Free YouTube Transcribe

YouTube to SRT Converter

Any video.
One SRT file.

Convert any YouTube video to a downloadable SRT subtitle file in seconds. Exact cue timings, every caption language the video has. Free, no sign-up.

Works with youtube.com links, youtu.be short links, and Shorts. No account, no quotas, no catch.

From video link to subtitle file, in one paste

To convert a YouTube video to SRT, copy the video link, paste it into the box at the top of this page, then open the download menu and choose SRT. A .srt file with numbered cues and exact timings saves to your device. No account, no software, no limits.

SRT is the lingua franca of subtitles. Video editors, media players, and social platforms all read it, so once you have the file you can caption a repost, translate a video, or hand accurate subtitles to a client without retyping a word.

The tool reads the caption text YouTube already publishes for the video and shows it as a transcript. It never downloads or stores video or audio.

Timings that survive the trip

The file is built from the caption track YouTube already publishes for the video, so every cue keeps its original start and end time. Drop it into Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, or VLC and the lines land exactly where they do on YouTube. Nothing is re-timed, merged, or paraphrased.

Every language the video has

If the video carries caption tracks in several languages, the language picker above the transcript switches between all of them, including auto generated tracks. Pick the language first, then download, and the SRT comes out in that language.

VTT and plain text too

The same menu exports WebVTT (.vtt), the format HTML5 video players use on the web, and plain text (.txt) when you only need the words. All three are free and unlimited, so you can grab every format a project needs from one paste.

Want the full picture on subtitle exports? See the YouTube subtitle downloader page, or turn the video into readable paragraphs with the YouTube to text converter.

YouTube to SRT: common questions

How do I convert a YouTube video to SRT?

Copy the video link from YouTube, paste it into the box above, and the transcript appears within seconds. Open the download menu, choose SRT, and a .srt file with numbered cues and exact timings saves to your device.

What is an SRT file?

SubRip Text (.srt) is the most widely supported subtitle format. It is a plain text file where each caption has a number, a start and end time, and the caption text. Video editors, media players, and platforms like Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, VLC, and most social video tools all accept it.

Do the SRT timings match the video exactly?

Yes. The file is built from the caption track YouTube publishes for the video, so every cue keeps its original start and end time. Nothing is re-timed or merged, which means the file drops straight into an editor in sync with the footage.

Can I get VTT instead of SRT?

Yes. The same download menu offers WebVTT (.vtt), the subtitle format native HTML5 video players use, and plain text (.txt) if you only want the words. All three exports are free and unlimited.

Inside the SRT file, and what to do with it

An SRT is a plain text file with a simple structure underneath it. Knowing that structure, and where to point your editor once the file lands on your device, turns a download into a subtitle track that just works, instead of a file you have to guess your way through.

Step by step

  1. 1

    Pick the caption language before you download

    The SRT downloads in whichever language track is selected in the language picker. If the video carries more than one, choose the right one first, since the file exports in that language.

  2. 2

    Know what is inside the file

    Every cue is four lines: a number, a timing line with a start and end time separated by an arrow, the caption text itself, and a blank line before the next cue begins. Nothing in that structure changes between a two minute clip and a two hour recording.

  3. 3

    Load it in VLC

    Open the video in VLC, then use Subtitle, Add Subtitle File, and choose the downloaded SRT. Saving the file with the same name as the video, in the same folder, also loads it automatically for many players.

  4. 4

    Import it into Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve

    Both accept SRT as a caption or subtitle import. Bring it in alongside the footage and the cue timings line up with the video exactly as downloaded.

  5. 5

    Load it in CapCut

    CapCut has an import captions option that reads SRT files directly, adding each cue as a caption already timed to the footage, no retyping required.

  6. 6

    Check the file in a plain text editor if something looks off

    An SRT is plain text, so opening it in any text editor shows every cue number, timing line, and caption in order. That makes it easy to confirm the file downloaded correctly before you trust it to an editing project.

Good to know

  • The file keeps its original timings exactly, since it is built from the same cue data shown on the page. Nothing is retimed.
  • Cue end times are clamped so consecutive lines never overlap, which keeps two captions from stacking on screen at once.
  • If you need burned in captions rather than a separate file, most editors let you convert the imported SRT into styled text once it is on the timeline.
  • There is no file size or video length limit. A multi hour stream exports the same way a short clip does.
  • An SRT downloaded from an auto generated track carries the same wording the auto captions showed on the page, punctuation cleanup included if you turned it on first.

Worked examples

Handing off a client video

Download the SRT in the language the client requested, then hand off the file alongside the finished export. The timings already match the footage, so no adjustment is needed on their end, and the client can drop it straight into their own editing software.

Reposting a shorter cut of a longer video

Download the SRT before you trim a longer video down, then adjust the subtitle file's cues in your editor to match the new in and out points of the shorter cut.

A video with several caption languages

Switch the language picker to the track you need, download that language's SRT, then repeat for each language the video already has captions in. Each file downloads with its own timings, so a translated track lines up with the footage exactly as its own timing dictates, not the original language's cue lengths.

Inside the SRT file, and what to do with it: frequently asked

What is inside an SRT file exactly?

Each caption is four lines: a cue number, a timing line with a start and end time separated by an arrow, the caption text, and a blank line before the next cue.

Which language does the SRT download in?

Whichever language track is selected in the language picker when you download. Switch languages first if the video has more than one caption track.

How do I load an SRT into VLC?

Open the video in VLC, then use Subtitle, Add Subtitle File, and choose the downloaded file. Saving the SRT with the same name as the video file in the same folder also loads it automatically for many players.

Can I import the SRT into Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve?

Yes, both accept SRT as a caption or subtitle import, and the cue timings carry over exactly as downloaded.

Does CapCut accept SRT files?

Yes, CapCut has an import captions option that reads SRT files directly, adding each cue as a caption already timed to the footage.

Why would a line's end time look earlier than expected?

Cue end times are clamped to the start of the next line, so captions never overlap on screen. That can shorten a cue slightly compared to its raw caption duration, without changing the wording or the start time.

Will the SRT file work if I rename it before importing?

Yes, the file extension is what matters to editing software, not the name. Renaming it to match your project or your footage does not affect the cues or timings inside.