Shorts without leaving NVDA.

Key Features

Fetch transcripts from any YouTube video or Shorts
Copy transcripts to clipboard with one click
Export transcripts as text files for offline use
Quick access to YouTube website
Fully accessible interface optimized for screen readers
Keyboard shortcuts for efficient navigation

Getting Started

Step 1: Installation

Install the add-on through NVDA's Add-on Manager or by downloading the .nvda-addon file and installing it manually.

Step 2: Accessing the Add-on

You can open the YouTube Transcripts dialog in two ways:

Press NVDA+CTRL+T
Go to NVDA Menu → Tools → YouTube Transcripts

Step 3: Fetching Transcripts

Enter the full YouTube video URL in the text field
Click "Fetch Transcripts" or press Alt+F
Wait for the processing to complete
Read the transcripts in the text area

Using the Interface

Main Dialog Controls

YouTube URL Field: Enter the complete YouTube video link here
Open YouTube Button: Quickly opens YouTube.com in your browser
Fetch Transcripts Button: Retrieves captions from the provided URL
Transcript Display: Multi-line text area showing the fetched transcripts
Copy Button: Copies the transcripts to clipboard (available after fetching)
Export as .txt Button: Saves transcripts as a text file (available after fetching)
About Button: Learn more about the add-on and developer
Help Button: Detailed usage instructions
Close Button: Exits the dialog

Keyboard Shortcuts

NVDA+CTRL+T - Open YouTube Transcripts dialog
Alt+Y - Open YouTube website
Alt+F - Fetch transcripts
Alt+C - Copy transcripts to clipboard
Alt+T - Export as text file
Alt+A - Open About dialog
Alt+H - Open Help dialog

Tips for Best Results

Ensure you have a stable internet connection when fetching transcripts
Use the full YouTube URL (e.g., https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID)
Not all videos have transcripts available - look for videos with closed captions
The export feature is perfect for saving transcripts for offline reading
Use the copy feature to quickly share transcripts with others

Technical Information

Minimum NVDA Version: 2023.3
Last Tested Version: 2025.3.3
Compatibility: Windows 10, Windows 11
Dependencies: Built-in Python requests library

Support and Feedback

This add-on is developed with care by Sujan Rai to enhance accessibility for the blind and visually impaired community.

Email: blindtechvisionary@gmail.com

Telegram Channel: https://t.me/blindtechvisionary

GitHub Repository: https://github.com/techvisionarynp/youtube-transcripts-nvda-addon

Your feedback and suggestions are highly appreciated. If you encounter any issues or have ideas for improvements, please don't hesitate to reach out.

Troubleshooting

No transcripts available: Some videos don't have captions. Try official channels or videos known to have subtitles.
Connection errors: Check your internet connection and try again.
Add-on not working: Ensure you're using a compatible NVDA version and restart NVDA if needed.
Invalid URL: Make sure you're using a complete YouTube video URL.