To turn an Instagram Reel into text, save your own reel to the camera roll before you share it, then send the file to the Potok bot on Telegram. The bot accepts links to Instagram (Reels and posts with video) and TikTok, as well as YouTube, VK Video and RuTube. You get the speech as text with speaker labels and timestamps.
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 · 100+ languages, language detected automatically
Key facts
- Instagram says a reel you record can be saved to your account or to the camera roll before sharing.
- Downloading a reel does not keep music added from the Instagram library, so the file may carry speech only.
- The bot accepts links to Instagram (Reels and posts with video) and TikTok, as well as YouTube, VK Video and RuTube.
- Transcribe your own reels or ones whose author agreed; other people's videos are protected by their authors' rights.
How to do it
- Save the reel before sharing. In the Instagram app, record or edit the reel and save it to the camera roll before you publish it.
- Check that the file plays. Open it in the gallery and make sure the voice is audible; library music is not saved with the file.
- Open the bot. Find @potok_now_bot in Telegram and attach the video as a file.
- Choose the output. Take the text, or switch on timestamps if you want captions with times.
- Edit the text for the caption. Short reels need only a light read: fix names and hashtags by hand.
What the result looks like
[00:00] Speaker 1: Three things I wish I knew before my first marathon.
[00:06] Speaker 1: One: your shoes matter more than your plan.
[00:13] Speaker 1: Two: eat what you ate in training.
[00:20] Speaker 1: Three: start slower than feels right.
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 | 100+ languages, the language is detected automatically |
| Translation | The transcript is not translated into another language |
| Dictation | A separate Potok desktop app lets you dictate text into any program; it recognises speech in 33 languages, including English and Russian |
Common mistakes
| Mistake | What happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Expecting the music to be transcribed | Library music is not in the saved file and is not speech. | Transcribe the voice only. |
| Transcribing someone else's reel without consent | The author's rights are not yours to use. | Use your own reels or ask the author. |
| Leaving hashtags to the recogniser | Tags and handles are spelled by sound and often wrong. | Type them by hand after the text arrives. |
More
See the full list of languages, the tools and the glossary.
Frequently asked questions
Can the bot transcribe an Instagram Reel by link?
Yes. The bot accepts links to Instagram (Reels and posts with video) and TikTok, as well as YouTube, VK Video and RuTube. Save the reel first, then send the video.
How do I save my own reel?
Instagram lets you save a reel to your account or to the camera roll before you share it. The steps in the app may change, so follow its current help.
Will the music be in the text?
No. Music from the Instagram library is not saved with a downloaded reel, and the transcript covers speech only.
Can I get captions with times?
Yes. Switch on timestamps and export subtitles as SRT or VTT if you need them.
Sources
Each source was opened by hand on the date shown. Pages change, so open the source if a detail matters to you.
- Save and edit drafts of your reel on Instagram (Instagram Help Center), Instagram · checked
- Instagram Reels: Create & Share Short Videos, Instagram · 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