WebM to text: how to transcribe screen recordings and Chrome captures
WebM files come from Chrome, Loom, OBS, and other recording tools. Here's how to get a text transcript from any WebM recording in a few minutes.
WebM is the video format Chrome defaults to when recording your screen, when Loom exports, and when browser-based tools capture video. It's common, but not every transcription tool accepts it — which means people often end up converting files unnecessarily before transcribing.
Here's how to get a transcript from a WebM file directly.
Where WebM files come from
Chrome's built-in screen recorder (available via the tab capture API and Chrome extensions) outputs WebM. If you've ever recorded a browser tab or screen using a Chrome extension, you probably have WebM files.
Loom exports recordings as WebM. When you download a Loom recording rather than sharing the link, you get a WebM file.
OBS Studio can output WebM when configured for it, though MP4 is more common.
Google Meet previously recorded in WebM in some configurations. Current recordings are typically MP4, but older recordings may be WebM.
Browser-based recording tools that use the MediaRecorder API (common for customer support tools, user testing recordings, and interview tools) default to WebM.
How to transcribe a WebM file
Option 1: Upload directly
TranscribTxt accepts WebM files. Upload the file, wait a few minutes, download the transcript as TXT or SRT.
A 30-minute WebM file at typical screen recording resolution and quality takes about 3 minutes to process. The audio track is extracted and transcribed — video content isn't analyzed, only the audio.
Option 2: Convert to MP4 first (if your tool requires it)
If you're using a tool that doesn't support WebM, Handbrake is the standard free converter:
- Download Handbrake (handbrake.fr — free, open source)
- Drag your WebM file into the window
- Select the "Fast 1080p30" preset or any MP4 preset
- Click Start Encode
The resulting MP4 contains the same audio as the original WebM. Transcription accuracy is identical — format conversion doesn't affect what was said.
Option 3: Extract audio only
If you only need the audio track (for example, from a screen recording with voiceover), you can extract it to MP3 using ffmpeg:
ffmpeg -i recording.webm -vn -acodec libmp3lame output.mp3
This is faster to upload and process than the full video file. Only worth doing if you regularly work with large WebM files and want to reduce upload times.
Getting SRT captions from a WebM recording
SRT files contain timed subtitles that sync with your video. The workflow:
- Upload the WebM to TranscribTxt Pro
- Download the SRT file (includes timestamps for each line)
- Add to your video in one of three ways:
- YouTube: Upload both the WebM and SRT; YouTube uses the SRT for captions
- Video editor: Import both files and render with burned-in subtitles
- Loom: Loom doesn't support custom SRT uploads; use YouTube or a video editor instead
Common issues
The WebM has audio but no transcript comes back. Some WebM files contain only a video track with no audio (screen recordings with system sound disabled). Check that your recording captured microphone input.
Accuracy is lower than expected on a screen recording. Screen recordings with system audio mixing (notifications, music, other audio) capture background sound that reduces transcription accuracy. Re-record with only your microphone input if possible, or enable noise reduction in your recording software.
The WebM file is very large. Screen recordings at high resolution can be large even for short recordings. TranscribTxt accepts files up to 2 GB. If your file is larger, use Handbrake to compress it before uploading — choose a lower resolution preset and the file size drops significantly with no audio quality loss.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I convert a WebM file to text?
Upload your WebM file to TranscribTxt. The tool accepts WebM directly — you don't need to convert it to MP3 or MP4 first. A 30-minute WebM file takes about 3 minutes to transcribe. Download the result as TXT or SRT.
What creates WebM files?
WebM is a video format used by Chrome's built-in screen recorder, Loom, OBS Studio (when set to WebM output), Google Meet recordings in some configurations, and browser-based recording tools. It's also the default format for video recorded via the MediaRecorder JavaScript API.
Do I need to convert WebM to MP3 before transcribing?
No. TranscribTxt accepts WebM files directly. You don't need to convert the format first. If you're using a tool that only accepts MP3 or MP4, you'd need to convert first using Handbrake (free) or an online converter — but this adds an unnecessary step when tools support WebM natively.
Why is my WebM file not being recognized?
Some tools don't support WebM even though it's a common format. If you run into this, convert the WebM to MP4 using Handbrake (free and open source). Open Handbrake, drag in your WebM, select an MP4 preset, and export. The transcription quality is the same whether you upload WebM or the converted MP4.
Can I get subtitles from a WebM recording?
Yes. TranscribTxt Pro ($12/month) exports SRT files with timestamps. You can add this SRT to your WebM using a video editor or upload both files to YouTube (which accepts SRT as a caption file). If you need captions burned into the video, use a video editor like DaVinci Resolve (free) to import the SRT and render with captions.