How to Transcribe Google Meet: Live Calls and Recordings [2023]

Ever since the Covid-19 pandemic, an overwhelming number of organizations have adopted a hybrid working model, which calls for more virtual meetings. And Google Meet is one of the best video conferencing platforms available to be utilized for this need. 

To make the most out of your virtual meetings, you’ll need to familiarize yourself with the relevant Google Meet features that can bolster meeting productivity, one of which is the transcription feature. Transcribing a Google Meet meeting saves a lot of time sorting notes manually after meetings and ensures you don’t miss out on anything important.

In this article, you’ll learn how to efficiently transcribe Google Meet, whether it’s a live call or a meeting recording.

Why Do We Need Google Meet Transcription?

Transcription is the process of converting audio to text by using AI-powered speech recognition technology, and it is not new to the market.

Transcripts of your Google Meet provide value to your team in several ways:

• Making the meeting more inclusive. If anyone in your team is hard of hearing or in noisy places, the transcript text will help them understand what is going on.

• Keeping everyone on the same page. If some attendees were unable to make it, the transcript keeps all the meeting details and can be shared easily.

• Serving as a permanent written record. The transcripts capture the meeting discussion, making it easier to follow up on the meeting decisions or confirm what has been discussed.

How to Live Transcribe Google Meet Calls?

Basically, there are two methods to transcribe Google Meet in real-time:

• Use Google Meet's built-in transcription (for limited users)

• Use a third-party Google Meet transcription extension (for all users)

Either way, you will get a written transcript in just a few steps; let’s check them out.

1. Use Transcripts with Google Meet

After Zoom and Microsft Teams announced having built-in transcription service, Google finally added automatic transcriptions to its Meet video conferencing service in Oct. 2022. 

However, the Google Meet transcription service is currently only available to users on a computer or laptop, and they must have a paid Google Workspace account, as listed below:

• Business Standard

• Business Plus

• Enterprise Starter

• Enterprise Standard

• Enterprise Plus

• Teaching & Learning Upgrade

• Education Plus

Now let’s go through the steps to transcribe a Google Meet call.

Step 1: On your computer, join or start a Google Meet meeting.

Step 2: Click Activities at the bottom right corner, and then select Transcripts > Start Transcription > Start. 

Tip: You should get consent from other participants to start transcription, and a transcript icon will display in the left corner for everyone in the meeting.

Step 3: To stop transcription, click Activities > Transcripts > Stop Transcription > Stop.

After the meeting ends, the meeting host, any co-hosts, and the transcript initiator will receive an automated email with a link to the transcript, which is also attached to the calendar event.

2. Live transcribe Google Meet using Airgram extension

Airgram is a meeting recording and transcription tool for the most popular video conferencing platforms, including Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams.

Unlike Google Meet built-in transcription which only allows you to view the transcript after the meeting is over, Airgram offers live transcripts with timestamps and speakers’ names that appear alongside the meeting. Besides, it supports 7 more transcription languages other than English.

Here is how to transcribe Google Meet with Airgram:

Step 1: Install the Google Meet transcription extension developed by Airgram; it’s safe and free.

Step 2: Join a Google Meet call on your desktop. 

Step 3: The Airgram extension button will automatically pop up on the bottom right; click on Start Recording, then allow the Airgram Assistant to join your meeting to start recording and transcribing.

Step 4: The real-time transcript appears right away to document everything said in the meeting.

Step 5: Transcription stops automatically when all participants leave, or you can stop it manually by clicking the Stop Recording button.

Access the Google Meet transcript

The Google Meet transcripts are immediately available in the Airgram App, and you can make edits freely.

• Search through the transcript to find important parts quickly.

• Edit the text to correct errors, highlight paragraphs, and add action items in one click.

• Export the transcript or share it with anyone else easily.

How to Transcribe a Google Meet Recording?

Imagine sitting for hours transcribing a Google Meet recording into text manually; how dreadful it will be. There are many AI transcription software in the market that can save you from this trouble, and today we are going to use Airgram to do the job.

In only three steps, you’ll get a transcript of your Google Meet recording.

• Launch the Airgram app and click Import Files in the upper right corner.

• Select the transcription language, then upload or drag your Google Meet recording to the column. Wait for a while, as the program will start transcribing automatically.

• You will receive an email notification with a link to review the transcript text. 

Sum Up: Google Meet Transcription

The automatic transcription feature of Google Meet is much welcomed by users, though it has some limitations.

If you are not a Business or Enterprise Google Workspace user but still need the transcription service, I recommend the Airgram meeting assistant, which will record your Google Meet meeting video and audio, document the conversations, and take notes collaboratively.