Source: https://mindstamp.com/help/video-transcripts
Generated from the Help Center records: 2026-10-05

# How do video transcripts work in Mindstamp?

Topic: [Videos and playback](https://mindstamp.com/help/videos) · Updated: 2026-09-25

## Short answer

A transcript is the text of everything said in your video, with times. Create it on the video’s **Transcript** page. Viewers can read and search it beside the player and select a line to jump to that moment, and Mindstamp uses it to make an English caption track. Transcripts are on every plan, for uploaded videos and MP4 links.

## Steps

1. Open the video in the editor and select **Transcript** in the video menu.
2. Select **Create Transcript**. It usually takes about half the length of the video.
3. When it is ready, select **Edit** to correct names and terms, then **Save**. The English caption track updates.
4. Use **Search transcript** to find a phrase, or **Download** to save a copy.
5. To hide the transcript button from viewers, go to **Design** > **Behavior** and turn off **Show Guide Transcripts**.

![Behavior section of the Mindstamp Design page with the Show Guide Transcripts switch highlighted](https://cdn.mindstamp.com/website2026/help/design-guide-transcripts.webp)

_Design > Behavior: Show Guide Transcripts controls whether viewers see the transcript in the guide._

## Transcripts and captions are different

Captions show the words on the video as it plays. A transcript is the full text beside the player, which viewers can read, search and use to jump to a moment. Mindstamp makes an English caption track from your transcript, and you can also upload your own [caption files](https://mindstamp.com/help/how-do-i-create-a-video-with-closed-captions).

## Which videos can have a transcript

- Videos you upload to Mindstamp.
- Videos added with an MP4 link.
- Not HLS links or YouTube. The page shows "Transcription not available for this video" for these sources.
- While an upload processes, the page shows "Video processing in progress". Try again when processing ends.

## During the free trial

During a free trial, Mindstamp can create the transcript automatically for an uploaded video up to 60 minutes long.

## Other uses of the transcript

- **Generate questions** suggests quiz questions from the transcript.
- [Genie AI](https://mindstamp.com/help/what-is-genie-ai) needs a transcript to answer viewer questions about the video.
- **Translate** uses the transcript to time translated audio and captions. See [how to translate a video](https://mindstamp.com/help/translate-an-interactive-video).

## If a transcript fails or is out of date

If you see **Transcript Failed**, select **Retry**. If it fails again, contact support with the video link.

If you replace the video file, the old transcript stays. Select **Delete Transcript** and create a new one if the words changed.

## Go further

- [Transcripts](https://mindstamp.com/features/transcripts)
- [Captions tutorial](https://mindstamp.com/tutorials/captions)

## Related answers

- [How do I add closed captions or subtitles to a video?](https://mindstamp.com/help/how-do-i-create-a-video-with-closed-captions)
- [What is Genie AI?](https://mindstamp.com/help/what-is-genie-ai)
- [How do I translate an interactive video into another language?](https://mindstamp.com/help/translate-an-interactive-video)
- [What accessibility features does Mindstamp offer?](https://mindstamp.com/help/accessibility-features)

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