How to Download YouTube Captions as Text File (SRT, TXT)
TL;DR - Quick Answer
Fastest way to download YouTube captions: Go to YouTubeToScript.com → Paste video URL → Click "Extract" → Click "📥 Download" → Captions saved as .txt file. Free, instant, no signup needed. Works with any video that has subtitles.
📋 What's in This Guide
Want to save YouTube captions as a file on your computer? Whether you need subtitles for studying, translation, accessibility, or content creation, downloading captions is easier than you think.
In this guide, I'll show you 4 methods to download YouTube captions as text files, including the different file formats available and when to use each one.
Caption File Formats Explained
Before we dive into the methods, let's understand the different caption file formats:
TXT (Plain Text)
Simple text file with captions. Easy to read and edit. Works everywhere.
.txtSRT (SubRip)
Most popular subtitle format. Includes timestamps. Used by video editors.
.srtVTT (WebVTT)
Web-friendly format. Used for HTML5 video players and online streaming.
.vtt💡 Which Format Should You Use?
For reading/editing: TXT (plain text)
For video editing: SRT (widely supported)
For websites: VTT (HTML5 compatible)
Use YouTubeToScript.com
The easiest way to download YouTube captions. Extract and download subtitles from any video in seconds.
Output format: .txt
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Copy the video URL - Go to YouTube, find the video, copy the URL from your browser
- Go to YouTubeToScript.com - Open YouTubeToScript.com
- Paste URL and Extract - Paste the URL and click "Extract"
- Click Download - Click the "📥 Download" button
- Save the file - Choose where to save the .txt file on your computer
💡 Pro Tip
Toggle "Timestamps ON" before downloading if you need time codes in your file. Toggle OFF for clean text only.
Why this method is best:
- One-click download - no extra steps
- Works with any public YouTube video
- Supports auto-generated and manual captions
- Choose with or without timestamps
- Works with YouTube Shorts
- 100% free, no signup required
Download Captions Now
Save YouTube subtitles as text files instantly. Free, no signup.
Download Captions Free →YouTube Studio (Video Owners Only)
If you own the video or manage the channel, YouTube Studio lets you download captions in multiple formats.
Output formats: .srt .sbv .vtt
Step-by-Step Instructions:
- Go to YouTube Studio - Visit studio.youtube.com
- Click "Subtitles" - In the left sidebar menu
- Select your video - Find and click on the video
- Click on the language track - Select the subtitle language you want
- Click three dots menu - Then select "Download"
- Choose format - Select .srt, .sbv, or .vtt
⚠️ Limitation
This method only works for videos YOU own. You can't download captions from other people's videos using YouTube Studio.
Browser Extensions
Several browser extensions can download YouTube captions. However, they require installation and permissions.
Popular options:
- Transcript & Summary - Chrome extension for transcripts
- YouTube Subtitle Downloader - Download as SRT
- SaveSubs - Multiple format support
Pros: Works directly in YouTube interface
Cons: Requires installation, may have privacy concerns, some are paid
Third-Party Downloaders
Various websites offer subtitle downloading. Quality and safety varies significantly.
⚠️ Caution
Many third-party downloaders contain ads, trackers, or may not work reliably. YouTubeToScript is a safe, ad-light alternative specifically designed for transcript extraction.
Method Comparison
| Method | Any Video | Formats | Free | No Install |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| YouTubeToScript | ✅ | TXT | ✅ | ✅ |
| YouTube Studio | ❌ Own only | SRT, SBV, VTT | ✅ | ✅ |
| Browser Extensions | ✅ | Varies | ⚠️ Some paid | ❌ |
| Third-Party Sites | ✅ | Varies | ⚠️ Ads | ✅ |
What to Do With Downloaded Captions
📚 Study & Research
Review lecture content, create study notes, search through video content quickly without rewatching.
✍️ Content Creation
Repurpose video content into blog posts, articles, social media posts, or scripts for your own videos.
🌍 Translation
Translate captions to other languages for subtitling or reaching international audiences.
♿ Accessibility
Create text versions for deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers, or for situations where audio isn't available.
🔍 SEO & Keywords
Extract keywords from popular videos for SEO research and content optimization.
📊 Analysis
Analyze competitor content, speaking patterns, or topics covered in videos.
Frequently Asked Questions
For most users, TXT (plain text) is the best choice. It's easy to read, edit, and works with any text editor. If you need captions for video editing software, use SRT format. For web players, VTT is ideal.
Yes! YouTubeToScript downloads both manually uploaded and auto-generated captions. Just paste the video URL and the tool will extract whatever captions are available. Note that auto-generated captions may have some accuracy issues.
You can download captions from any public YouTube video that has subtitles enabled. Some videos don't have captions available - in that case, no tool can extract them. Private videos and some restricted content may not work.
YouTubeToScript automatically detects available caption languages. If a video has multiple language options, you can usually select your preferred language from the dropdown menu after extraction. The tool supports 100+ languages.
Downloading captions for personal use, research, accessibility, and fair use purposes is generally acceptable. However, republishing someone's content without permission may violate copyright. Always credit the original creator when using their content publicly.
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Save subtitles from any video as text files. Free, instant, no signup.
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