Export YouTube subtitles to SRT
Save YouTube captions as an SRT file with start and end times. Learn when SRT is useful, how to check exported captions, and which TubeLingo plan includes export.
How to save captions from a YouTube video
- 1
Open a video with captions
Install TubeLingo in desktop Chrome, open a YouTube watch page, and wait for the subtitle panel to load. Check the source caption language first.
- 2
Check the text and translation
Replay a short section to confirm the words and timing. Choose a translation language if you want bilingual text; check that the translated lines have loaded.
- 3
Choose the file you need
Use the subtitle panel's download control. Depending on your version, choose plain text, text with timestamps, or SRT. Sign in when prompted and check the current plan requirements.
What an SRT file keeps
- A sequence number for each caption block.
- A start and end time so the caption matches video playback.
- The subtitle text, including a translation when it has been loaded.
Illustrative SRT format: sequence number, start/end times, then caption text.
1
00:00:02,000 --> 00:00:04,500
An example subtitle line.
Captions are required
TubeLingo exports the subtitle lines available to it, not a new transcription of the audio. A video without usable captions may have nothing to export. Automatic captions and translations can contain errors; check important names, numbers, and quotes against the audio.
Free viewing and Premium export
Bilingual subtitles, word lookup, and saved vocabulary are listed as free viewing features. Subtitle download and SRT export are listed under Premium. Check the current plans before choosing an export workflow. TubeLingo is a desktop Chrome extension, not a feature of the YouTube mobile app.
Questions about subtitle files
Can I rename a copied transcript to .srt?
Renaming a text file does not create valid SRT. A transcript may contain time labels, but SRT needs structured caption blocks with start and end times. Use export when you need those timings.
Why is the download empty or unavailable?
Check that the video has captions and that the panel has loaded its lines. Reload once or try another captioned video. Selecting an export format cannot create missing captions.
Can I keep the original and translation together?
When translations have loaded, TubeLingo can include them with the source lines. Open the downloaded file to verify the language pair and completeness before using it.
Is the exported text always accurate?
No. Source captions and machine translation may contain mistakes. Review the file against the video before quoting, editing, or studying important passages.