Read beside the video
A Chrome side panel keeps accessible captions next to the player. Search words, jump to timestamps, or switch to paragraphs without losing original cues.
YouTube transcript extension. Local subtitle converter.
Read available YouTube captions beside the video in Chrome, find the lines you need and keep local notes. Or convert your SRT, VTT and TXT subtitle files right here in the browser.
Chrome Web Store review in progressSubtitle file converter
Local first · No account · No AI processing
Read, copy and download YouTube subtitles
CaptionDock is for course viewers, interview researchers and subtitle editors. The extension works with captions already available on the current video; the website works with files you provide. No account or AI processing is needed.
Take the words with you
Copy selected cues, quote them with video time links, or export TXT, Markdown, SRT and VTT. Source timing stays intact; unknown ends are never presented as original timing.
Keep notes on your device
The extension saves local transcript history and notes. Set a history limit, disable automatic saving or clear the library. The website converter uses temporary memory only.
What can you use it for?
Courses and language learning
Read and search captions beside a lesson, seek back to a passage and keep your own local study notes.
Interviews and research
Copy available YouTube transcript text or export TXT / Markdown for research material you have the right to use.
Subtitle delivery
Convert VTT to SRT, SRT to VTT, or subtitles to TXT before moving the result into your editing workflow.
Subtitle file converter
Open an SRT, VTT or TXT file to read, search, copy and convert without installing the extension. This webpage cannot read captions from another YouTube tab.
UTF-8 · Up to 5 MB · Up to 30,000 cues · No uploads or website history
Start with your words.
Choose an SRT, VTT or TXT file. No video or transcript is preloaded.
SRT, VTT, TXT and Markdown support
The web converter accepts three input formats. SRT/VTT conversion retains cue text and timing, without subtitle styling or layout.
| Format | Import | Export formats | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| SRT | Supported | TXT / Markdown / SRT / VTT | Subtitle delivery and SRT to TXT conversion. |
| VTT | Supported | TXT / Markdown / SRT / VTT | VTT to SRT conversion and web-caption editing. |
| TXT | Supported | TXT / Markdown | Plain-text reading and notes without invented timestamps. |
| Markdown | Not supported | Export supported | Bring transcript text into your own notes app. |
Install from the Chrome Web Store
Chrome Web Store review in progress
Version 0.2.0 has been submitted for Chrome Web Store review and is not public yet. Once released and its public link is verified, this will open CaptionDock in the store. The subtitle-file converter is available now.
Manual development build and ZIP download
This development package is for manual trials. It requires Chrome 120+ and Developer mode. The public installation route will use the Chrome Web Store.
CaptionDock 0.2.0 · Chrome 120+ · Manifest V3
- 1
Unzip the download
Keep the extracted folder somewhere permanent. It should contain manifest.json.
- 2
Load it in Chrome
Open chrome://extensions, enable Developer mode, choose Load unpacked, and select the extracted folder.
- 3
Open your first transcript
Refresh existing YouTube tabs. Pin CaptionDock, open a video and click its icon. Choose a caption language, then Read captions.
How to use the YouTube transcript extension
- 1
Install and open the side panel
After installing from the Chrome Web Store, open a captioned YouTube video and click CaptionDock. While the store release is not public, you can use the local file converter below.
- 2
Read existing captions
Choose Read captions and select an available language if needed. Search for a phrase or click a timestamp to return to that point in the video.
- 3
Copy, keep a note or download
Copy the full transcript or selected cues. Expand notes and download options when needed. Export TXT, Markdown, SRT or VTT; timed exports retain source timing.
YouTube transcript and subtitle conversion FAQ
How can I download YouTube subtitles as SRT?
Use the CaptionDock Chrome extension to read accessible captions on the current video, then expand download options and choose SRT. Known source timing is retained. Unknown end times require explicit permission to estimate and are labeled approximate. The website converts local files only.
How can I copy a YouTube transcript with timestamp links?
In the extension, copy the full transcript or select specific cues. Copy quote adds video time links to timed YouTube cues so you can return to the source.
How do I convert VTT to SRT or SRT to VTT online?
Choose a subtitle file on this page, select SRT or VTT and export. Conversion runs in your browser without uploading a file or installing the extension.
How do I convert SRT subtitles to TXT?
Import SRT and select TXT as the export format. The text download includes caption content and a source summary. Markdown is also available.
Can TXT become SRT with timestamps?
Not directly. TXT has no source timestamps, so CaptionDock allows TXT or Markdown exports and does not invent where each line belongs in a video.
Are YouTube transcripts or notes uploaded?
The extension keeps transcript history and notes on your device. Website imports are processed only in browser memory. CaptionDock does not upload this content to the developer or an AI model.
Can it generate captions for any video?
No. The extension reads captions made accessible by the current video; it does not transcribe audio. If captions are unavailable, import your own file. Automatic captions can contain errors or repeated text.
How do complete and partial sources differ?
A fetched caption track is labeled a complete source. Visible page transcript rows are partial because hidden or unloaded cues may be missing. A complete source does not guarantee every spoken word was captioned.
What if reading fails?
Refresh the YouTube tab after installing or reloading the extension, wait for the player to finish changing and retry. Open YouTube’s Show transcript panel and select its language to retry the page fallback, or import a local file.
Which pages and timing does it support?
It targets desktop www.youtube.com watch pages, Shorts and caption-accessible live replays. Growing live transcripts, mobile pages, embeds and restricted videos have no completeness guarantee. Unknown end times remain unknown; estimation requires an explicit choice and is labeled approximate. TXT never gains invented timestamps.
Privacy policy
Privacy policyThe extension keeps transcripts and notes on your device. The website handles files in browser memory only. No accounts, cloud sync or AI processing. Closing or reloading clears the converter workspace.
Independent tool. Not affiliated with YouTube or Google.
Contact the developer