How to Download YouTube Subtitles (SRT & Captions)
Want to download YouTube subtitles as SRT, VTT, or plain text? Here are the fastest free ways to grab captions from any video — no software, no sign-up.
Downloading the subtitles from a YouTube video sounds like it should be a one-click job. It isn't — YouTube lets you watch captions but doesn't give you a "download" button anywhere in the interface. So if you need the actual subtitle file (an SRT for a video editor, a VTT for a website, or just the plain text), you have to go around it.
Here are the ways that actually work, from fastest to most manual.
The quickest way: a YouTube subtitle downloader
If you just want the file without any fuss, paste the video link into our YouTube Transcript Generator. It pulls the captions straight from the video and lets you download them as TXT, PDF, or SRT in one click — no extension to install, no account to create.
This is the route I'd point most people to, because it handles the annoying edge cases: videos where the captions are auto-generated, long videos that would take forever to copy by hand, and videos in languages other than English. You paste, you pick your format, you download.
Download subtitles as an SRT file (for video editors)
An SRT is the file most editing software wants — Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, and Final Cut all read it. SRT keeps the timing, so each caption shows up at the right moment.
To get one: generate the transcript from the video link, then choose Download → SRT. You'll get a file like `subtitles.srt` with numbered cues and timestamps, ready to drag into your timeline.
Download subtitles as VTT (for websites and HTML5 video)
WebVTT (`.vtt`) is the format browsers use for the `<track>` element on HTML5 video. It's almost identical to SRT but with a `WEBVTT` header and slightly different timestamp punctuation. If you've already got an SRT, converting it to VTT takes seconds — and you usually don't need to re-download anything.
YouTube's built-in captions (manual, free, no tools)
If it's your own video (or one in YouTube Studio you have access to), you can download captions directly:
- Go to YouTube Studio → Subtitles.
- Pick the video and language.
- Click the three-dot menu next to the caption track and choose Download.
For videos you don't own, this option isn't available — which is exactly why the paste-a-link tools exist.
What about browser extensions?
There are "YouTube subtitle downloader" extensions, and they work, but I'd be cautious: many ask for broad permissions, some inject ads, and they break every time YouTube changes its layout. A web tool that you visit only when you need it is lower-risk than an extension that sits in your browser watching every page. If you download subtitles often, that trade-off is worth thinking about.
A few things that trip people up
Auto-generated vs. uploaded captions. Uploaded captions have proper punctuation; auto-generated ones are a lowercase run-on. Both download fine, but if it's auto-generated, expect to clean it up (or paste it into an AI tool and ask it to add punctuation).
No captions at all. Some creators disable captions entirely. If YouTube shows none, there's nothing to download directly — you'd need a tool that transcribes the audio itself.
Wrong language. If a video has subtitles in several languages, make sure you've selected the one you actually want before downloading.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I download subtitles from a YouTube video?
Paste the video URL into a YouTube subtitle downloader, choose your format (SRT, TXT, or VTT), and download. YouTube has no built-in download button for videos you don't own, so a web tool is the simplest route.
Can I download YouTube subtitles as an SRT file?
Yes. Generate the transcript from the video link and select "Download SRT." The SRT keeps the original timestamps, so it drops straight into video editors like Premiere, CapCut, or DaVinci Resolve.
Is it free to download YouTube subtitles?
Yes. Both YouTube Studio (for your own videos) and free online subtitle downloaders let you save captions at no cost and without an account.
What's the difference between SRT and VTT?
They're nearly identical subtitle formats. SRT is used by most video editors; VTT (WebVTT) is used by web browsers for HTML5 video. You can convert one to the other in seconds.
Can I download subtitles if the video has none?
Not directly — if captions are disabled there's no subtitle track to grab. A tool that transcribes the audio itself can still create text for you, which you can then save as SRT or TXT.