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Upload free SRT subtitles to YouTube

Updated 9 November 2026 · by Szymon at szy.monster

YouTube makes automatic captions, but they often get names wrong, have no punctuation in places, and arrive hours after you upload. Uploading your own SRT gives viewers better captions straight away, and the text helps people find the video in search.

1. Make the SRT

Open AutoSubtitler, drop in your final video (the exact file you upload to YouTube), and press Make subtitles. Check the preview, fix names, and download the .srt. The video isn't uploaded anywhere by AutoSubtitler.

2. Upload it in YouTube Studio

1. Go to YouTube Studio › Content and click the video.
2. Choose Subtitles in the left menu.
3. Pick the language (or Add language), then under Subtitles choose Add.
4. Choose Upload file, then With timing, and select the .srt.
5. Check the preview and press Publish.

3. Check it

Play the video with captions on (the CC button). If they're out of sync, make sure you subtitled exactly the same video you uploaded. Even a trimmed intro shifts every line.

Tips

• Separate captions beat burned-in ones on YouTube. Viewers can turn them off, change their size, and auto-translate them into other languages. See burned-in vs separate subtitles.
• Shorts play muted in the feed, so many creators burn short captions into Shorts and upload an SRT for long videos.
• Add your channel name, guests and product names under More options in AutoSubtitler, so they're spelled right in every line.