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Save YouTube Video Subtitles as Text Documents in a Few Simple Steps



How to Download Captions from YouTube Videos




YouTube is one of the most popular platforms for watching and sharing videos online. It has millions of videos on various topics, from entertainment and education to news and sports. Many of these videos have captions, which are text versions of the audio that appear on the screen. Captions can help you understand what is being said in the video, especially if you have hearing difficulties, speak a different language, or want to learn new words.


But did you know that you can also download captions from YouTube videos and save them as text files on your computer? This can be useful for many reasons, such as offline viewing, studying, note-taking, and research. In this article, we will show you how to download captions from YouTube videos as text files using two simple methods. We will also show you how to use the downloaded captions for different purposes, such as editing, adding, or converting them.




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Why You Might Want to Download YouTube Captions




Benefits of downloading captions




Downloading captions from YouTube videos can have many benefits, such as:


  • Improving your comprehension and retention of the video content



  • Enhancing your language skills and vocabulary



  • Creating your own notes or summaries of the video



  • Quoting or citing the video in your academic or professional work



  • Sharing the video with others who might not have access to YouTube or the internet



  • Having a backup copy of the captions in case they are removed or changed by the video creator



Types of captions available on YouTube




There are two types of captions available on YouTube:


  • Auto-generated captions: These are captions that are automatically created by YouTube using speech recognition technology. They are not always accurate or complete, and they may not include punctuation or capitalization. They are usually indicated by a gray "CC" icon below the video.



  • Manually created captions: These are captions that are created by the video creator or a third-party service. They are usually more accurate and complete, and they may include punctuation, capitalization, and other formatting. They are usually indicated by a white "CC" icon below the video.



You can download both types of captions from YouTube videos, but you may prefer manually created captions for better quality and readability.


How to Download Captions from YouTube Videos as Text Files




Method 1: Copying transcripts from YouTube




This method involves copying the transcript of the captions from YouTube and pasting it into a text document. This is a quick and easy way to download captions as text files, but it may not preserve the formatting or the timing of the captions. Here are the steps to follow:


Step 1: Navigate to a YouTube video with subtitles




Go to YouTube and find a video that has captions. You can use the filter option to search for videos with subtitles. You can also check if a video has captions by looking for the "CC" icon below the video.


Step 2: Click below the video




Below the video, you will see three dots (...) next to the "Save" button. Click on them to open a menu.


How to download YouTube subtitles as text files


Download YouTube subtitles in TXT or SRT format


Create subtitles and captions for YouTube videos


YouTube subtitle extractor and downloader tool


Translate and download YouTube subtitles in any language


Save YouTube subtitles as PDF or Word documents


Edit and sync YouTube subtitles with video


Convert YouTube subtitles to different formats


Extract audio and transcript from YouTube videos


Download YouTube subtitles with timestamps


Add subtitles and captions to YouTube videos online


Download YouTube subtitles for offline viewing


Download multiple YouTube subtitles at once


Download YouTube subtitles with Google Chrome extension


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Step 3: Click Open Transcript




In the menu, you will see an option called "Open transcript". Click on it to open a sidebar that shows the transcript of the captions.


Step 4: Click followed by Toggle Timestamps (Optional)




In the sidebar, you will see three dots () at the top right corner. Click on them to open another menu. In the menu, you will see an option called "Toggle timestamps". Click on it to hide or show the timestamps of the captions. You may want to hide them if you don't need them in your text document.


Step 5: Open a new text document




On your computer, open a new text document using a program like Notepad or WordPad. You can also use an online text editor like Google Docs or Microsoft Word Online.


Step 6: Highlight and copy the entire transcript text




In the sidebar, highlight and copy the entire transcript text by using your mouse or keyboard shortcuts. You can also use the "Select all" option in the menu () to select everything at once.


Step 7: Copy and paste the transcript




In your text document, paste the transcript text by using your mouse or keyboard shortcuts. You can also use the "Paste" option in the menu of your text editor.


Step 8: Save the transcript




Save your text document by using your mouse or keyboard shortcuts. You can also use the "Save" option in the menu of your text editor. Give your document a name and choose a location where you want to save it.


Method 2: Using a subtitle downloader




This method involves using a subtitle downloader website that can download captions from YouTube videos in different formats, such as TXT or SRT. This is a more convenient and reliable way to download captions as text files, but it may require an internet connection and some extra steps. Here are the steps to follow:


Step 1: Navigate to a YouTube video with subtitles




Go to YouTube and find a video that has captions. You can use the filter option to search for videos with subtitles. You can also check if a video has captions by looking for the "CC" icon below the video.


Step 2: Copy the video URL




Copy the URL of the video from your browser's address bar. You can also right-click on the video and choose "Copy video URL" from the menu.


