Filmora SRT Files: Import, Export & Edit (2026)

Quick answer: Filmora’s documented SRT workflow is simple: generate captions as SRT, export the subtitle track, import a file you already have, and edit it on the timeline. SRTs drop all styling, and AI captions still need a careful proofread.

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Need your Filmora captions as a file, or have an SRT you want to bring into Filmora? This guide covers both directions: making captions as an SRT, exporting the subtitle file, importing an existing SRT, editing it, and uploading it to YouTube as captions viewers can turn on or off.

How-to guide · Updated October 2026

Disclosure: ToolPilot Guide may earn a commission from some links on this page at no extra cost to you. How I reviewed this: this guide is based on Wondershare's official Filmora documentation, checked in October 2026. I haven't tested this workflow myself yet, so there are no timings, accuracy scores or screenshots of my own here. Menu names can change between Filmora versions, so compare them with your copy. A commission never changes our verdict. See our affiliate disclosure.

What you’ll learn

What an SRT file is and when you actually need one
How Filmora generates captions with SRT as the output format
How to export a subtitle track as a file
How to import an SRT you already have and edit it
How to upload the SRT to YouTube as captions viewers can turn on or off
What to check when imported subtitles don’t appear

New to Filmora captions? Start with the main Filmora AI Captions tutorial. It covers generating, proofreading and styling captions. This post covers what happens after that: moving the subtitle file in and out of Filmora.

Who this is for

YouTubers who want captions viewers can switch on and off, not text burned into the picture
Creators who get SRT files from a client, a transcription service or a translator
Editors who want to reuse one caption file on YouTube, a course platform and social media
Anyone who wants a backup copy of their captions outside the Filmora project

Who should skip

Shorts, Reels and TikTok creators who only use burned-in animated captions. You may never need a separate file.
Videos with almost no speech
Teams that already caption in a dedicated subtitle editor and only use Filmora for the picture edit

What is an SRT file, and why it matters

An SRT (SubRip) file is a plain-text subtitle file. Each caption gets a number, a start and end time, and the text. Because it’s just text, almost every platform and editor can read it. YouTube lists SubRip (.srt) among the subtitle formats it accepts (YouTube Help).

There are two ways to put captions on a video:

Burned-in captions are part of the picture. Everyone sees them, and they can’t be turned off or searched.
Soft captions (an SRT uploaded separately) can be turned on or off by the viewer, and you can fix a typo without re-exporting the video.

The captions tutorial explains burn-in vs soft subtitles in more detail. In short: if you want soft captions, you need the SRT.

Before you start (quick checklist)

An up-to-date copy of Filmora for Windows or Mac. Wondershare's guides are written for current desktop versions.
Clear speech in your audio. Wondershare notes that accented speech may need manual fixes.
A stable internet connection if you’re generating new captions. Wondershare says Speech-to-Text runs in the cloud.
AI credits if you’re generating new captions. Wondershare’s credit rules list Speech-to-Text at 4 credits per minute. Importing an SRT you already have doesn’t involve speech recognition.

Part 1: Generate captions with SRT as the output format

If you don’t have a subtitle file yet, Filmora can make one from the speech in your video. According to Wondershare’s guides:

Put your clip on the timeline. Create a new project, import the video and drag it to the timeline.
Open Speech-to-Text. Wondershare documents the path Titles → AI Captions → Speech-to-Text. Its Windows guide also mentions right-clicking the clip, the toolbar above the timeline, and AI Captions in the homepage Toolbox as other ways in.
Set the language. Choose the spoken language. You can also pick a translation target.
Choose SRT as the output format and click Generate.
Turn on Smart Text Correction if your version has it. Wondershare says it highlights subtitle text that may be wrong and suggests fixes.

Wondershare's Speech-to-Text support page says the feature adds punctuation automatically and can tell different speakers apart. After generating, you can edit the text in the preview window and drag captions to change their timing. Always proofread names, brand terms and numbers before exporting anything.

Try Filmora’s caption tools. You can download it free from Wondershare. Free exports usually carry a watermark, and generating captions uses AI credits.

Part 2: Export the subtitle file (SRT)

Wondershare’s official FAQ gives this method:

Find the subtitle track on your timeline.
Right-click the subtitle track and choose Export Subtitle File.
Pick where to save the file.

This saves only the subtitle file, without the video or audio. The normal Export button saves the video itself. If your captions are styled text that you want to burn into the picture, you use the normal video export. If you want a file viewers can turn on and off, use Export Subtitle File.

The same FAQ mentions Advanced Edit. Right-click a subtitle on the timeline and choose it to open the Subtitle Editor panel. There you can add, delete and revise subtitles, and change the font, animation and colour. Do your text fixes before exporting, so the SRT has the corrected wording.

Note: an SRT only stores text and timing. Fonts, colours and animations made in Filmora don’t carry over. The platform that plays your video decides how the captions look.

