How to View Videos and Transcriptions
Overview
When team members share screen recordings or video feedback in Workflow, you can watch the video and read auto-generated transcripts. This article shows you how to play videos, navigate using the transcript, and use playback controls to review feedback efficiently.
What you'll need for this to work
Access to the document or project containing the video recording
A modern web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Edge, Safari 16+)
Compatibility
Video playback is supported across all major browsers:
Chrome: Version 25 and later (full WebM and MP4 support)
Firefox: Version 35 and later (full support for both formats)
Edge: Version 79 and later (full support)
Safari: Version 16.0 and later (full support); versions 12.1-15.6 have partial WebM support
Workflow videos are typically recorded in WebM format, with MP4 as an alternative. All modern browsers fully support both formats for smooth playback.
How to View a Video Recording
Step 1: Locate the video in comments
Navigate to the document page containing the video recording
In the right sidebar, click the Comments tab if it's not already active
Scroll through the comments to find a video recording (displayed as a thumbnail with a play button icon)
Step 2: Open the video player
Click on the video thumbnail
A modal window opens with the video player on the left and the transcript panel on the right
Step 3: Play and control the video
Click the Play button in the video player, or press the Spacebar to start playback
Use the standard video controls:
Play/Pause: Click the button or press Spacebar
Timeline: Click anywhere on the progress bar to jump to that timestamp
Volume: Adjust using the volume slider
Fullscreen: Click the fullscreen button to expand the video
Step 4: Adjust playback speed
Click the playback speed dropdown in the video controls (shows current speed like "1x")
Select your preferred speed:
0.5x (half speed)
0.75x (three-quarter speed)
1x (normal speed, default)
1.5x (one and a half speed)
2x (double speed)
Use faster playback speeds (1.5x or 2x) to quickly review long recordings. Slow down to 0.5x or 0.75x to catch detailed explanations or complex workflows.
Using the Transcript Panel
Step 1: Access the transcript
When you open a video recording, the Transcript panel appears on the right side of the modal
If transcription is still processing, you'll see "Transcribing..." with a loading spinner
Once complete, the full transcript text displays as clickable lines
Transcriptions are generated automatically for screen recordings. Processing typically completes within 2 minutes after the recording is uploaded.
Step 2: Navigate using the transcript
Scroll through the transcript to find the content you're looking for
Click on any line of text in the transcript
The video automatically jumps to that timestamp and begins playing
Clicking transcript text is the fastest way to navigate long recordings. Instead of scrubbing through the timeline, you can jump directly to the moment someone mentioned a specific topic.
Keyboard Shortcuts for Efficient Playback
Workflow includes several keyboard shortcuts to help you navigate videos quickly:
Spacebar: Play or pause the video
Right Arrow (→): Advance one frame forward
Left Arrow (←): Go back one frame
Shift + > (greater-than): Increase playback speed to the next level
Shift + < (less-than): Decrease playback speed to the previous level
Frame-by-frame navigation (arrow keys) is perfect for reviewing design details or catching specific moments in a recording. Each press moves the video by exactly one frame based on the video's framerate.
Downloading a Video Recording
Open the video recording modal
Click the Download button (downward arrow icon) in the top-right corner of the modal
The video file downloads to your computer with a filename like "Workflow Recording - [Date].webm"
Verify the Setup
To confirm everything is working correctly:
The video plays smoothly when you click Play or press Spacebar
The transcript panel shows clickable text (or "Transcribing..." if still processing)
Clicking a transcript line jumps the video to that timestamp
Playback speed changes take effect immediately when you select a new speed
Frame navigation (arrow keys) advances or rewinds the video by single frames
Transcription States
While transcription is in progress
The transcript panel displays:
A loading spinner animation
Text reading "Transcribing..."
No clickable transcript text yet
This usually completes within 2 minutes. You can still watch the video while transcription is processing.
After transcription completes
The transcript panel displays:
Full transcript text broken into clickable segments
Each segment represents a portion of the spoken content
Clicking any segment jumps the video to that timestamp
If transcription fails
The transcript panel may display "Transcription failed" if the process encounters an error.
Failed transcriptions cannot be manually retried. If you see a transcription failure, you can still watch the video normally using the playback controls. The transcript simply won't be available for that recording.
Troubleshooting
Symptom | Likely Cause | Resolution |
|---|---|---|
Video won't play | Browser compatibility or video format issue | Update your browser to the latest version. Chrome 25+, Firefox 35+, Edge 79+, or Safari 16+ are recommended. |
Transcript shows "Transcribing..." for more than 5 minutes | Transcription processing delay or timeout | Refresh the page to check if transcription has completed. If it persists, the transcription may have failed silently. |
"Transcription failed" appears | Video format not supported for transcription or processing error | This cannot be manually retried. You can still watch the video using playback controls. Contact support if transcription failures are frequent. |
Download button doesn't work | Browser permission settings or popup blocker | Check that your browser allows downloads from Workflow. Try clicking the Download button again, or right-click and select "Save link as..." |
Keyboard shortcuts don't work | Focus is on a text input field | Click on the video player or the modal background (away from any text fields) to ensure keyboard focus is on the video controls. |
Frame navigation jumps large amounts | Low framerate video | Frame navigation precision depends on the video's framerate. Lower framerate videos have larger per-frame jumps. This is expected behavior. |
Limitations
Playback speed range: You can only adjust speed between 0.5x and 2x. Attempting to go faster than 2x or slower than 0.5x has no effect.
No transcript search: The transcript panel shows all text but doesn't include a search function. You'll need to scroll through the transcript to find specific content.
Frame navigation requires video metadata: Arrow key frame navigation only works once the video has fully loaded its metadata. Before that, arrow keys navigate document pages instead.
Failed transcriptions cannot be retried: If a transcription fails, there's no manual retry option. The video remains playable without transcript functionality.
Fullscreen limitations: The fullscreen button only expands the video player itself, not the entire modal including the transcript panel.
What's Next
Learn how to create your own video recordings: Sharing work
Understand how to use video feedback effectively: Feedback
Discover what reviewers see when viewing your work: What Reviewers See
Getting Help
If you continue to experience issues with video playback or transcriptions:
Note the specific error message or behavior you're seeing
Record the browser and version you're using
Note the approximate size and duration of the video
Please email us at [email protected] with these details. We're happy to help you sort out any issues!