Creator's Guide

How to Download Subtitles from YouTube Studio

The definitive guide to exporting captions from your own channel, plus a secret trick to download from any video you don't own.

Downloading subtitles from your own YouTube videos is a common task for creators who want to repurpose content or back up their work. However, YouTube hides this feature deep within the Studio interface.

In this guide, we'll show you the official manual method first. Then, we'll show you a much faster tool that works for bulk downloads and other people's videos.

Quick Summary

  • 1Method 1 (Official): Free, but manual. Only works for YOUR videos one by one.
  • 2Method 2 (YTvidHub): Free, instant, supports Batch/Playlist download for ANY video.
1

The Official Way (YouTube Studio)

1

Access Subtitles Menu

Log in to YouTube Studio. In the left sidebar, click on 'Content' or 'Subtitles'.

YouTube Studio Channel Subtitles List showing videos
2

Click Your Video

Don't just stare at the list! Click on the specific video title or thumbnail to open its language settings.

YouTube Studio Video Subtitle Details Page
3

Hover to Reveal Secrets

Hover your mouse over the language row (far right side). The 'three vertical dots' (Options) are HIDDEN until you hover!

YouTube Studio Language Options Menu
4

Download File

Click the newly revealed three dots, select 'Download', and pick .srt. (See? It's a hunt just to get a file).

Pro Tip: If you don't see dots, try zooming out or verify the subtitle is 'Published'.

The Problem with YouTube Studio

×You can ONLY download captions for videos you own.
×You must download one video at a time (No Batch mode).
×Navigating through menus takes 5-10 clicks per video.
×You cannot download from entire playlists or channels.
2

The Fast Way (Batch & Any Video)

Meet YTvidHub Downloader

Forget clicking through studio menus. Simply paste a link to any video, playlist, or channel and get all subtitles instantly.

Batch / Playlist Support
Works on ANY Video
Clean SRT / TXT
No Login Required
Try Bulk Downloader Free

No credit card needed. Instant access.

Feature Comparison

FeatureYouTube StudioYTvidHub
Download Own Videos
Download Others' Videos×
Batch / Playlist Download×
Clean TXT Format×
Download Speed (100+ items)2+ Hours2 Minutes

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I download subtitles from YouTube Studio in bulk?

No, YouTube Studio currently only allows downloading subtitles one video at a time. To download multiple subtitles or entire playlists at once, use a dedicated tool like YTvidHub Batch Downloader.

What format does YouTube Studio export?

YouTube Studio typically exports captions in .sbv (proprietary), .srt (standard), or .vtt (web) formats. .SBV is rarely supported by video editors, so always choose .SRT if available.

How do I download auto-generated captions?

In YouTube Studio, go to the Subtitles tab, find the 'Automatic' language track (often labeled "English (Automatic)"), hover over the row, click the three dots, and select Download. Note that these often contain errors and lack punctuation.