To turn a Loom video into text, download the MP4 and send the file to the Potok bot on Telegram. Loom videos can be downloaded as MP4 files by the owner. The bot takes files up to 2 GB rather than Loom links, and you can export the text as TXT, DOCX, PDF, SRT or VTT.
Transcribe a recording
Send your voice message, audio or video to @potok_now_bot on Telegram and the text comes back in the chat.
Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram
Files up to 2 GB · export to TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT and VTT · speaker labels and timestamps · about 30 languages
Key facts
- Only the owner of a Loom video can download it as an MP4, so a viewer has to ask for the file.
- A pasted Loom link gives the bot nothing to open, because it works with files and YouTube links.
- Walkthrough videos mix narration with a screen, and only the narration becomes text.
- Short product demos return in the chat, while a long training video comes back as a file.
How to do it
- Open your video in Loom. Sign in as the owner and find the video. If it belongs to someone else, ask them for the file.
- Download the MP4. Use the download option in Loom, and check the official help if you cannot find it on your plan or version.
- Check the size. A short clip is small. A long recording near 2 GB goes through the Upload button of the bot's mini app.
- Send the file. Attach the MP4 as a document in the chat with @potok_now_bot.
- Use the text. Copy a step list for documentation, or export SRT to add captions to the video.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: Here is how to set up the weekly report.
[00:05] Speaker 1: Click the filter, then choose the last quarter.
[00:11] Speaker 1: Export it and share it with the team.
Sample text written by us to show the layout of a transcript. It is not the output of the recognition engine and not a real recording.
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Where it works | Telegram bot @potok_now_bot; large files go through the bot's mini app |
| File size | Up to 2 GB |
| Export | TXT, MD, DOCX, PDF, SRT, VTT |
| Speakers and time | Speaker labels and timestamps can be switched on |
| Languages | About 30 languages with good published results; a few more with warnings |
| Translation | The transcript is not translated into another language |
| Dictation | A separate Potok desktop app lets you dictate text into any program; it recognises Russian speech |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Sending a Loom share link | The bot cannot open it, so no text appears. | Download the MP4 and send the file. |
| Expecting on-screen words in the text | Menu names and slides are pictures, not speech. | Add UI labels yourself where the narration says 'this button'. |
| Transcribing a teammate's video without asking | The video belongs to its owner. | Ask for the file and the right to use it. |
| Using a silent recording | If nobody speaks, there is nothing to turn into text. | Check that the video has narration. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Who can download a Loom video?
The owner can download it as an MP4 file. Others need to ask the owner.
Can I send the Loom link to the bot?
No. Send the MP4 file. The bot takes files and YouTube links, not Loom links.
Will the screen text be in the transcript?
No. Only the spoken narration is turned into text.
How big can the video be?
Files up to 2 GB are supported, with the Upload button for large ones.
Can I use the text as captions?
Yes. Export SRT or VTT and add the file to your video.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- MP4 file format, MPEG-4 Part 14 (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
- Video file format (Wikipedia), Wikipedia · checked
Try it on your own recording
Send your voice message, audio or video to @potok_now_bot on Telegram and the text comes back in the chat.
Open @potok_now_bot in Telegram