Like most people, you probably use Microsoft Teams for work meetings. But what if you need to transcribe those business meetings to reference what was said later? Luckily, it’s easy to do with the right tools.
Virtual meetings, such as virtual court hearings, are becoming increasingly popular as more and more organizations switch to remote work. While they offer many benefits, they can also be challenging to manage and comprehend.
Many professionals find it helpful to transcribe their Microsoft Teams meetings into a Word document. Similar to how legal transcription is useful for lawyers who are preparing for a legal proceeding, a transcribed meeting is a tool that allows the team to refer back to the conversation and keep everyone on the same page. The good news is it’s easy to transcribe a Microsoft Teams meeting into Word!
In this article, you’ll learn how:
- To transcribe Microsoft Teams meetings into Word using built-in tools like Live Transcription and Word for the Web.
- To record, download, and edit transcripts directly from Teams with just a few clicks — no special software required.
- Microsoft’s automated transcription tools compare with professional transcription services in terms of speed, accuracy, and ease of use. Ditto Transcripts can help you save time and ensure 99%+ accuracy when you need polished, shareable, and reliable meeting transcripts.
Live Transcription
There are several ways to transcribe your video meetings to Word. The first option is to do live transcription. Microsoft Teams features a Live Transcription option, which enables you to transcribe conversations as they occur.
You shouldn’t say that Live Transcription records accurately word-for-word. It works well enough to get you the overall general gist of a group meeting, though. That said, the feature is exclusively available on the desktop version of Teams. The meeting transcript can be found in the meeting chat and the Recording & Transcripts tab in Teams until the meeting organizer removes it.
One thing to note, Microsoft Teams’ automated live transcription does a decent job of transcribing what people say. It’s not perfect, though it’s around 50% accurate. If you need >99% accuracy, it is advisable to use a transcription company like Ditto Transcripts, knowing that your personal and confidential information is in secure hands. Our verbatim transcription captures all the words, including the “ahs” and “uhms”, ensuring that all the intended meanings are preserved.
How To Quickly Transcribe Your MS Teams Meetings To Word.
Step 1: Turn on the Transcription
First, you’ll need to turn on the transcription feature for your Microsoft Teams meeting. To do this, go to the meeting controls and select More actions. Then, select “Start transcription.” Once you choose this option, it will transcribe your meeting in real-time. All meeting attendees will get a notification that the call is being transcribed. The transcript will appear on the right side of their screens.
Step 2: Start Recording
Once the transcription is enabled, it’s time to start recording your meeting. To do this:
- Open “More actions” at the top right of your screen.
- Click the “Start Recording” button to begin recording your meeting.
- Obtain permission from all attendees before starting any meeting recordings.
- Ensure that your microphone is on. You can verify this by clicking on the microphone icon on your desktop.
- The internet speed must also be stable to avoid any issues during the meeting.
Step 3: Download the Transcript from the Teams Meeting
After the meeting ends, the entire transcript is available in the meeting event on the calendar. The meeting organizer and other meeting participants will have the option to choose between two file formats for downloading the meeting transcript: a .docx or a .vtt file. The .docx file is a Microsoft Word document.
To do this:
- Select the calendar on the left in Teams.
- Open the meeting event and select the transcript.
- Above the transcript, select Download and choose the file type you want.
Step 4: Edit the Transcript
The last step is to edit the transcript. You can easily do this in Word using the Find and Replace function or manually highlighting and changing the text. Once you’re done with your edits, save the file, and it’s ready to use. The edited transcript is now yours to keep forever!
Though editing a transcript is not an easy job. Revisions are challenging when timestamps are incorrect, multiple speakers are present, and the recording is lengthy. On average, here is how transcription is performed by professionals and by an average person:
| Audio Type / Scenario | Performed By | Estimated Time |
| Single speaker, clear audio (e.g., doctor dictating notes) | Professional Transcriber | 45 mins to 1 hour |
| Two-person interview, clear audio | Professional Transcriber | Up to 90 minutes |
| Two speakers, poor grammar or background noise | Professional Transcriber | Up to 2 hours |
| Three speakers, good quality audio | Professional Transcriber | About 2 hours |
| Three speakers, bad audio or grammar | Professional Transcriber | Up to 2.5 hours |
| Four or more speakers (courtroom, panel, etc.) | Professional Transcriber | 2 to 2.5 hours |
| Complex recordings (jargon, timestamps, etc.) | Professional Transcriber | More than 2.5 hours |
| Any clear audio (15-minute segment) | Average Person | 2 to 3 hours |
| Same clear audio (15-minute segment) | Professional Transcriber | About 1 hour |
Now that you have the transcript, you may spend less time editing than you would making the transcript alone. Still, you may spend a considerable amount of time before completing the output. This is why Ditto’s services, for example, court transcription, are sought after – to conserve energy and put it to a more productive use. The best part? Our transcripts have guaranteed >99% accuracy.
