Download YouTube Subtitles
Paste a YouTube link. Generate subtitles.
Download as an SRT, VTT, or TXT file.

How to download YouTube subtitles
Create editable, downloadable subtitle files from YouTube links
Upload
any YouTube video by pasting a link into the Subtitles tool in Kapwing Studio.
Generate
synced captions by clicking "Automatic Subtitles." Edit if needed.
Download
your subtitle file as SRT, VTT, or TXT by clicking the download icon.
Download subtitles from any YouTube video
Save SRT, VTT, and TXT subtitle files from an online studio
Generate and export YouTube captions online
Paste a YouTube URL into Kapwing and generate subtitles automatically from the video's audio. Review the transcript alongside your video, make any corrections you need, then download the finished subtitles as an SRT, VTT, or TXT file.
Because Kapwing generates subtitles from the video's audio, you can create a downloadable subtitle file even when the original YouTube video doesn't include captions. You can also edit the text and timing before exporting instead of downloading an existing caption track as-is.
Use downloaded subtitles to repurpose YouTube content across platforms, add captions to edited clips, translate videos for different audiences, or turn spoken content into text for research and writing. Content creators, video editors, marketers, educators, and other teams can create the subtitle file they need from the same YouTube source.

Put YouTube subtitles to work in any niche
Turn YouTube videos into downloadable subtitle files for teaching, publishing, editing, research, and repurposing.

Vloggers
Repurpose YouTube videos for Shorts, Reels, TikTok, and other channels with subtitle files you can edit and reuse alongside new cuts

Marketers
Reuse webinars, product videos, interviews, and campaigns across channels with downloadable captions for shorter edits, translated versions, and social content

Educators
Download subtitles from lectures, tutorials, and educational videos for lesson materials, transcripts, study resources, or captioned course content

Gamers & Streamers
Turn gaming commentary, walkthroughs, streams, and highlights into timed captions for edited clips, compilations, and social posts

Video Editors
Generate SRT or VTT files from a YouTube source, correct the text and timing in Kapwing, then use the finished captions in your editing workflow

Researchers & Journalists
Save spoken content from interviews, presentations, and other YouTube videos as TXT for reference, or keep timestamps with SRT and VTT files when you need to return to specific moments
Save subtitle files from any YouTube Video
Create, edit, and download YouTube subtitles — in any format or language
Choose the subtitle format you need
Download YouTube subtitles from Kapwing as an SRT, VTT, or TXT file, depending on how you plan to use them. SRT and VTT both preserve subtitle text and timing so captions stay synchronized with your video. SRT is widely used across video platforms and editing tools, while VTT is commonly used for captions in web-based video players.
Choose TXT when you only need the spoken text without subtitle timestamps or formatting. It's useful for notes, scripts, research, and repurposing video content into written material. With Kapwing, you can generate subtitles from a YouTube video, review and edit them, then download the same captions in the file format that fits your workflow.

Create subtitle files in 100+ languages
Turn one YouTube video into subtitle files for audiences in different languages. After generating the original captions, use Kapwing's Subtitle Translator to translate them into 100+ languages while keeping the subtitles timed to the video. Review the translation in context, adjust wording or tone, then download the translated subtitles as an SRT, VTT, or TXT file.
For full video localization, use Kapwing's Video Translator to translate subtitles alongside spoken audio, with AI dubbing and automatic lip sync available in the same project. Move from a downloaded subtitle file to fully localized video content without starting over.

Edit before you download
Fine-tune your subtitles before exporting them. Kapwing's subtitle editing tool lets you correct spelling, names, punctuation, and transcription errors, or adjust timestamps and line breaks to improve readability. You can also add speaker labels, sound cues, or emojis, then download the updated captions as an SRT, VTT, or TXT file.
You can also edit the YouTube video itself before creating your final subtitle file. Use Kapwing's online video editor to trim footage, remove sections, rearrange clips, or create a shorter version, then generate subtitles that are synced to the edited video. This is useful for repurposing YouTube content because you can export a new video cut and its matching subtitle file without manually retiming captions after every edit.

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How to Download Subtitles From YouTube
- Step 1Upload YouTube video
Create a new project in Kapwing. Paste your YouTube link into Kapwing or upload the video file directly.
- Step 2Generate subtitles
Open "Subtitles" from the left-hand toolbar, then select "Auto subtitles" to generate captions for your video or audio.
- Step 3Edit and export
Review and refine the subtitles by adjusting timecodes, characters per line, or speaker labels. When you’re ready, click "Download" to export your YouTube subtitles as a TXT, SRT, or VTT file.
What's different about Kapwing?
Frequently Asked Questions
We have answers to the most common questions that our users ask.
Is the YouTube Subtitle Downloader free?
You can generate and extract subtitles from uploaded video files for free. To extract subtitles directly from a pasted link, a paid Kapwing account is required. Paid plans include additional benefits like higher export limits and access to advanced editing tools.
What file formats are supported?
Kapwing supports both video uploads and subtitle exports. You can upload common video and audio files such as MP4, MOV, WEBM, MP3, WAV, and more, or paste a YouTube link directly. For downloads, subtitles can be exported as SRT, VTT, or TXT files.
Can you upload content via pasted YouTube links?
Yes, you can paste a YouTube URL directly into Kapwing to extract subtitles instantly.
How to download subtitles from YouTube
Paste a YouTube link or upload a video file to Kapwing, then use the Subtitles tool to generate captions. Review or edit the subtitles if needed, and download them as an SRT, VTT, or TXT file.
Can I download subtitles in different languages?
Kapwing supports subtitle generation and translation in over 100 languages. You can switch languages at any time, edit the translated text, and download the subtitle file in your preferred format.
Can I download subtitles even if the original YouTube video doesn't have them?
Yes, Kapwing can automatically generate subtitles using speech recognition, even if the original YouTube video does not include captions.
Does the tool download timestamps along with subtitles?
Yes, downloaded subtitle files include accurate timestamps that align with the video’s audio.
What is the difference between subtitles and a transcript?
Subtitles are time-coded text designed to display on screen in sync with video, while a transcript is plain text without timestamps. Subtitles are used for accessibility and video publishing, whereas transcripts are often used for reading, documentation, or repurposing content.
What’s the difference between SRT, VTT, and TXT?
- SRT is the most common subtitle format and works across most video platforms.
- VTT is a web-based format commonly used for HTML5 players and modern browsers.
- TXT is plain text without timestamps, useful for scripts, notes, or content repurposing.
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