Google is making it easier for users to navigate through videos in Google Drive with a new feature called video transcripts. This update enhances the automatic captions feature introduced last year, allowing users to view and search transcripts, making it simpler to jump to specific parts of a video.

A More Convenient Way to Navigate Videos

In a recent blog post, Google announced the rollout of the video transcripts feature. Building on the automatic captions introduced in July 2024, this feature allows users to access video transcripts in a side panel while a video plays. The side panel displays the transcript with time stamps, so users can quickly find the exact point in the video they’re looking for.

How It Works

Once the new feature is enabled, users will see a side panel on the right side of the video player. Each sentence in the transcript is displayed with its corresponding time stamp. You can also search for specific words in the transcript to locate particular sections of the video. Simply tapping on a sentence will jump the video to the correct time, making it much easier to navigate through lengthy content.

Accessing Video Transcripts

To use this new feature, users must ensure the video they want to view has automatic captions enabled. A “CC” button at the bottom of the video player indicates captions are available. Next, clicking on the Settings icon in the video player will reveal a new option titled ‘Transcript.’ Selecting this will open the side panel with the video’s transcript.

What’s New in Google Drive’s Latest Update?

Before this update, Google’s automatic captions allowed users to view captions while watching the video, but they couldn’t access the full transcript. Now, with the addition of the side panel and search functionality, users have a much more efficient way to search and navigate content.

The Future of Transcriptions

Although the feature currently supports English-language videos, Google has mentioned plans to expand transcription capabilities to other languages in the future. This expansion could make the feature even more valuable to users around the world.

With this update, Google Drive is providing an even more powerful tool for those who frequently work with videos, making it easier to find key moments and enhancing productivity across all types of content. Whether you’re reviewing a lecture, analyzing a tutorial, or simply searching for specific moments in a video, the new transcript feature is a welcome improvement.