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Free subtitles in OpenShot using an SRT from Whisper

Updated 9 November 2026 · by Szymon at szy.monster

OpenShot is a simple, free, open-source editor for Windows, Mac and Linux. It doesn't open .srt files directly. Instead, it has a Caption effect, which reads a list of timed lines very like an SRT. Whisper can write that list for you, for free.

1. Make the subtitles

Open AutoSubtitler, drop in your video and press Make subtitles. When it's done, open Edit the subtitles and copy all the text, or download the .srt and open it in Notepad.

2. Add the Caption effect

1. In OpenShot, open the Effects tab and drag Caption onto your video clip on the timeline.
2. Select the clip, then open the effect's Properties.
3. Paste your subtitles into the Caption Text field.

OpenShot's caption format uses a dot before the milliseconds (00:00:01.570) where SRT uses a comma (00:00:01,570). If your captions don't show, replace the commas in the timing lines with dots. This is the same change that turns SRT into WebVTT.

3. Style

In the Caption effect's properties you can set the font, size, colour, background, position and fade. These apply to every subtitle in the effect.

4. Export

File › Export Video renders the captions into the picture. For YouTube, also upload the .srt separately, so viewers can switch subtitles off: see how to upload an SRT to YouTube.

Tips

• The Caption effect sits on one clip. Times count from the start of that clip, so subtitle the clip itself, not a longer video it was cut from.
• For a long video made of many clips, it's often easier to export the edit first and then burn the subtitles in with HandBrake.