How to download captions and subtitles from YouTube in Chrome

Last updated May 4, 20263 min read
Quick answer

YouTube captions are locked inside the player. If you want them as a file for editing, studying, or archiving, you need a browser extension. Here is how.

  1. 1
    Step 1

    Open the video with captions available

    Most videos with auto-generated or uploaded captions work. Check that the CC button is active in the YouTube player.

    FeaturecaptionsSiteYouTube
  2. 2
    Step 2

    Open VidBar's caption controls

    The captions section in the VidBar panel shows available tracks for the current video.

    Featurecaptions
  3. 3
    Step 3

    Click download to export as SRT

    VidBar exports the current caption track as a standard SRT file, ready to import into any video editor or subtitle tool.

  4. 4
    Step 4

    Cycle through language tracks first

    If the video has multiple language subtitles, cycle to the language you want before downloading.

    Featuresubtitles
  5. 5
    Step 5

    Use the transcript for studying without downloading

    Even without downloading, VidBar surfaces the video transcript inside the panel so you can read along or search for a specific line.

  6. 6
    Step 6

    Load external subtitle files

    If you have your own SRT file for a video, VidBar lets you load it and display it in the player on top of the existing video.

Frequently asked questions

  • Does caption download work on videos with only auto-generated subtitles?

    Yes, VidBar can export both manually uploaded and auto-generated YouTube captions.

  • Is caption download free or Pro?

    Downloading captions as SRT is a free feature. Full transcript download with expanded formatting is a Pro feature.

  • Can I download captions from Netflix or Twitch?

    VidBar's caption download is focused on YouTube. On other sites, caption cycling and restyle are available but SRT export may not be.

Try VidBar on a live video

Open the interactive demo to test karaoke, speed, filters, audio tools, and export before installing.

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Related

Restyle CaptionsKaraoke ModeTimestamped NotesVidBar on YouTube

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