How to upload subtitles to YouTube
In YouTube Studio, open the video's subtitles, add the language, choose to upload a file with timing, and select your SRT or VTT file. The subtitles then appear under the CC button, and you can add them to videos that are already published.
Before you upload
You need a subtitle file with timing, usually SRT or VTT, that matches the final version of the video. If you trimmed the video after making the subtitles, every line will be out of sync, so make the file from the final cut.
Upload the file in YouTube Studio
YouTube changes its menus from time to time, so the labels may differ slightly, but the flow stays the same:
- 1Open YouTube Studio and go to the subtitles section in the left menu.
- 2Choose the video, then add the subtitle language, for example Hindi.
- 3Choose to add subtitles and pick the option to upload a file.
- 4Select the version with timing, then choose your SRT or VTT file.
- 5Preview the subtitles against the video and publish them.
Tip: Set the video's language too. It helps YouTube label the original track correctly next to any subtitles you add.
Subtitle file or burned-in captions?
Uploaded subtitles can be switched on and off, can be changed later, and leave the picture clean. Burned-in captions always show and can be styled, which is why Shorts creators often prefer them. You can use both, but avoid showing two sets of the same words at once.
If the subtitles are out of sync
If every line is off by the same amount, the video was probably trimmed after the file was made. Regenerate the file from the final video. If only some lines drift, fix those lines' timing in your subtitle editor and upload again.
Questions
Can I add subtitles to a video that is already published?
Yes. Subtitles can be added to an existing video in YouTube Studio without uploading the video again.
Does YouTube accept Hindi subtitle files?
Yes. Save the file as UTF-8 and choose Hindi as the subtitle language when you add it.
Will subtitles help my video in search?
Subtitles make your content accessible and give YouTube the spoken words as text, but they do not guarantee a ranking.