Public or user-authorized media only. Private, login-gated, DRM-protected, paid, age-restricted, region-restricted, and policy-restricted content are not supported. Use MediDown only for content you own, have permission to use, or are legally allowed to download.
Last content review: May 29, 2026. Pages are reviewed for public-source limits, rights-first wording, and practical troubleshooting.
Problem this page solves
YouTube videos may have creator-uploaded captions, auto-generated captions, several languages, or no public subtitle tracks at all. MediDown can only show tracks that the public source exposes.
This guide is for accessibility review, study notes, translation preparation, creator backups, and other permitted workflows where saving captions is allowed.
Step-by-step solution
- Step 1: Copy the public YouTube video URL from the browser address bar.
- Step 2: Open YouTube Subtitle Downloader or the main YouTube Downloader.
- Step 3: Paste the URL, confirm your rights, and load the preview.
- Step 4: Check the subtitle section for available languages and track types.
- Step 5: Choose VTT when you want web-style timestamps or SRT when your editor requires it.
- Step 6: If no tracks appear, check whether the video has captions on YouTube before retrying.
Download in the Best Available Quality
MediDown detects the highest available quality from the original public or user-authorized source. When available, users can download HD, Full HD, 2K, 4K, or 8K video, high-quality audio, original photos, thumbnails, subtitles, and multi-image ZIP files.
Available quality depends on the original upload and what each platform makes publicly available. A 4K option appears only when 4K is detected. A photo option may be an original image on one source and a large preview on another. Subtitle and caption options appear only when tracks are exposed by the source.
Formats and output options
Subtitle results may include VTT, SRT, manually uploaded captions, or auto-generated captions when exposed. The language list depends on the uploader and YouTube’s public response for that video.
VTT is common for web playback and can include richer timing metadata. SRT is simpler and widely accepted by video editors, caption tools, and translation workflows.
Common problems
If the preview does not show what you expected, use the issue list below before retrying. Most failures are caused by platform visibility, removed content, unsupported media types, or temporary rate limits.
- The video may not have captions or may expose captions only inside YouTube.
- Auto-generated captions can be unavailable, delayed, inaccurate, or language-limited.
- Private, age-restricted, paid, or login-gated videos are not supported.
- Some caption tracks cannot be converted cleanly to every target format.
- Region or route limits can affect whether tracks are visible to the backend.
Troubleshooting checklist
Open the video on YouTube and confirm that captions exist. If captions are present but missing in MediDown, retry later or choose another public video. If only VTT appears, use VTT directly or convert it in your caption editor when permitted.
Safe use and legal limits
MediDown is built for public or user-authorized media. Downloading a file does not grant reuse rights. Keep permission records for creator work, classroom materials, brand assets, and client projects. If a platform offers an official export or creator dashboard for your own private data, use that instead of trying to process restricted links.
Ads and download actions are intentionally separated. MediDown should never place ads inside download cards, between ZIP buttons, or next to Save File actions. That layout protects users from accidental clicks and keeps monetization safer for future AdSense review.
Related tools and next steps
Use these related pages when the same link contains another media type, when a platform blocks one format, or when you need a more specific workflow such as thumbnails, subtitles, multi-image ZIP files, or audio extraction.
FAQ
Can MediDown download YouTube subtitles?
Yes, when the public or user-authorized YouTube video exposes caption tracks.
Why are YouTube subtitles missing?
The video may not have captions, the language may not be public, or the track may be restricted by YouTube.
Should I choose VTT or SRT?
Use VTT for web playback and richer timing metadata; use SRT for simple editor and translation workflows.
Can MediDown help me download YouTube subtitles?
This page explains how to download YouTube subtitles for public or user-authorized sources that expose the needed media. MediDown cannot create a format or quality level that the platform does not provide.
Does this work with private or restricted YouTube content?
No. Public or user-authorized media only. Private, login-gated, DRM-protected, paid, age-restricted, region-restricted, and policy-restricted content are not supported.
Can I get the highest available quality?
MediDown detects the highest available quality from the original public or user-authorized source. When available, users can download HD, Full HD, 2K, 4K, or 8K video, high-quality audio, original photos, thumbnails, subtitles, and multi-image ZIP files. Available quality depends on the original upload and what each platform makes publicly available.
Why are some options missing?
Platforms expose different media for each link. A post may expose images but no video, a thumbnail but no source file, or video-only streams without audio.
What should I try if the download fails?
Check that the URL is public, use the canonical browser link, retry later, and choose a recommended option before advanced formats.
Can I reuse downloaded media anywhere?
Only reuse media you own, have permission to use, or are legally allowed to download. Respect copyright and platform terms.