How to Download YouTube Subtitles as SRT, VTT or TXT

If you need to download the caption track from a YouTube video—whether for study, translation, accessibility, or archival—you can extract it as an SRT, VTT, or TXT file. This guide walks you through the entire process: checking if a video has captions, copying the URL, selecting your language and format, and downloading. We also cover what to do on mobile, how to handle auto-generated versus creator-uploaded tracks, and a command-line option for technical users. For a deeper look at every method available, see our complete guide to downloading subtitles.

Step 1: Check Whether the Video Has Captions

Before you start, confirm that the video actually carries a caption track. On the YouTube video page, look for the CC (closed captions) badge next to the video title, just below the player. If the badge is present and clickable, captions are available. If you see "CC" but it is greyed out, the video may have auto-generated captions that are not yet processed, or the creator has disabled them. You can also click the More actions (three dots) menu under the video and select Open transcript to see if a transcript panel appears. For official details, see the YouTube Help page on captions.

Step 2: Copy the Video URL

Navigate to the video you want and copy the full URL from your browser’s address bar. It should look like https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID. Alternatively, you can copy the URL from the Share button under the video. This URL is what you will paste into a download tool.

Step 3: Choose a Download Method

There are several ways to download YouTube subtitles. The most straightforward approach for most users is to use a dedicated online tool. We recommend the YouTube subtitle downloader from transcript.you. Paste the video URL into the input field, and the tool will detect available languages and let you choose between SRT, VTT, or TXT format. Then click Download. For a complete walkthrough of this tool and alternative methods, see the full guide to downloading YouTube subtitles.

Using the YouTube Transcript Panel (Manual Copy-Paste)

If you only need a plain-text transcript and do not require timestamps, you can use YouTube’s built-in transcript panel:

1. On the video page, click the More actions (three dots) button below the video.
2. Select Open transcript.
3. The transcript appears in a side panel. You can copy the text and paste it into a text editor, then save as a .txt file.

This method works for both creator-uploaded captions and auto-generated captions. However, it does not produce SRT or VTT files with timestamps—only plain text.

Step 4: Select Language and Format

When using a download tool, you will typically be asked to pick a language. YouTube videos often have multiple language tracks: the original audio language, plus subtitles in other languages uploaded by the creator or auto-generated. If the video has creator-uploaded captions, those are usually more accurate than auto-generated ones. Auto-generated captions are marked with a note like "English (auto-generated)" in the caption menu.

For comparing formats, refer to this table:

Format	Extension	Timestamps	Use Case
SRT	.srt	Yes	Most compatible with media players (VLC, MPC-HC) and editing software
VTT	.vtt	Yes	Web-native format; used by HTML5 video players and some online platforms
TXT	.txt	No	Plain text without timing; good for reading, translating, or note-taking

For a detailed comparison of these formats, see SRT vs VTT vs TXT: Which Subtitle Format Should You Download?.

Step 5: Download the File

Once you have selected your language and format, the download tool will generate the file. Save it to your computer. SRT and VTT files can be imported into video editing software or used as subtitles when playing the video locally. TXT files are useful for study or translation.

What to Do on Mobile

On a smartphone or tablet, the process is similar. Open the YouTube app or mobile site, copy the video URL, and paste it into the transcript.you subtitle downloader in your mobile browser. The tool works on both iOS and Android. You can then download the SRT, VTT, or TXT file directly to your device. Alternatively, you can use the YouTube app’s transcript feature: tap the More (three dots) icon, then Show transcript, and copy the text manually.

Creator-Uploaded vs. Auto-Generated Captions

YouTube distinguishes between two types of caption tracks:

• Creator-uploaded captions: These are written or uploaded by the video’s creator. They are usually more accurate, properly timed, and may include speaker identification or sound descriptions. They appear in the caption menu without an "auto-generated" label.
• Auto-generated captions: YouTube’s speech recognition system creates these automatically. They are available for most videos in the original language and sometimes in other languages. Accuracy varies depending on audio quality, accent, and background noise. You can download auto-generated captions using the same tools, but be aware they may contain errors.

For a dedicated guide on handling auto-generated captions, see How to Download YouTube Auto-Generated Captions. If you need subtitles in a language different from the video’s audio, see How to Download YouTube Subtitles in Another Language.

Command-Line Route with yt-dlp (For Technical Users)

If you are comfortable with the command line, yt-dlp is a powerful tool that can download subtitles directly. It is a fork of youtube-dl with active development. Here is a basic command to download subtitles:

yt-dlp --write-subs --sub-langs en --convert-subs srt "https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID"

• --write-subs tells yt-dlp to download subtitle tracks.
• --sub-langs en specifies the language (use en for English, fr for French, etc.).
• --convert-subs srt converts the subtitles to SRT format (yt-dlp can also output VTT).

If you want all available languages, use --sub-langs all. To also download the video file, omit --write-subs and add --write-auto-subs for auto-generated captions. For full options, refer to the yt-dlp GitHub repository.

Using OrbitDownloader for Videos with Subtitles

If you also want to download the video itself along with its subtitles, the OrbitDownloader YouTube Downloader can handle both. After downloading the video, you can import the SRT or VTT file into your media player to display subtitles during playback.

Respecting Copyright and Creators’ Rights

Downloading subtitles for personal use—such as study, translation, or accessibility—is generally acceptable. However, redistributing or republishing subtitle files without the creator’s permission may violate copyright or YouTube’s terms of service. Always respect the rights of the content creator.

Summary

To download YouTube subtitles as SRT, VTT, or TXT: 1. Check for the CC badge or transcript panel. 2. Copy the video URL. 3. Use a tool like the YouTube subtitle downloader from transcript.you. 4. Select your language and format. 5. Download the file.

For mobile, use the same tool in your browser or the transcript feature in the YouTube app. For advanced users, yt-dlp provides a command-line option. For more information on subtitle formats and other methods, visit our hub page for downloading subtitles.