YouTube subtitles: create and upload an SRT
Create YouTube subtitles you control: generate an SRT from your video, correct it, and upload it in YouTube Studio in place of the automatic captions.
- SRT ready for YouTube Studio
- Edit every line
- Many languages
Real exports. Tap a style.
What this YouTube subtitles tool does
SubtitlePop makes YouTube subtitles from the same video file you upload to YouTube, so the timing matches. The result is an SRT file — the format YouTube Studio accepts under Subtitles — with names and terms spelled the way you approved.
Uploaded YouTube subtitles replace the automatic captions for that language, can be added in several languages, and work on other platforms too. The free plan covers 5 minutes a month; Starter covers videos up to 30 minutes each.
How to add subtitles to a YouTube video
Generate the subtitles
Upload the same video file you uploaded to YouTube, so the timing matches.
Correct names and terms
Use find and replace for anything recognition got wrong.
Upload to YouTube Studio
Studio → Subtitles → your video → Add language → Upload file → With timing → choose the SRT.
Why upload your own YouTube subtitles
- You fix the mistakes. YouTube’s automatic captions can’t be guaranteed correct; an uploaded file says exactly what you approved.
- Right language. Automatic captions follow the language YouTube detects; your file is the language you choose.
- Reuse. The same SRT works for the video on LinkedIn, Facebook or your own site.
Fixing YouTube’s automatic captions
YouTube Studio lets you edit its automatic captions line by line, which is slow for long videos. A faster route: generate subtitles from the same video file here, use find and replace for names and terms, and upload the SRT. Your file then takes the place of the automatic track for that language.
YouTube subtitles in more than one language
YouTube accepts a separate subtitle file per language. Export the SRT in the spoken language, translate the captions with the subtitle translator — every line keeps its start and end time — and export one SRT per language. Add each file under its own language in Studio. Viewers pick their language from the player’s settings.
Subtitle formats YouTube accepts
| Format | Notes |
|---|---|
| SRT (.srt) | The simplest choice; text and timing only |
| WebVTT (.vtt) | Also accepted; positioning is supported |
| SBV (.sbv) | YouTube’s own format, as downloaded from Studio |
| Plain transcript (.txt) | YouTube sets the timing itself; works for clear speech in supported languages |
YouTube subtitles checklist before you upload
- The subtitle file was made from the exact video file on YouTube.
- Names, places and product terms are spelled the way you want them indexed.
- No line runs longer than two rows on a phone.
- The file’s language matches the language you select in Studio.
Languages and file types for YouTube subtitles
| Supported | |
|---|---|
| Spoken languages | English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Dutch, Polish, Turkish, Russian, Ukrainian, Arabic, Hindi, Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, Chinese, Japanese, Korean and more — or “Detect language” |
| Video | MP4, MOV, M4V, WebM, MKV |
| Audio | MP3, WAV, M4A, AAC, OGG |
| Subtitle exports | SRT, WebVTT, styled ASS, plain text with or without timestamps |
| Video export | MP4 with captions burned in — 720p on the free plan, up to 1080p on Starter and 4K on Pro |
Free plan and pricing for YouTube subtitles
Starter is $7.99 a month for 60 minutes and exports without a watermark. A $5.99 pack adds 40 minutes that never expire.
See each caption style on real footage
Pick a look, then change the size, position and line count. The preview is drawn by the same renderer that makes your export.
YouTube subtitles FAQ
How do I add subtitles to a YouTube video?+
Generate an SRT file from your video with SubtitlePop, then in YouTube Studio open Subtitles, choose the video, click Add language, then Upload file, select “With timing” and pick the SRT.
Which subtitle file format does YouTube accept?+
YouTube accepts SRT, WebVTT and SBV subtitle files, among others. SRT is the most widely supported and is the default export here.
Why are my YouTube subtitles out of sync?+
YouTube subtitles go out of sync when the subtitle file was made from a different cut of the video. Generate the file from the exact video on YouTube, or move every line with the free subtitle time shift tool.
Are uploaded YouTube subtitles better than automatic captions?+
Uploaded YouTube subtitles contain text you have verified, so the words viewers read and YouTube indexes are correct — including names and product terms that automatic captions often miss.
How do I download subtitles from my own YouTube video?+
In YouTube Studio open Subtitles, choose the video and language, and use the options menu next to the track to download the subtitle file.
Is creating YouTube subtitles free?+
A free SubtitlePop account includes 5 minutes of transcription every month, with SRT downloads included. Longer videos are covered by Starter (30 minutes per video) and Pro (60 minutes per video).
Related subtitle tools
YouTube Shorts captions
Add YouTube Shorts captions two ways: word-timed captions burned into the vertical video, or an SRT file for YouTube Studio. Edit every word. Free to start.
SRT generator
Free SRT generator: upload a video or audio file, get automatic subtitles with timing, fix any line, and download a clean .srt file for YouTube or your editor.
Subtitle translator
Subtitle translator for videos: transcribe the speech, translate the subtitles into 19 languages with timing unchanged, edit any line, export SRT or MP4.
Subtitle time shift
Fix out-of-sync subtitles: shift every caption in an SRT, VTT, ASS or SBV file earlier or later by any number of seconds. Free subtitle sync, in your browser.