Exporting Live Captions from Microsoft Teams

Introduction

The MS Teams Live Captions Saver is a fun experiment I conducted today. This tool allows you to scrape the live captions from Microsoft Teams and export them as a file. This is proving useful for those wishing to preserve important discussions, or simply keep track of conversations for later reference.

This project was an enjoyable exploration into Chrome extension development, taking only four hours from start to finish.

Update: I have now updated the extension to manifest v3, published it to the Chrome web store 👈. Enjoy!

Manually Installing the Extension

💡You don’t really need to install this extension manually anymore, as it’s now available on the Chrome web store. However, if you’re interested in the manual installation process, I’ll provide a brief overview below.

There are two main manual methods to install this extension:

1. Installing .crx extension file locally

The MS Teams Live Captions Saver Extension comes in a .crx file format, which can be installed directly onto your Chrome browser. Here are the steps:

1. Begin by downloading the chat-transcript-extension.crx file.

2. Open Chrome, Edge, or Brave browser and navigate to the Extensions page. Use the appropriate address for your browser:

   • Edge browser: edge://extensions/
   • Google Chrome browser: chrome://extensions/
   • Brave browser: brave://extensions/

3. Turn on Developer mode at the top right of the page.

4. Drag and drop the downloaded chat-transcript-extension.crx file onto the Extensions page.

5. A pop-up will appear asking to confirm the new extension installation. Click “Add Extension”.

Upon successful installation, the extension’s icon should appear on the right-hand side of the Chrome address bar.

2. Installing the extension via the “Load unpacked” method

The extension can also be installed using the “Load unpacked” method in Chrome/Edge/Brave browsers. Here’s how:

1. Download the teams-captions-saver.zip file and unzip it anywhere on your disk.

2. Open your browser (Chrome, Edge, or Brave) and navigate to the Extensions page, using the correct address as detailed above.

3. Enable Developer mode by toggling the switch at the top right of the page.

4. Click the “Load Unpacked” button and select the directory containing your unzipped extension files. Choose the teams-captions-saver directory.

How to Use the Extension

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to use this handy tool:

1. Navigate to the Microsoft Teams page in your browser via https://teams.microsoft.com/v2/. ⚠️ Ensure you are using the modern teams version. V1 is no longer supported.

2. Join a meeting.

3. Turn on live captions. This can be done by clicking on the ellipsis button in the meeting controls and then selecting “Turn on live captions”.

4. When you’re finished, click “Save Captions”. The transcript will be downloaded as a YAML file.

Understanding the Exported Data

The extension exports data as a YAML file. Here’s a sample of what to expect:

Name: Denis Molodtsov
Text: There I'm going to test this feature. Another test, test, test, test.
Time: 21:55:59
----
Name: Denis Molodtsov
Text: Hi this is a test.
Time: 21:56:05
----
Name: Denis Molodtsov
Text: Did you get any of this?
Time: 21:56:08
----
Name: Denis Molodtsov
Text: This is a test
Time: 21:56:08

Please note that this extension functions on the modern web version of Microsoft Teams during meetings and only when the live captions are first activated.

Final Thoughts

While this extension was primarily created as an enjoyable experiment, it has demonstrated some practical applications. Notably, it allows users to capture a meeting transcript before the meeting concludes, a feature not readily available with the out-of-the-box transcripts, unless, perhaps if are using Microsoft 365 Copilot. Live captions disappear after a few minutes. Interestingly, I’ve also noticed that default transcripts sometimes seem to miss large portions of conversation, an issue this extension does not have.

Ideally, however, it’s recommended to utilize the official transcript provided by the platform for the most accurate records. But until then, this extension offers an interesting alternative for those wishing to experiment.

I hope this article helps you get started with the MS Teams Live Captions Saver Extension, and inspires you to delve into the fascinating world of creating Chrome extensions! Happy experimenting!

Disclaimer

Please note that the MS Teams Live Captions Saver Extension captures and saves live captions from meetings, which might include sensitive information and private conversations. Therefore, before using this tool, you might be required to obtain consent from all parties involved in the meeting. Please, check your local laws and regulations to ensure compliance with privacy and data protection requirements.

In some locations, recording or transcribing a conversation without the knowledge and consent of all participants could be illegal.

This tool is provided for use “as is” and the developer assumes no responsibility for any legal issues that may arise from its use, including but not limited to privacy violations or data breaches. Users are solely responsible for the use of this tool and ensuring they comply with all local, national, and international laws.

By using this extension, you agree to use it responsibly and ethically, and acknowledge that you have understood and accepted all the potential legal implications.