How to transcribe a Loom video is the same job as any other async recording. Loom already captured the screen and the mic. You need text: comments you can search, a follow-up email, or captions if the Loom becomes a public clip.
This is not a Loom bot. You export the file (or use a supported URL after sign-in), then transcribe it. Related roundup: best AI tools for async meeting notes.
Direct answer
- Open the Loom and download the video, or copy a public link if your File Transcribe account supports URL import.
- Upload the MP4 to File Transcribe.
- Turn on speaker labels only if more than one person talks.
- Fix product names and timestamps you will quote.
- Export TXT for notes, or SRT/VTT if the Loom will live on a page with captions.
Guest try works on the homepage. Free accounts export subtitles.
Step 1: Get the Loom file
Loom's UI moves, but the idea stays the same.
- Open the Loom from your library.
- Use Download / Export for the MP4.
- Prefer the original recording, not a compressed share preview.
If download is locked on your plan, record a local copy next time, or ask the workspace admin. Do not scrape someone else's private Loom.
Signed-in File Transcribe users can paste some public video URLs from the dashboard upload modal. For the fastest guest try, download the MP4 and upload the file.
Format landing: MP4 to text.
Step 2: Upload and transcribe
- Go to File Transcribe.
- Drop the MP4.
- Wait for the draft. Five-minute Looms finish quickly. Long walkthroughs take longer to upload than to transcribe.
- Click lines to jump playback. That is how you catch a wrong SKU or customer name.
Step 3: Turn the transcript into something useful
A Loom transcript is rarely the final deliverable. Typical next steps:
| You recorded the Loom to... | Use the transcript for... |
|---|---|
| Bug report or design critique | Ticket copy with timestamps |
| Client walkthrough | Follow-up email and action list |
| Internal training | Searchable SOP, plus SRT on the replay |
| Sales async demo | CRM note, not a live bot recap |
Action-item pass: how to turn meeting transcripts into action items.
Loom captions vs a real transcript
Loom can show captions inside its player. That is fine for viewers who click CC on the Loom page. It is a weak archive. You cannot easily search six months of Looms, paste quotes into Linear, or reuse the same captions on YouTube.
If the Loom is going public, export SRT and upload it where the video actually lives. YouTube path: how to add captions to YouTube videos.
Common mistakes
| Mistake | Fix |
|---|---|
| Transcribing a tiny compressed download | Export the original MP4 |
| Skipping name edits | Fix product and customer names before you paste |
| Expecting Loom to replace a transcript workspace | Download, then upload |
| Captioning a private customer Loom on a public channel | Keep it in the workspace unless you have permission |
FAQ
Does Loom transcribe videos automatically?
Loom has added AI notes and captions on some plans. Treat them as a draft. Download the file when you need a portable transcript or SRT.
Can I transcribe a Loom someone shared with me?
Only if you can download it or they send you the file, and you have permission to transcribe it.
What is the best tool to transcribe Loom videos?
File Transcribe for upload, editing, and SRT export. Descript if you will recut the video from text.
Can I paste a Loom link instead of downloading?
Signed-in users can paste supported public URLs. Guest users should upload the MP4.
Why are names wrong in my Loom transcript?
Screen recordings often have keyboard noise, a laptop mic, and jargon. Accuracy notes: what impacts AI transcription accuracy.
Do this next
Download one Loom you keep rewatching, upload it on the homepage, and copy the timestamped notes into the ticket or email.
Related: Async meeting notes | MP4 to text | Webinar transcription tools | Pricing
More guides
- Transcription guides
- Try File Transcribe free
- Transcript format guide
- Best transcription software
- Transcribe Zoom meetings