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Whisper Web

Platform subtitle workflow

Add subtitles to YouTube videos

Create editable subtitles for a YouTube video you own or are authorized to use. Upload the media or paste a direct public media file URL, choose the spoken language, then export SRT or VTT for YouTube Studio.

Longer files & cloud historyExplore Pro
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Use only media you own or have permission to use. Whisper Web does not import a normal YouTube page URL or publish to your channel.

How does it work?

How to add subtitles to a YouTube video

Prepare a subtitle file in the same language as the speech, review the timing, then hand the finished file to YouTube Studio.

  1. Step 01

    Upload your authorized video file

    Choose a video or audio file you own or have permission to use. You can also paste a direct public media-file URL; a normal YouTube watch-page link is not imported.

  2. Step 02

    Select the spoken language

    Choose the language spoken in the recording, or leave it on Auto detect. Whisper Web generates captions in the source spoken language rather than translating them.

  3. Step 03

    Generate subtitles in your browser

    Free subtitle generation runs locally in your browser on supported media. Pro is an optional cloud workflow for larger files and saved history, with a separate upload step.

  4. Step 04

    Review and edit every cue

    Correct the words, adjust start and end times, and add or remove cues before you publish. A quick review helps catch names, jargon, and noisy-audio mistakes.

  5. Step 05

    Export SRT or VTT, then upload manually

    Download the reviewed file, open your own video in YouTube Studio, and use its subtitles workflow to upload the SRT or VTT file. Whisper Web does not sync or publish to YouTube for you.

A creator reviewing timed subtitle cues before exporting SRT and VTT files
Review the cues before the file leaves your workflow.

Why add subtitles to YouTube videos?

Subtitles make a spoken video easier to follow when viewers cannot use sound and give people who are deaf or hard of hearing a readable version of the dialogue. They also make it easier for viewers to search, quote, and revisit the ideas in a video.

A reviewed subtitle file gives you control over names, technical terms, punctuation, and timing instead of publishing an unchecked first draft.

  • Make dialogue understandable in sound-off viewing.
  • Give viewers a readable accessibility track.
  • Keep creator-controlled wording and timing before publishing.

A private, editable YouTube subtitle workflow

Whisper Web is useful when you already have a finished video file and want a timed text file without rebuilding the video. In free mode, supported media is decoded and transcribed in the browser; the subtitle editor then keeps cue text and timing together for review.

The output is deliberately simple: a source-language SRT or VTT file that you can inspect, keep with your project, and upload through YouTube Studio when it is ready.

  • Choose a spoken language or Auto detect.
  • Edit cue text and start/end times before download.
  • Export standard SRT or VTT without a platform account connection.

Platform hand-off evidence

Upload the reviewed file in YouTube Studio

YouTube documents both the creator path and the file-upload choices. Whisper Web prepares a timed file; YouTube Studio remains the place where you attach, review, and save it.

Current YouTube hand-off

  1. 1Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. 2From the left menu, select Subtitles and choose the video you manage.
  3. 3Select Add language and choose the language used in the subtitle file.
  4. 4Under Subtitles, select Add, then choose Upload file.
  5. 5Choose With timing because Whisper Web's SRT and VTT exports already contain timestamps.
  6. 6Select Continue, choose the reviewed file, check the cues, and select Save.

File compatibility

SRT
AvailableSupported by YouTube

Use a basic SubRip file in plain UTF-8. YouTube does not recognize SRT styling markup.

VTT
AvailableSupported by YouTube

WebVTT positioning is supported, while styling support remains limited.

Verified product facts

Prepare the file you control

Whisper Web handles subtitle generation and editing. The platform account and final publishing decision stay with you.

Free mode stays local

Supported free media is decoded and transcribed in your browser. Pro cloud processing is a separate, explicit workflow.

Choose the spoken language

Select the source language or use Auto detect. The generated cues stay in the language spoken in the media.

Edit before you export

Review cue text and timing, then download SRT or VTT from Whisper Web. Check the destination platform's currently accepted format before submission.

Questions before publishing?

Frequently asked questions

Can I paste any YouTube URL?

No. Whisper Web accepts a local file or a direct public media-file URL that the browser can fetch. A normal YouTube watch, Short, channel, or playlist URL is not a supported importer. Use media you own or are authorized to use.

What subtitle format should I upload to YouTube?

Whisper Web exports SRT and VTT, and YouTube lists both as supported subtitle formats. For SRT, use plain UTF-8 text and do not rely on styling markup.

Should I choose With timing or Without timing?

Choose With timing when uploading a subtitle file exported by Whisper Web. SRT and VTT exports already contain start and end timestamps for every cue.

Can Whisper Web publish the subtitles to my channel?

No. Whisper Web creates and downloads the timed subtitle file. You upload it manually through YouTube Studio, so there is no account connection or automatic publishing step.

Why might YouTube reject my subtitle file?

Check that the file extension matches its contents, SRT text is plain UTF-8, timestamps are valid and ordered, and no cue is empty. Then upload it again with the With timing option.

Related articles

Explore all guides

Create your YouTube subtitle file

Start with an authorized media file, review the timed cues, and export a subtitle file ready for your manual YouTube Studio workflow.

Generate subtitles