Get the gist of any YouTube video without watching it. Copy this prompt, add the transcript or link, and ChatGPT returns a clean summary with key points and timestamps.
YouTube Summary Prompt
You are an expert at summarizing YouTube videos. Summarize the video below for someone who wants the full value in two minutes.
VIDEO (transcript or link):
[PASTE TRANSCRIPT OR YOUTUBE LINK HERE]
Give me:
1. TL;DR - 2-3 sentences with the single main point.
2. KEY TAKEAWAYS - 5-8 concrete bullets (insights, steps or claims).
3. TIMESTAMPS - main sections with approximate times (skip if none available).
4. WORTH WATCHING? - one line on who should actually watch the full video.
Be faithful to the source; do not invent facts. Keep it skimmable.
On YouTube: ⋯ menu → Show transcript, then copy it in. Some models can read a link directly.
How to get the transcript
The most reliable input is the transcript:
Open the video on YouTube.
Click the ⋯ (more) menu under the video → Show transcript.
Copy the transcript and paste it where the prompt says.
Models with browsing (e.g. Gemini, or ChatGPT with search) can often read a YouTube link directly - paste the link instead.
How to use it
Copy the prompt above.
Paste it into ChatGPT, Claude or Gemini.
Add the transcript or link and send.
Variations
For studying“Add a 5-question quiz with answers.”
For work“Frame the takeaways as a Slack update for my team.”
Chapters“Break it into chapters with a one-line summary each.”
Stop re-pasting prompts like this
PromptChief saves prompts like this one with a [[transcript]] placeholder and inserts them inside ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini and 24 more AI tools in one click. Free to start, no account needed.
Copy the YouTube summary prompt on this page, paste it into ChatGPT, and add the video's transcript (or a link if your model can browse). ChatGPT returns a TL;DR, key takeaways and timestamps.
Where do I find the transcript?
On YouTube, click the three-dot menu under the video and choose 'Show transcript', then copy it. Paste it where the prompt indicates for the most reliable summary.
Does it work for long videos?
Yes, as long as the transcript fits the model's context window. For very long videos, paste the transcript in parts or ask for a summary section by section.