Link Won't Transcribe? Record the Video From a Browser Tab Instead
When SubGrab can't fetch a video link, record its sound from a Chrome or Edge tab and transcribe that instead: how it works, its limits and its cost.
Short answer
When SubGrab can't fetch a video link, the page for that link offers Record it from a tab instead. Open the video in another Chrome or Edge tab, share that tab with its audio, and press play. SubGrab records only the tab's sound and transcribes it, at 1 credit per hour of audio. It records in real time, for up to 60 minutes.
Some video links can't be fetched by any tool, yet the video plays fine in your own browser. Facebook shows signed-out visitors a decoy page instead of some videos, a LinkedIn Live stream has no file to download, and some platforms refuse requests from some countries. When SubGrab hits a wall like that, the page for the link offers another way: record the video's sound from a browser tab and transcribe the recording.
When you'll see it
On the page of a link that didn't work, when you are signed in, on desktop Chrome or Edge. Look for Record it from a tab instead under the explanation of what went wrong. It is only offered when you are signed in, because a recording is minutes of your time and signing in halfway through would lose it.
Step by step
1. Open the video in another tab, and sign in there if the site asks you to.
2. Back on SubGrab, press Record it from a tab instead.
3. Your browser asks what to share. Choose the tab with the video and leave Also share tab audio turned on.
4. Press play in that tab and let the video run. SubGrab shows Recording the tab with a timer.
5. When the part you need has played, press Stop & transcribe. Closing the shared tab, or your browser's Stop sharing button, does the same.
6. The transcript opens with the video's title, ready to read or download as TXT, SRT or VTT.
Two messages mean the recording had nothing to transcribe, and in both cases nothing is uploaded or charged. "That share had no sound" means the tab was shared without its audio: share it again with Also share tab audio on. "No sound was recorded" means the video didn't play, or played muted: press play in the shared tab, with its sound on, while it records.
Limits
| Limit | What it means |
|---|---|
| Browser | Desktop Chrome or Edge |
| Speed | Real time: a 20-minute video takes 20 minutes to record |
| Length | Stops at 60 minutes and transcribes what it has |
| What is recorded | Only the shared tab's sound: no microphone, no other tabs, no picture |
| Cost | 1 credit per hour of audio, refunded automatically if the job fails |
Which browsers can share a tab's audio varies (MDN: getDisplayMedia), which is why the button only appears where it works.
Faster routes, when one fits
A recording takes as long as the video plays. Before you press record, check whether one of these fits your situation:
| Your situation | Faster route |
|---|---|
| You have the video file | Use Upload a file instead on the homepage (how uploads work) |
| A Google Drive file that isn't shared with everyone | Choose the file from Google Drive, offered on the same page |
| A Vimeo video with a password | Enter the password: password-protected Vimeo videos |
| A Facebook video that shows a login page | See why Facebook videos hit a login wall |
Only record what you're allowed to
The tab recorder hears what you hear, so the same rules apply as for any recording: transcribe videos you own, have permission to use, or need for your own notes, research, accessibility or quotation. Transcribing someone else's video covers where the lines are.
Frequently asked questions
Why does tab recording only work in Chrome and Edge?
Recording needs the browser to share a tab's sound, and desktop Chrome and Edge are the browsers that do. Firefox and Safari share a tab's picture without its audio, so SubGrab doesn't show the button there, and it isn't offered on phones or tablets.
Does tab recording record my microphone or other tabs?
No. It records only the sound of the one tab you choose to share, and only while it is shared. Your microphone, your other tabs and other apps are not recorded, and the picture is not kept.
How long can a tab recording be?
Up to 60 minutes, after which it stops and transcribes what it has. It records in real time, so a 40-minute video takes 40 minutes to record. For a long video you can download, uploading the file is much faster.
What does a tab recording cost?
1 credit per hour of audio, worked out from the audio SubGrab actually receives, so any recording up to an hour costs 1 credit. If the transcription fails, the credit is refunded automatically.
Frequently asked
Why does tab recording only work in Chrome and Edge?
Recording needs the browser to share a tab's sound, and desktop Chrome and Edge are the browsers that do. Firefox and Safari share a tab's picture without its audio, so SubGrab doesn't show the button there, and it isn't offered on phones or tablets.
Does tab recording record my microphone or other tabs?
No. It records only the sound of the one tab you choose to share, and only while it is shared. Your microphone, your other tabs and other apps are not recorded, and the picture is not kept.
How long can a tab recording be?
Up to 60 minutes, after which it stops and transcribes what it has. It records in real time, so a 40-minute video takes 40 minutes to record. For a long video you can download, uploading the file is much faster.
What does a tab recording cost?
1 credit per hour of audio, worked out from the audio SubGrab actually receives, so any recording up to an hour costs 1 credit. If the transcription fails, the credit is refunded automatically.