# Turn a YouTube Video into an Article

> **What it does:** Paste a YouTube link — the companion browser extension reads the video's transcript in your own browser, and the plugin writes an original article about the topic.
>
> *Applies to Antradus AI Pro v2.0.0 · Last updated 2026-07-24*

## Why there's a browser extension

YouTube blocks most transcript requests that come from a web server (by IP, missing sign-in, consent walls). Your own browser — signed in and trusted — reads the same captions with no trouble. The **Antradus Auto Pilot YT extension** does exactly that: on request it quietly reads the transcript and hands it back to the plugin. It's the reliable way to get YouTube transcripts.

## One-time setup

1. Open **Antradus AI → ▶️ YouTube to Article** and click **Download the YouTube extension** (or install it straight from the [Chrome Web Store](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/antradus-auto-pilot-yt-ex/mgfonponpakgegmklfcbhndfkmeknbkm)).
2. After installing, click the extension's **▶ icon** in your browser toolbar.
3. Choose **“Enable on this site”** for your WordPress site. That's it — you only do this once per site.

> The extension asks for access to your WordPress site only (not "all sites"), and only when you click *Enable on this site*.

## Step by step

1. Open the Antradus AI panel on a new post.
2. Paste the video link into the **YouTube URL field** (`https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=...`).
3. Click **Get transcript**. If you already have that video open in a browser tab, the extension reads it instantly with nothing opening. Otherwise a YouTube tab opens for a moment while it reads the video, then closes.
4. Review the text the extension found (edit or trim it if you like).
5. Choose Style / Tone / Language, then **Start Writing**.
6. The AI writes an original article from the transcript — with SEO meta as usual.

<!-- screenshot: youtube-to-article-1 — YouTube field with the Get transcript button and the review box -->

## Choose what the AI does with the transcript

Under **Antradus AI → ▶️ YouTube to Article** there's a **"What the AI does with the transcript"** box. By default it tells the AI to write an original article about the transcript's subject (not a review of the video). Edit it to change the behavior — for example, summarize the video, extract a how-to, or write in a specific format. Click **Restore default** any time.

## What makes results good (or poor)

| Video | Result |
|---|---|
| Has subtitles/CC (auto-generated is fine) | ⭐ Best — the article draws on everything said |
| No subtitles at all | Can't be read — the extension needs a caption track |
| Private / age-restricted | Can't be read |

## No extension? Server fallback

If you can't install the extension, the install box offers **“read it on the server instead (less reliable)”**. This asks YouTube from your website's server and often fails on captions — treat it as a backup, not the main path.

## Tips & gotchas

- Already watching the video in another tab? Leave it open — the extension reads that tab directly, so **nothing pops up** and it's even quicker.
- The article is **about the topic**, written originally — not a transcript dump. Timing/timestamps are stripped before the AI sees the text.
- Long videos work; the AI prioritizes the substance over the filler.
- Just installed the extension but the button still shows "install"? Click **↻ re-check**, or focus the YouTube link field.
- Doing this at scale for a whole channel? See the [YouTube Channel → Blog recipe](../recipes/recipe-youtube-channel-to-blog.md).
