Convert MP4 to text on your own computer
Drop an MP4 and get its spoken words as text. There is no upload to wait for, so the first lines appear as soon as the tool is ready, even for a long or very large video.
- Never uploaded
- No sign-up
- No daily limits
- Free
Keep this tab open and in front. Browsers slow down background tabs.
Click any line to fix a word. Downloads include your edits.
How it works
- Choose the languageSet the language spoken in the MP4.
- Drop the MP4Any resolution and any length; only the sound is used.
- ExportCopy the text, or download TXT, SRT or VTT.
MP4 files from anywhere
Zoom and Teams recordings, OBS screen captures, phone videos, Loom exports and downloaded webinars are all MP4. The tool reads the sound inside the MP4 directly, so there is no need to convert MP4 to MP3 first.
Large files are fine
A one-hour 1080p MP4 is often 1–3 GB. Uploading that to a transcription site can take longer than the transcription itself. Here the file is read from your disk in small pieces, so its size barely matters; only the length of the speech does.
Measured, not promised
Results from our benchmark on clear, read English speech. Noisy audio, heavy accents and crosstalk give more errors. See the full benchmark.
Why your file never leaves your computer
Most online transcribers upload your recording to their servers. That costs them money for every minute, so free plans are capped at a few files or a few minutes a day, and your audio sits on someone else's computer.
Here the transcription happens on your own computer, inside this tab. Your recording stays on your device, so there is nothing to cap: transcribe as many files, as long as you like.
Questions
Do I need to convert the MP4 to MP3 first?
No. Drop the MP4 as it is.
Will the transcript line up with the video?
Yes. Every line has a timestamp, and the SRT and VTT files are timed to the video.
Which quality should I choose?
Leave it on Auto. It picks the most accurate quality your computer runs well, and switches to a lighter one if your computer slows down. Best needs a fast computer.
Is it really free and unlimited?
Yes. Your device does the work, so a file costs us nothing to process. There is no daily cap, no length limit and no account.
Is my audio uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read and transcribed inside your browser tab. The speech engine is downloaded once.
Why does it download something first?
That is the speech engine, which does the transcribing on your computer. It is a one-time download of 44–566 MB depending on the quality, and your browser keeps it after that. It has nothing to do with the size of your files.
Which browsers work?
Recent Chrome, Edge and Safari on a laptop or desktop. Chrome and Edge are usually fastest. Phones work for short files, but are slower.
Does it label different speakers?
Not yet. You get accurate text with timestamps; speaker labels are on our list.
Can I close the tab while it works?
Keep the tab open and in front. Browsers slow down background tabs, which can make a long file take up to four times longer.