How to Download a YouTube Transcript (TXT SRT VTT Free)
Quick answer (TL;DR): Paste the video URL into The YouTube Tool's transcript downloader, click Get Transcript, pick your format from the selector — TXT, SRT, or VTT — and download. Free, no signup, works in any browser.
You are not downloading one generic "transcript." You are exporting a caption track in a specific file format, and the right choice depends on what you do next.
- TXT — plain text for reading, notes, or AI tools.
- SRT — timed subtitles for video editors (Premiere, DaVinci, Final Cut).
- VTT — timed subtitles for web players and LMS platforms.
The easiest path for all three is the same: paste a URL into our transcript downloader, load the captions, and choose the format from the format selector before you download. One workflow, three outputs — no conversion step, no extra software.
The sections below walk through each format, then show what the files actually look like. If you are comfortable on the command line, there is also a power-user method at the end that works for batch jobs.
You can also copy a transcript directly on YouTube — no third-party tool required. On the video page, expand the description (More), press Ctrl+F / Cmd+F, search for Transcript, and click Show transcript. Open the ⋮ menu to toggle timestamps off, select all the text, and copy. That gives you plain text only: no .txt file, no SRT or VTT, and pasted text often needs cleanup (extra line breaks, double spaces). Handy for a quick grab; for a proper export in the format you need, the downloader below is still the faster path.
How to download a YouTube transcript as TXT
Use TXT when you want the words, not a subtitle file. This is the default for research notes, blog drafts, quote hunting, and pasting into ChatGPT or an AI video summary.
- Copy the video URL from the address bar or Share menu (
youtube.com/watch?v=…,youtu.be/…, or a Shorts link). - Paste it into the transcript downloader and click Get Transcript.
- Select TXT from the format selector.
- Download the file (or copy to clipboard). Timestamps stay in the export so you can jump back to a specific moment in the video.
That is the full workflow. The same four steps apply on iPhone, Android, and desktop — everything runs in the browser with no account required.
If you only need text once and do not care about a saved file, YouTube's own copy method (description → Show transcript → select all → copy) works too — but you are doing manual cleanup afterward. Downloading TXT from the tool skips that.
Choose TXT when: you need searchable text, study notes, or a clean paragraph to repurpose — and nothing is going onto a video timeline.
How to download YouTube subtitles or captions as SRT
On YouTube, "subtitles," "captions," and "closed captions (CC)" all point at the same timed caption track. The difference is what you do with the export. SRT (SubRip) is the format video editors expect — numbered cues, comma-separated timestamps, ready to drop onto a timeline in Premiere, DaVinci Resolve, or Final Cut.
The fastest way to get a .srt file is the same tool:
- Paste the video URL and click Get Transcript.
- Select SRT from the format selector.
- Download.
YouTube's transcript panel only supports copy-paste — no SRT or VTT export, no download button. The format selector handles the SubRip structure for you.
Choose SRT when: you are editing video, translating captions for re-upload, or archiving timed subtitles offline. If your destination asks for VTT instead, pick that from the same selector — same steps, different file extension.
Downloadable formats: TXT vs SRT vs VTT
Not sure which export to pick? Use this table, then match it to the examples below.
| Format | Extension | Timestamps? | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| TXT | .txt | Optional (included in our export) | Notes, search, blog posts, AI summarization |
| SRT | .srt | Yes — HH:MM:SS,mmm | Desktop video editors, DVD workflows, most NLEs |
| VTT | .vtt | Yes — HH:MM:SS.mmm | HTML5 <video>, LMS platforms, modern web players |
Rule of thumb: reading or repurposing → TXT. Timeline editing → SRT. Web or course hosting → VTT.
What TXT looks like
0:00
Welcome back. Today we are comparing export formats.
0:04
TXT is for reading. SRT and VTT are for players and editors.
What SRT looks like
1
00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,500
Welcome back. Today we are comparing export formats.
2
00:00:03,500 --> 00:00:07,200
TXT is for reading. SRT and VTT are for players and editors.
What VTT looks like
WEBVTT
00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.500
Welcome back. Today we are comparing export formats.
00:00:03.500 --> 00:00:07.200
TXT is for reading. SRT and VTT are for players and editors.
SRT uses commas for milliseconds; VTT uses periods and starts with a WEBVTT header. Our tool exports the correct structure for each — you do not need to convert manually.
Downloading transcripts from multiple videos
For a handful of videos, repeat the same workflow: paste URL → Get Transcript → pick format → download. Fine for 5–10 clips.
For dozens or full playlists, a command-line tool is faster — see the section below.
Alternative method: yt-dlp (for batch downloads)
If you are tech-savvy and need to pull captions from many videos at once, yt-dlp is the standard open-source option. This is a method, not a format — you choose the output with a flag:
# SRT subtitles only, no video file
yt-dlp --write-subs --write-auto-subs --sub-lang en --sub-format srt --skip-download "VIDEO_URL"
# VTT instead
yt-dlp --write-subs --write-auto-subs --sub-lang en --sub-format vtt --skip-download "VIDEO_URL"
Replace en with the language code you need. Point it at a playlist URL to batch-download every captioned video in one run. Most people never need this — the browser tool with the format selector is faster for one-off downloads.
For a full comparison of every way to pull captions off YouTube (panel, tool, extension, API), see YouTube transcript: 5 free methods compared.
FAQ
How do I download a YouTube transcript for free? Paste the URL into the transcript downloader, click Get Transcript, choose TXT, SRT, or VTT from the format selector, and download.
What is the difference between TXT, SRT, and VTT? TXT is plain readable text. SRT and VTT are timed subtitle files — SRT for editors, VTT for web players. See the format comparison above.
How do I download YouTube subtitles or closed captions? Subtitles and captions are the same timed track behind YouTube's CC button. Export them as SRT or VTT using the format selector in the transcript tool.
Can I download a transcript with timestamps? Yes. TXT exports include timestamps. For timeline editing, use SRT or VTT — those formats encode cue timing natively.
Can I copy a YouTube transcript without downloading? Yes. On the video page, open the description (More), search the page for Transcript (Ctrl+F / Cmd+F), click Show transcript, toggle timestamps off via the ⋮ menu if you want plain text, select all, and copy. You get unstructured text only — not SRT, VTT, or a saved file.
Can I download on my phone? Yes. Open the tool in mobile Safari or Chrome, paste the link, pick your format, and save to Files (iOS) or Downloads (Android).
Why does my download fail? The video likely has no captions enabled, is private, or is unavailable in your region. Try a public video with CC turned on to confirm the tool works.
What else is in the transcript cluster?
- YouTube transcript — Five methods compared (panel, tool, extension, yt-dlp, API).
- AI video summary — Turn a downloaded TXT transcript into bullet points without re-watching.