Glossary
What Is an SRT File? How to Make, Open and Add One
An SRT file is a plain-text subtitle file format that contains timed captions, the most widely supported subtitle format on the web.
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Definition
An SRT (SubRip Subtitle) file is a plain-text subtitle file format that lists captions with start and end timecodes, used universally across video players and platforms.
Also known as: SubRip, .srt
SRT File, Explained
An SRT file is the most common subtitle file format on the web. It is a plain-text file with the extension .srt, containing a sequence of caption entries. Each entry consists of: an index number, a start and end timecode in HH:MM:SS,mmm format separated by '-->', and one or more lines of caption text, followed by a blank line. SRT files were originally created for the SubRip software in the early 2000s and have since become a universal standard, supported by YouTube, Netflix, VLC, Premiere Pro, and virtually every video tool. SRT files do not support styling, positioning, or formatting, they are pure timed text. For richer features, use the VTT format. To embed SRT captions permanently into a video, you need to burn them in via a caption tool or video editor.
SRT File Examples
- -1\n00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500\nWelcome to the show.\n\n2\n00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,000\nLet's get started.
Terms Related to SRT File
How to make an SRT file for free
The fastest way to get an SRT file is to let software write it for you. Upload the video to a video to text converter, wait for the transcript, fix any names or words it misheard, and download the SRT. Every caption comes with its own start and end time, so you never type a timecode yourself. If you only need a few lines, a text editor works too. Save a plain-text file with the .srt extension, then write the caption number, the times in 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500 form, the text, and a blank line before the next one. Keep each caption to one or two short lines. Viewers read about three words a second, so a line that stays on screen for two seconds should hold six or seven words at most.
SRT subtitles vs captions burned into the video
An SRT file sits next to the video. The player reads it and shows the text, and viewers can turn it off. That is what YouTube, Vimeo, VLC and streaming services expect, and it keeps the subtitles searchable and easy to translate. Instagram Reels, TikTok and most short-form apps do not accept a separate subtitle file, so on those platforms the words have to be part of the picture, which is called burned-in or open captions. Many creators do both: they upload an SRT to YouTube for the long video, and export a burned-in version for Shorts and Reels. If the captions are part of how the video looks, with colours, animation or one word at a time, they have to be burned in, because an SRT file cannot carry any of that.
How do I make an SRT file?
Upload your video to a free video to text converter, let it transcribe the speech, and download the result as SRT. You can also type one by hand in any text editor: a number, a start and end time, the caption text, then a blank line, repeated for each caption.
How do I add an SRT file to a video?
On YouTube, open the video in YouTube Studio, go to Subtitles and upload the .srt file. In VLC, drag the file onto the playing video. In Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, import it like any media file and drop it on the timeline above the video.
What is the difference between SRT and VTT?
Both are plain-text subtitle files. SRT uses a comma before the milliseconds and has no styling. VTT, the web standard, uses a full stop, starts with a WEBVTT header, and supports positioning and basic styling. Most players accept both.
Can I burn an SRT file into a video?
Yes. Burning in draws the subtitles onto the picture, so they show on every platform, including Instagram and TikTok, which ignore separate subtitle files. Caption tools like VideoCaptions.AI export the video with the words already on screen.
How do I open an SRT file?
Any text editor (Notepad, VS Code, TextEdit) can open an SRT file. To use it with video, drop it into a video player like VLC or upload it alongside your video to platforms like YouTube.
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