How to Download YouTube Subtitles (SRT and VTT)

YouTube subtitles are text files synchronised with a video that display on screen what is being said or happening at each moment. Although they may seem like a minor feature, their uses are wide-ranging: from accessibility for people with hearing difficulties, to language learning, creating transcriptions, or working with subtitle tracks in video editors. In this guide we explain everything you need to know about YouTube subtitles — what they actually are, which formats they come in, how reliable the auto-generated ones are, and how to use them once downloaded.

Manual subtitles vs auto-generated captions (CC)

YouTube hosts two types of subtitles with very different characteristics:

• Manual subtitles: the video creator (or their team) has written or reviewed each line. These are the most reliable: synchronisation is accurate, technical terms are correctly spelled, and the text genuinely reflects what is said. Many educational, journalistic, and corporate channels invest in manual subtitles to reach a wider audience.
• Auto-generated captions (CC — Closed Captions): YouTube generates these using AI speech recognition. They require no effort from the creator, but quality depends heavily on the audio. Videos with clear speech, a good recording, and no strong accent tend to be quite accurate. They struggle with specific jargon, proper nouns, regional accents, background music, or low-quality audio.

For projects requiring accuracy — academic transcriptions, professional subtitling, study material — it is worth seeking out videos with manual subtitles. For personal or informal use, auto-generated captions are usually sufficient.

Subtitle formats: SRT vs VTT

When you download YouTube subtitles you can choose between two main formats. Understanding the difference will save you confusion:

• SRT (SubRip Text): the oldest and most widely compatible format. Its structure is simple: an entry number, start and end timestamps, and the text. VLC, MPC-HC, Plex, Kodi, Infuse, and virtually every desktop media player and smart TV read SRT natively. If you place the SRT file in the same folder as the video with the same filename, most players load it automatically. It is the best choice for local playback.
• VTT (Web Video Text Tracks): the native browser standard (HTML5). Streaming platforms, web players, and online editors all use it. It allows greater styling flexibility (position, colour, size) but some classic desktop players do not support it without conversion. If your destination is a browser or web platform, VTT is the right choice.

If you are unsure which to choose, download SRT — it is the most universal format and will work in any player without further steps.

How to download subtitles from a YouTube video

The process with PullVid's subtitle tool is straightforward and requires no installation or account:

1. Open YouTube and find the video whose subtitles you want to download. Copy the URL from the browser address bar, or use the Share button and choose Copy link.
2. Go to PullVid's subtitle downloader and paste the URL into the search field.
3. Wait a few seconds while the video data loads. You will see a list of all available subtitle languages — both manual and auto-generated.
4. Choose the language you want and select the format: SRT or VTT.
5. Click Download. The file saves directly to your device.

Keep in mind that you can only download subtitles if the video has them available. If no language appears in the list, the video has no subtitles at that moment. It also does not work with private, unlisted, or region-restricted videos.

How to use downloaded subtitles

In VLC

VLC is the most common player for SRT subtitles. The easiest approach is to place the SRT file in the same folder as the video and give it exactly the same filename (except the extension). For example, if the video is interview.mp4, the subtitle file should be interview.srt. When you open the video in VLC, subtitles load automatically. If they do not appear, go to Subtitle → Subtitle Track in the menu and activate them.

In video editors

Most modern video editors (DaVinci Resolve, Premiere Pro, Final Cut, CapCut) can import SRT or VTT files as a subtitle track. This lets you integrate downloaded subtitles into an editing project — you can adjust the style, resync them with cuts, or export the video with burnt-in subtitles for platforms that do not support external tracks.

On mobile

On Android, MX Player supports SRT natively: place the SRT alongside the video and it loads automatically. On iPhone, Infuse supports both SRT and VTT and offers a very smooth experience. You can also open the SRT in any text editor to read the full transcript without needing to play the video at all.

Common uses for downloaded subtitles

• Language learning: read and listen simultaneously to improve comprehension. Compare subtitles in your native language and the one you are learning.
• Accessibility: make content accessible to deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers, or in environments where you cannot play audio.
• Transcriptions: convert the SRT to plain text to create summaries, notes, or records of meetings and lectures.
• Video editing: import the SRT into your editor to add subtitles with your project's style without having to type the text from scratch.
• Translation: use the transcription as a base for translating content into another language with greater precision than automated tools.
• Content search: with the SRT text you can search for specific phrases in the video and jump directly to the relevant moment.

Is it legal to download YouTube subtitles?

Downloading YouTube subtitles for personal use — studying, watching the video without sound, making content accessible on your own device — is a common and widely accepted practice. Subtitles are part of the content the creator has uploaded to a public platform, and private use causes no economic harm and does not violate distribution rights.

What is not permitted is redistributing those subtitles, publishing them elsewhere, or using them commercially without the creator's permission. For a deeper look at the general legal framework around downloading online content, our guide on is it legal to download videos? covers all the relevant aspects.