Subtitle sync guide
How to sync subtitles on a YouTube video
On YouTube, caption timing is controlled by the uploader. If it’s your video, you can fix the .srt timing and re-upload it; viewers can’t offset someone else’s captions.
Works on: Web · Mobile
Step by step
- 1
Export or download your caption file
In YouTube Studio, open Subtitles for the video and download the existing .srt, or use the one you created.
- 2
Fix the timing
Drop the .srt into the SubAlign subtitle sync tool and shift it earlier or later until the captions line up with the speech, then download the corrected file.
- 3
Re-upload in YouTube Studio
Back in Studio ▸ Subtitles, remove the old track and upload the corrected file with “Upload a file ▸ With timing”. Publish, and the synced captions go live.
As a viewer you can’t shift the timing of captions on another channel’s video — only the uploader can. You can turn captions on/off and pick the language with the CC button.
Fix the subtitle file permanently
The delay in YouTube is only temporary. To fix the timing for good, correct the subtitle file once and it plays in sync everywhere.
Open the free sync toolYouTube subtitle sync FAQ
Can I sync subtitles on a YouTube video I’m watching?
No. Caption timing on YouTube is set by the video’s owner, so viewers can’t offset it. You can only turn captions on or off and choose the language with the CC button.
How do I fix the caption timing on my own YouTube video?
Download the .srt from YouTube Studio, correct the timing with the free SubAlign sync tool, then re-upload it under Subtitles using “Upload a file with timing”.
Sync subtitles in other players
Step-by-step instructions for fixing out-of-sync subtitles in the apps people use most.