Scrape Everything

Free YouTube downloader

YouTube Subtitle Downloader

Paste a YouTube video link to save its captions as an SRT, VTT or TXT file in any language the video already has, without logging in.

  • No signup
  • Public content only
  • Files not stored

The video needs captions. Choose the language after the result loads.

Try:
Example outputPlaceholder data, not a real account
EnglishAuto-generated8 lines
  1. 0:00Hi everyone, and welcome back to the channel.
  2. 0:04Today we are looking at three quick ways to plan your week.
  3. 0:08First, write down the one thing that has to get done.
  4. 0:12Second, block time for it before anything else.
  5. 0:16And third, leave some space for the unexpected.
  6. 0:21Let's go through each of these in a bit more detail.
  7. 0:25Starting with the first one, which is the most important.
  8. 0:29This is placeholder text so you can see the transcript layout.

What is the YouTube Subtitle Downloader?

The YouTube Subtitle Downloader saves the captions of a YouTube video as a subtitle file. Paste the video link, pick one of the caption languages the video has, and download it as SRT or VTT with the original timing, or as a plain TXT file.

YouTube stores captions as timed tracks: every line has a start time and a duration. The tool fetches the track you pick as a logged-out visitor and writes it out in the format you choose. SRT numbers each cue and writes times like 00:01:02,500; VTT starts with a WEBVTT line and puts a dot before the milliseconds, which is what web video players expect.

Tracks marked (auto) come from YouTube's speech recognition. They are split into short lines and can get names and terms wrong, so review them before you burn them into a video. There is no translation: you can save only the languages listed for the video.

For long videos the free tool covers the first 20,000 characters of captions, roughly 20 minutes of normal speech; the API returns the whole track. To read, search or copy a transcript instead of saving a file, use the YouTube Transcript Generator.

Who uses it

  • Video editors

    Import the SRT into Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve or CapCut to caption a clip you have the rights to use.

  • Translators

    Start from the original timing and translate line by line in a subtitle editor.

  • Accessibility

    Add captions to your own re-uploads, lessons or presentations so deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers can follow.

  • Language learners

    Save the captions in the language you are learning and read along at your own pace.

How to download YouTube subtitles

  1. Step 1

    Copy the video link

    Use Share > Copy link in the YouTube app, or copy the address bar on a computer.

  2. Step 2

    Paste it and press Get subtitles

    The captions load as timestamped lines, with the current language shown at the top.

  3. Step 3

    Choose the language

    Pick a language from the Language menu. Tracks marked (auto) are YouTube's automatic captions.

  4. Step 4

    Save the file

    Download .srt for most editors and players, .vtt for web players, or .txt for plain text.

What you get

ItemFormatDetails
SRT fileNumbered cues with start and end times, for editors and desktop players.srtNumbered cues with start and end times, for editors and desktop players
VTT fileWebVTT for HTML5 and other web players.vttWebVTT for HTML5 and other web players
TXT fileOne line per caption with its timestamp.txtOne line per caption with its timestamp
Caption languagesCreator and automatic tracks; automatic ones marked (auto)Language menuCreator and automatic tracks; automatic ones marked (auto)
PreviewRead and search the captions before you saveTimestamped linesRead and search the captions before you save

Links it accepts

  • youtube.com/watch?v=<id>
  • youtu.be/<id>
  • youtube.com/shorts/<id>
  • youtube.com/live/<id>
  • <11-character video ID>

What this tool can't do

  • It saves captions that already exist. It does not create subtitles from the audio.
  • No machine translation: only the languages listed for the video.
  • Age-restricted, private and members-only videos do not work.
  • The free tool covers the first 20,000 characters of long caption tracks.
  • It saves caption files only, never the video or its audio.
  • Up to 30 new lookups a day per visitor. For more, use the API.

If something goes wrong

This video has no captions
The creator did not add any and YouTube has not generated them, which is common for music-only and very new videos.
My language is missing
The video has no track in that language, and the tool does not translate.
Video is age-restricted
These videos need a signed-in viewer, so the tool cannot read their captions.
The file stops early
Long tracks are cut at 20,000 characters in the free tool. The API returns the full track.

SRT vs VTT vs TXT

FormatBest forTimingOpens in
SRTVideo editors and desktop playersStart and end, 00:01:02,500Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, VLC
VTTWeb players and HTML5 videoStart and end, 00:01:02.500Browsers and web video players
TXTReading, notes and AI toolsStart time per lineAny text editor

For developers

Run it on many at once

The same data as JSON from one request. Use it on hundreds of links from your own code, a spreadsheet or n8n.

curl -X POST https://api.scrapeeverything.com/v1/youtube/transcript \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{"url":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ"}'

Not a developer? Fill a Google Sheet or use the n8n workflow with the same API key.

YouTube Subtitle Downloader FAQ

How do I download subtitles from YouTube?

Paste the video link, pick a language from the menu and download the SRT, VTT or TXT file.

Can I download auto-generated subtitles?

Yes, if YouTube generated captions for the video. They are marked (auto) in the language menu.

Which format should I choose?

SRT works in most editors and players, VTT is for web players, and TXT is plain text for reading.

Can I translate the subtitles?

No. You can download only the languages the video already has.

Why can't I find subtitles for a video?

It has no captions, captions are turned off, or the video is age-restricted or private.

Can I download subtitles from YouTube Shorts?

Yes, when the Short has captions. Paste the /shorts/ link.

Can I reuse someone's subtitles?

They are part of the creator's work. Personal use and accessibility are common; ask before republishing them. Read our copyright policy.

Does it download the video too?

No. It saves caption files only, never YouTube videos or audio.

Use downloads responsibly

Videos, photos and sounds belong to the people who made them. Download content you created, content you have permission to use, or a copy for personal offline viewing where the law allows it. A download does not give you the right to re-upload, edit, sell or advertise with someone else's work. If you share it, credit the creator. If you own content and want it blocked here, see our copyright policy.

Scrape Everything is not affiliated with, endorsed by or sponsored by YouTube or Google. YouTube is named here only to describe which links this tool accepts. Scrape Everything is operated by Senyo Labs Technology, Finanskent Mah. Prof. Hasan Küçük Cad. Sinpaş Finans Şehir 9. Blok No: 5 İç Kapı No: 5, Ümraniye/İstanbul, Türkiye.

Safe to use

  • No pop-up ads or redirect pages
  • Nothing to install: no app, no browser extension
  • We never ask for your YouTube password
  • Public content only: private accounts stay private
  • Files stream from the platform to you and are not saved on our servers

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