Word for the Web Transcribe Feature
Microsoft also offers a handy Word for the web Transcribe feature, designed to help you transcribe audio and video recordings. It is a good option if you’re transcribing your Microsoft Teams meeting into Word. That said, Word for the Web uses automated technology, which should be OK for general use; however, if you need 99%+ accuracy, this may not be the best solution. And, this is where Ditto Transcripts shines!
Nonetheless, here’s how it works:
Transcribe Directly to Word
While recording directly to Word, it will transcribe in the background as you record; however, you won’t see any text on the page. Once you click finish or stop the recording, you’ll be able to see the transcript.
Upload an Audio File
You can also upload a pre-recorded audio file to Word and then have it transcribed. Ensure you are signed in to Microsoft Office 365 using the latest version of Chrome or Microsoft Edge browser.
To upload an audio file, follow the steps below:
- Go to Home, click on the Dictate dropdown, and select Transcribe.
- In the Transcribe pane, select “Upload audio.”
- Pick an audio file from the file selector.
- Transcribe presently supports .wav, .mp4, .m4a, and .mp3 formats.
Interestingly, Microsoft Word also allows you to transcribe directly.
To get started:
- Go to Home > Dictate > Transcribe.
- Select Start recording in the Transcribe pane.
- Always leave the Transcribe pane open while recording.
Video Transcription Services
This guide explained how to transcribe a Microsoft Teams meeting call yourself. That said, accuracy will vary. If you need a quick and accurate transcript of your call, complete with timestamps, our transcription services can help. At Ditto Transcripts, we make the transcription process easy for everyone. Ditto Transcripts has the experience you need to transcribe your Microsoft Teams meeting calls.
Soon after we get started, we’ll generate an entire transcript quickly and be ready for your use.
Benefits of transcribing Microsoft Teams meetings into Word
The most significant benefit of transcribing a Microsoft Teams meeting is the ability to refer back to conversations easily. By transcribing your Microsoft Teams meeting calls, you can easily look up what was said without the hassle of watching the video.
Secondly, you’ll know who said what and to whom. Having a transcription of your MS Teams call makes it easy to track who said what in the meeting. Moreover, you can always find out who was assigned various tasks.
And finally, you can share the transcript with others. Having a transcription of your Microsoft Teams Call means you can easily share it with others who were not part of the meeting or with people who were at the meeting for a short time.
Conclusion
Whether you are a student, a professional, or someone who wants to keep track of meetings, transcribing Microsoft Teams meetings into a Word document can be a perfect way to have a written record of what was said during a meeting. Give it a try today!
Why Ditto Transcripts Is Right For You
Our highly trained, U.S.-based human transcriptionists are adept at handling any quality audio. With nearly two decades of experience as a full-service transcription company, you can expect completed transcripts with a 99% accuracy rate, guaranteed. If not, we offer a money-back guarantee. You’ll have plenty of information to share in your newsletter, blog article, or social media post if that is how you will use your completed transcripts.
And not to brag… but we are the best at what we do.
Ditto is the last and only transcription company that you will need. Our legal transcription pricing is competitive. It’s cheap but not at the expense of quality. Additionally, we are HIPAA, FINRA, and CJIS compliant, so you don’t have to worry about confidentiality issues.
We transcribe:
- Business Meetings
- Interviews
- Conferences
- Legal Events
- Webinars
- Sermons
- Press Briefings
- Group Discussions
- Lectures
- Focus Groups
- And More
Reviews? Our client testimonials tell you everything you should know about us.
Ditto Transcripts is a Denver, Colorado-based transcription company that provides fast, accurate and affordable transcription services for individuals and companies of all sizes. Call (720) 287-3710 today for a free quote.