Command guide
How to download subtitles with yt-dlp
Subtitle downloads are simple once you know the right flags. The main trap is forgetting whether you want subtitle files only, subtitles alongside the media, or auto-generated subtitles when manual captions do not exist.
Quick answer
If you only want subtitle files, start here.
yt-dlp --write-subs --sub-langs "en.*" --skip-download "URL"Auto subtitles
yt-dlp --write-auto-subs --sub-langs "en.*" --skip-download "URL"Use this when the platform does not offer manual captions but does offer auto-generated subtitles.
Download media and subtitles together
yt-dlp --write-subs --sub-langs "en.*" "URL"Remove --skip-download if you want the video file and the subtitle files in the same run.
What usually goes wrong
- • subtitles do not exist for that video
- • wrong language pattern was requested
- • the user forgot
--skip-downloadand got the full media too - • manual subtitles were expected, but only auto subtitles are available
Practical recommendation
When subtitle availability is uncertain, test with subtitle-only download first. It is faster and makes it obvious whether the language and subtitle type are actually available.
Do not assume subtitles exist
A subtitle command failing does not automatically mean yt-dlp is broken. A lot of videos simply do not have the subtitle track or language you expected.
For builders
Using yt-dlp inside an app or script?
Paste a link to see what a managed media-import API returns — no install, no signup.