YouTube often uses AI to create "automatic" captions. These are not stored as standard subtitle files, so you must use a specific flag to retrieve them.
If you prefer a single file rather than a video file plus a separate .srt or .vtt file, you can "embed" the captions directly into the container (like MKV or MP4). yt-dlp --embed-subs --merge-output-format mkv [URL]
yt-dlp has become the gold standard for media archiving because it handles complex tasks like extracting subtitles with surgical precision. Whether you need to grab official closed captions for accessibility or generate AI-translated subtitles for foreign content, yt-dlp provides a robust set of flags to get the job done. The Basics: Downloading All Subtitles
yt-dlp --write-subs --sub-langs "en" -o "%(title)s.%(lang)s.%(ext)s" [URL] Common Troubleshooting Tips
To keep your library organized, you can ensure the subtitle language is clearly marked in the filename:
yt-dlp --write-auto-subs --sub-langs "en" --skip-download [URL] --write-auto-subs: Targets the AI-generated tracks.
By default, many sites serve subtitles in .vtt format. If your media player requires .srt, use the convert flag: yt-dlp --write-subs --convert-subs srt [URL] Formatting the Filename
