Extract YouTube transcripts via Google Sheets or API webhook

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Important notice

This workflow is provided as-is. Please review and test before using in production.

1. Workflow Overview

YouTube Transcript Extractor This n8n template demonstrates how to extract transcripts from YouTube videos using two different approaches: automated Google Sheets monitoring and direct webhook API ...

Best for

Document Extraction automation workflows
AI Summarization automation workflows
intermediate n8n builders looking for reusable templates

Tools used

n8n-nodes-base.stickynote, n8n-nodes-base.googlesheetstrigger, n8n-nodes-base.code, n8n-nodes-base.httprequest, n8n-nodes-base.googlesheets, n8n-nodes-base.webhook, n8n-nodes-base.respondtowebhook

Source and attribution

This workflow is cataloged by N8N Workflows and links back to its original n8n.io source page by Dahiana.

Original n8n.io source

1.1 Workflow description

Title: Extract YouTube transcripts via Google Sheets or API webhook
Workflow name: Extract YouTube transcripts via Google Sheets or API webhook

YouTube Transcript Extractor

This n8n template demonstrates how to extract transcripts from YouTube videos using two different approaches: automated Google Sheets monitoring and direct webhook API calls.

Use cases: Content creation, research, accessibility, meeting notes, content repurposing, SEO analysis, or building transcript databases for analysis.

How it works

Google Sheets Integration: Monitor a sheet for new YouTube URLs and automatically extract transcripts
Direct API Access: Send YouTube URLs via webhook and get instant transcript responses
Smart Parsing: Extracts video ID from various YouTube URL formats (youtube.com, youtu.be, embed)
Rich Metadata: Returns video title, channel, publish date, duration, and category alongside transcript
Fallback Handling: Gracefully handles videos without available transcripts

Two Workflow Paths

Automated Sheet Processing: Add URLs to Google Sheet → Auto-extract → Save results to sheet
Webhook API: Send POST request with video URL → Get instant transcript response

How to set up

Replace "Dummy YouTube Transcript API" credentials with your YouTube Transcript API key
Create your own Google Sheet with columns: "url" (input sheet) and "video title", "transcript" (results sheet)
Update Google Sheets credentials to connect your sheets
Test each workflow path separately
Customize the webhook path and authentication as needed

Requirements

YouTube Transcript API access (youtube-transcript.io or similar)
Google Sheets API credentials (for automated workflow)
n8n instance (cloud or self-hosted)
YouTube videos

How to customize

Modify transcript processing in the Code nodes
Add additional metadata extraction
Connect to other storage solutions (databases, CMS)
Add text analysis or summarization steps
Set up notifications for new transcripts

1.2 Logical Blocks

This catalog entry is organized from the workflow JSON. The node-level section below shows the executable blocks available for review before importing the template.

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Main Template Explanation

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 2 - Sheets Workflow Note

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 3 - Webhook Workflow Note

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.stickyNote - stickyNote
Config choices: Version 1

Block 4 - Monitor Google Sheet for URLs

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheetsTrigger - googleSheetsTrigger
Config choices: Version 1

Block 5 - Extract YouTube Video ID (Sheets)

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 6 - Fetch Video Transcript Data (Sheets)

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices: Version 4.2

Block 7 - Parse Transcript Text (Sheets)

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 8 - Save Transcript to Sheet

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.googleSheets - googleSheets
Config choices: Version 4.6

Block 9 - Webhook Trigger (Direct Input)

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.webhook - webhook
Config choices: Version 2.1

Block 10 - Extract YouTube Video ID (Webhook)

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 11 - Fetch Video Transcript Data (Webhook)

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.httpRequest - httpRequest
Config choices: Version 4.2

Block 12 - Parse Transcript Text (Webhook)

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.code - code
Config choices: Version 2

Block 13 - Return Transcript Response

Type / Role: n8n-nodes-base.respondToWebhook - respondToWebhook
Config choices: Version 1.4

3. Summary Table

Workflow	Extract YouTube transcripts via Google Sheets or API webhook
Complexity	intermediate
Nodes	13
Categories	Document Extraction, AI Summarization
Author	Dahiana
Published	03 Sept 2025

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

Use the JSON export at /data/workflows/8211/8211.json as the source template for this automation.
2. Import the template into n8n

Open n8n, import the downloaded JSON, and review each node before activating the workflow.
3. Configure credentials and variables

Replace placeholder credentials, API keys, webhook URLs, account IDs, and environment-specific values with your own settings.
4. Test with sample data

Run the workflow manually or in a staging workspace, inspect node output, and confirm downstream systems receive the expected data.
5. Activate and monitor

Enable the workflow only after testing, then monitor executions, errors, and rate limits during the first production runs.

5. General Notes & Resources

Review imported nodes carefully before activation. This catalog entry is intended to help you inspect the workflow structure, understand required services, and find related templates faster.

Node names, credentials, schedules, webhook paths, and external service limits may need adjustment for your workspace.

Download workflow JSON Original n8n.io source Document Extraction workflows AI Summarization workflows

Frequently asked questions

What does Extract YouTube transcripts via Google Sheets or API webhook do?

What do I need before importing this workflow?

Review the workflow JSON, configure any required credentials in n8n, and test the automation in a safe workspace before using it in production.

Can I customize this workflow?

Yes. Use the block-by-block analysis and the downloadable JSON to inspect each node, then adjust credentials, prompts, schedules, filters, or destinations for your Document Extraction, AI Summarization use case.

Dahiana

12 workflows

Nodes

n8n-nodes-base.stickynote n8n-nodes-base.googlesheetstrigger n8n-nodes-base.code n8n-nodes-base.httprequest n8n-nodes-base.googlesheets n8n-nodes-base.webhook n8n-nodes-base.respondtowebhook

Complexity

intermediate

Published 03 Sept 2025

Likes 0

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Install path: /data/workflows/8211/8211.json

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Extract YouTube transcripts via Google Sheets or API webhook

Workflow preview

Important notice

1. Workflow Overview

Best for

Tools used

Source and attribution

1.1 Workflow description

YouTube Transcript Extractor

How it works

Two Workflow Paths

How to set up

Requirements

How to customize

1.2 Logical Blocks

2. Block-by-Block Analysis

Block 1 - Main Template Explanation

Block 2 - Sheets Workflow Note

Block 3 - Webhook Workflow Note

Block 4 - Monitor Google Sheet for URLs

Block 5 - Extract YouTube Video ID (Sheets)

Block 6 - Fetch Video Transcript Data (Sheets)

Block 7 - Parse Transcript Text (Sheets)

Block 8 - Save Transcript to Sheet

Block 9 - Webhook Trigger (Direct Input)

Block 10 - Extract YouTube Video ID (Webhook)

Block 11 - Fetch Video Transcript Data (Webhook)

Block 12 - Parse Transcript Text (Webhook)

Block 13 - Return Transcript Response

3. Summary Table

4. Reproducing the Workflow from Scratch

1. Download the workflow JSON

2. Import the template into n8n

3. Configure credentials and variables

4. Test with sample data

5. Activate and monitor

5. General Notes & Resources

Frequently asked questions