YouTube Subtitle Downloader & Generator
Paste a YouTube link to download its subtitles as an SRT file or plain text. Pick the caption language once it loads. Free, no sign-up. No captions on the video? Generate subtitles with AI.
How to download YouTube subtitles
- Copy the video link. Use a single public video, not a playlist.
- Paste it and choose Get subtitles. PasteQuill checks the video's existing caption tracks and shows the subtitles on this page with timestamps.
- Check the language. The Subtitle language box above the download buttons shows which track you're getting. If other languages are offered, choose one from its menu.
- Download SRT or TXT. The download buttons sit above the subtitles. You don't need to submit the video again to get the other format.
Generate subtitles for videos that have none
Downloading and generating are two different paths. Downloading saves a caption track the video already has: it takes seconds and is free. Generating is for a video with no caption track at all, where there is nothing to download: AI listens to the audio and writes new subtitles from the speech.
You don't pick the path yourself. Paste the link and choose Get subtitles; PasteQuill always checks for existing captions first. Only when it finds none does it offer AI transcription, and nothing is generated until you confirm. When it finishes, the subtitles appear on this page labeled AI transcription, with the same Download SRT and Download TXT buttons.
- Free: public videos up to 3 minutes, three videos and 20 minutes per UTC day, no account needed. Free AI transcription shares a daily capacity, so it can pause when that runs out.
- Pro: up to 60 minutes per video, about 300 minutes a month. See pricing.
Generated subtitles come from speech recognition, so check names, numbers and technical terms against the audio before you publish them. Live or upcoming streams and private or restricted videos can't be generated. A video without clear speech may return no subtitles, and that attempt still counts toward your limit.
Choose a subtitle language
Once the captions load, the Subtitle language box shows which track you're getting. PasteQuill starts with the video's original language when it can identify one; otherwise it uses the default track, English or the first available track. If the video offers other caption languages, pick one from the menu and the subtitles reload in that language, ready to download. If only one language is available, the box says so.
Some caption tracks are generated automatically rather than written by the creator, so names and technical terms can come out wrong. Check a few lines against the video before you use the file. PasteQuill doesn't translate subtitles: you can download only the languages the video already has.
SRT or TXT: which subtitle file do you need?
Both files come from the same caption track. The difference is whether the file keeps the timing.
| Format | What it contains | Use it for |
|---|---|---|
| SRT | Numbered SubRip cues with a start time, an end time, and the caption text. | Subtitle editors, video editors, and media players that load SubRip files. |
| TXT | Plain caption text in order, without timestamps, cue numbers, or a title. | Reading, searching, and quoting in a document. |
This page is about subtitle files. If you want the whole video as readable text instead, download the YouTube transcript as a TXT file.
Use the SRT file in a video editor or player
Edit or restyle the subtitles
Open the SRT in a subtitle editor or a video editor that accepts SubRip files. Play the start, a midpoint, and the end against the video to confirm the timing. If you cut or move the footage, the cue times need adjusting too, and long cues may need shorter line breaks.
Watch with subtitles offline
Many desktop media players can load an SRT file next to a video you already have the rights to. PasteQuill only provides the subtitle file; it does not download the video or its audio.
Re-upload captions to your own video
If the video is yours, YouTube Studio accepts subtitle files when you add captions. Fix misheard names and terms in the SRT first, keeping each cue's number and time line intact.
The same SRT and TXT exports work for TikTok transcripts — paste the video link there and the buttons are identical.
What this subtitle downloader doesn't do
It downloads one video's existing captions at a time. It doesn't export VTT, burn subtitles into a video, translate captions, or download playlists. If a video has no captions, there is no existing subtitle file to download (see why some YouTube videos don't have transcripts); the section on generating subtitles covers that case. For saving a file on your phone and other file tips, see the YouTube transcript downloader.
FAQ
How do I download YouTube subtitles as an SRT file?
Paste the video link above and choose Get subtitles. When the captions appear, select Download SRT. The file has numbered cues with start and end times that subtitle editors and most video players can open.
Can I download subtitles in VTT or another format?
No. PasteQuill downloads SRT (timed subtitle cues) and TXT (plain text without timestamps). It does not export VTT, the video, or an MP3.
Can I download auto-generated subtitles?
If YouTube has a caption track the caption service can retrieve, PasteQuill downloads it as YouTube captions. That can include auto-generated captions when they are available that way. The result is not labeled as auto-generated versus uploaded by the creator. If no captions exist, this download path does not invent a file; eligible public videos up to 3 minutes may be offered a separate AI transcription step when that option is enabled.
Which subtitle language do I get?
By default, PasteQuill picks the caption track in the video's original language when it can identify one; otherwise it uses the default track, English or the first available track. The language is shown in the Subtitle language box above the download buttons. If other languages are offered, choose one from its menu before you download. Availability varies by video, and PasteQuill does not translate subtitles.
Do I need an account?
No. Paste a public video link and download SRT or TXT without creating an account. A short-lived browser session keeps the saved result available for 24 hours.
Are playlists supported?
No. The tool accepts one video at a time. Standard watch links, youtu.be links, Shorts, embed, and individual live links are accepted. Playlist pages are rejected; a video link that carries a list parameter works, and only that video is read.
Need the words, not a subtitle file? Use the free YouTube transcript generator.