Free · WebVTT · Closed & auto captions
YouTube Captions Download (VTT)
Download YouTube captions as a WebVTT file, ready for web players, course platforms and editors. Closed captions and auto-generated captions both work, in any language the video offers.
- WebVTT with cue timings
- Closed and auto captions
- SRT and TXT also included
How to download captions from YouTube
- Copy the link of the YouTube video.
- Paste it above and press Get Captions.
- Choose the caption track. Auto-generated tracks are labelled.
- Press VTT to save a WebVTT file, or pick SRT or TXT.
What a VTT caption file is for
WebVTT (.vtt) is the caption format built into HTML5 video. If you host a video on your own site, a course platform such as Moodle or Teachable, or a player like Video.js or Plyr, it will usually ask for a VTT file. Each cue has a start time, an end time and the caption text.
If your editor or player prefers SRT, download that instead. The words and timings are the same; only the layout differs.
How to download closed captions from YouTube
Closed captions (the CC button on YouTube) are the subtitles the creator uploaded. When a video has them, they appear as a named track on this page, separate from the auto-generated one. Select the closed caption track for the most accurate text, then download.
How to download automatic captions from YouTube
When there are no uploaded captions, YouTube usually makes automatic ones. YouTube itself gives viewers no way to download them, but you can here: the auto-generated track loads like any other and can be saved as VTT, SRT or plain text. You can correct lines before downloading.
Download YouTube captions as text
Need the words rather than a caption file? Use the TXT download, or the Word, Markdown and PDF options. Turn timestamps off for a readable transcript, or keep them on to see when each line was spoken.
Captions only, never the video
This is a captions download tool, not a video downloader. It saves the caption text and timings only. If you need a video with captions, load the VTT or SRT file next to your own copy of the video in your player or editor.
Frequently asked questions
How do I download YouTube captions?
Paste the video link on this page and press Get Captions. Choose a caption track, then download it as VTT, SRT or TXT.
How do I download closed captions from YouTube?
If the creator uploaded captions, select that named track (not the auto-generated one) and download it in your preferred format.
Can I download YouTube auto captions?
Yes. Automatic captions load as a labelled track and can be downloaded in any format, just like uploaded ones.
How do I download captions from YouTube Shorts?
Paste the Shorts link in the box. If the Short has captions, they load and download the same way as a full video.
Can I download translated captions?
Yes. Translate the captions into another language on the result screen, then download the translated VTT or SRT. Timings stay the same.
What is the difference between VTT and SRT?
Both hold caption text and timings. VTT is the web standard used by HTML5 players; SRT is older and supported by almost every desktop editor and player.