Step 3: Go to a subtitle downloader website




Go to a subtitle downloader website that can download captions from YouTube videos, such as DownSub, SaveSubs, or Y2Mate. You can find more websites by searching for "YouTube subtitle downloader" on Google or Bing.


Step 4: Paste the video URL and select the language




Paste the video URL into the input box on the website and click on "Download" or "Search". The website will show you a list of available captions for the video in different languages. Select the language that you want to download and click on it.


Step 5: Download the caption file in TXT or SRT format




The website will show you a preview of the caption file and give you options to download it in different formats, such as TXT or SRT. Choose the format that you prefer and click on "Download" or "Save". The caption file will be downloaded to your computer as a text file.


How to Use the Downloaded Captions for Different Purposes




How to edit captions in a text editor




If you want to edit captions in a text editor, you can open them with any program that can read text files, such as Notepad, WordPad, Google Docs, or Microsoft Word Online. You can then make changes to the text, such as correcting spelling, grammar, punctuation, capitalization, or formatting. You can also add, delete, or rearrange the captions as you wish. However, be careful not to change the meaning or context of the captions, as they should match the audio of the video.


How to add captions to another video or platform




If you want to add captions to another video or platform, you need to make sure that the captions are in a compatible format and that they are synchronized with the audio. The most common format for captions is SRT, which stands for SubRip Text. SRT files contain the captions and their timestamps, which indicate when they should appear and disappear on the screen. You can use a text editor to create or edit SRT files, but you need to follow a specific format and syntax. Alternatively, you can use a subtitle editor or converter tool to create or edit SRT files more easily.


Once you have your caption file in SRT format, you can upload it to another video or platform that supports subtitles, such as YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, or Instagram. Each platform has its own process for uploading subtitles, but generally, you need to go to the video settings and choose the option to add subtitles or closed captions. Then, you need to select the language and upload your SRT file. You may also need to adjust the timing or alignment of the captions if they are not synchronized with the audio.


How to convert captions to other formats or languages




If you want to convert captions to other formats or languages, you can use a subtitle converter or translator tool. There are many online tools that can convert captions from one format to another, such as TXT to SRT, SRT to VTT, VTT to SSA, and so on. Some of these tools are DownSub, SaveSubs, Subtitle Tools, and Subtitle Cat. You can also use these tools to edit or modify your captions before converting them.


If you want to translate captions from one language to another, you can use a subtitle translator tool that can automatically translate captions using machine translation. Some of these tools are SubTranslate, Subtitles Translator, and Google Translate. However, be aware that machine translation may not be very accurate or natural, and it may not capture the nuances or idioms of the original language. Therefore, you may need to manually check and edit the translated captions for accuracy and quality.


Conclusion




In this article, we have shown you how to download captions from YouTube videos as text files using two simple methods: copying transcripts from YouTube and using a subtitle downloader website. We have also shown you how to use the downloaded captions for different purposes, such as editing, adding, or converting them. We hope that this article has been helpful and informative for you.


Downloading captions from YouTube videos can be a great way to enhance your viewing experience and learn from the video content. You can also use the captions for various purposes, such as studying, note-taking, researching, quoting, citing, sharing, or creating your own content. Captions can also help you improve your language skills and vocabulary by exposing you to new words and expressions.


If you have any questions or comments about downloading captions from YouTube videos, feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you and help you out.


FAQs




  • Q: How do I know if a YouTube video has captions?



  • A: You can check if a YouTube video has captions by looking for the "CC" icon below the video. If the icon is gray, it means that the video has auto-generated captions. If the icon is white, it means that the video has manually created captions.



  • Q: How do I turn on or off captions on YouTube?



  • A: You can turn on or off captions on YouTube by clicking on the "CC" icon below the video. You can also click on the gear icon and choose "Subtitles/CC" from the menu. You can then select the language and type of captions that you want to see.



  • Q: How do I change the font size or color of captions on YouTube?



  • A: You can change the font size or color of captions on YouTube by clicking on the gear icon and choosing "Subtitles/CC" from the menu. Then, click on "Options" and adjust the settings according to your preference.



  • Q: How do I create my own captions for YouTube videos?



  • A: You can create your own captions for YouTube videos by using a subtitle editor or converter tool that can generate SRT files. You can also use YouTube's own captioning tool that allows you to upload a video and add captions manually or automatically. You can find more information on how to create captions for YouTube videos here.



  • Q: How do I report a problem with captions on YouTube?



  • A: You can report a problem with captions on YouTube by clicking on the flag icon below the video and choosing "Report" from the menu. Then, select "Captions issue" and describe the problem. You can also contact the video creator directly and ask them to fix or improve the captions.



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