Part 3: Import an existing SRT into Filmora

Have captions from a client, a translator or another app? Wondershare’s guide on adding subtitles describes a manual workflow:

Start a project and drag your video to the timeline.
Import the SRT the same way you import media, using the import media option.
Drag the SRT onto the timeline to apply the captions to your video.
Double-click the text track to open the subtitle editing window. Choose a font, style and other settings, then click Save. Presets can save you time.
Preview the video, then click Export to save it with the captions.

This is useful if you want to burn a translator’s SRT into the picture with your own style, or check that an outside transcript lines up with your final cut.

Part 4: Edit timing and text after import

Once the captions are on the timeline, the editing tools are the same whether Filmora generated them or you imported them:

Fix the text by double-clicking the track, or with Advanced Edit for a full list of subtitles.
Fix the timing by dragging captions on the timeline. Wondershare mentions drag-and-drop timing changes for generated captions.
Match the cut. If you trim the video after importing an SRT, check that the captions still line up. An SRT from an older cut won’t move with your edits.
Export a fresh SRT (Part 2) after editing, so the file matches the final video.

Wondershare doesn’t document a one-click “shift all subtitles” setting, so I won’t claim it exists. Check your version’s Subtitle Editor.

Part 5: Upload the SRT to YouTube

Once you have a final SRT, you can upload it in YouTube Studio as captions viewers can turn on or off. YouTube accepts SubRip (.srt) files (YouTube Help: supported subtitle files). YouTube’s own upload screens can change, so follow its current help pages for the exact clicks.

If you’re new to the full upload process, read Filmora for YouTube Beginners. It covers the steps from the first edit to the first upload.

Proof checklist before you export

Names, brands and product terms spelled correctly
Numbers and prices checked against your script
No caption appears before the words are spoken or stays on long after
Captions line up after your last trim
The file name matches the video and language, for example my-video-en.srt
You kept a copy of the final SRT for re-uploads or translation later

Common problems and what to check

Imported subtitles aren’t showing. Make sure you dragged the SRT from the media panel onto the timeline. Importing alone isn’t enough. Then check that the subtitle track sits over the part of the video you’re previewing.

Caption generation fails or stops. Wondershare says Speech-to-Text needs a stable internet connection and uses AI credits, so check both first. I couldn’t find an official explanation of specific error messages, so I’m not listing causes I can’t confirm.

The text is mostly right but names are wrong. Speech recognition often misses names and brands, and Wondershare notes accents may need manual fixes. Fix them in the editor before exporting.

The exported SRT has no styling. That’s normal. SRT files don’t store styling. Burn the captions into the video if you need a particular look.

How much does it cost?

Importing, editing and exporting a subtitle file is part of the editor. Generating captions from speech uses AI credits: 4 credits per minute for Speech-to-Text, per Wondershare’s AI credit rules. A 10-minute video works out to about 40 credits. How many credits you get depends on your plan. See Filmora Free vs Monthly vs Annual, and check live prices on Wondershare’s site before you buy.

Which workflow do you need? Quick table

You have…	You want…	Do this
A video, no captions	Captions viewers can turn on or off on YouTube	Part 1 (generate as SRT), then Part 2 (export), then Part 5 (upload)
A video and an SRT from someone else	Styled captions burned into the picture	Part 3 (import), style it, then export the video
Captions already in Filmora	A backup or a file for another platform	Part 2 (Export Subtitle File)
Captions in English	Subtitles in another language	Use AI Translation. See our Filmora translation guide.
An SRT that’s out of sync after a re-edit	Matching captions	Part 4 (fix the timing), then export a fresh SRT

What’s inside an SRT file (so you can spot problems)

An SRT is plain text you can open in any text editor. Each caption has a number, a timing line and the text, then a blank line, like this:

1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:03,500
Welcome back to the channel.

2
00:00:03,600 --> 00:00:06,200
Today we're exporting captions.

That’s the general SubRip format, not something specific to Filmora. If a platform rejects your file, open it and look for missing blank lines, broken timing lines, or text pasted in from a word processor. Keep a clean copy before editing it by hand.

Credit planning for caption generation

At Wondershare’s published rate of 4 credits per minute for Speech-to-Text:

A 60-second Short: about 4 credits
A 12-minute tutorial: about 48 credits
Four 15-minute videos a month: about 240 credits

Wondershare doesn’t say how partial minutes are rounded, so treat these as estimates. Importing an SRT you already have avoids speech recognition completely, which is a good reason to keep your SRT files.

Organising your caption files

Use one folder per video, with the project, the final video and the SRTs together
Name files by video and language: video-title-en.srt
Re-export the SRT whenever you re-edit the video
Keep the original SRT from any client or translator unchanged, and edit a copy
For reuse on other platforms, check each platform’s own help page for the subtitle formats it accepts

FAQ

Can Filmora export subtitles as an SRT file?
Yes. Wondershare documents right-clicking the subtitle track on the timeline and choosing Export Subtitle File.

Can I import an SRT file into Filmora?
Yes. Wondershare’s guide says to bring it in with the import media option, then drag it onto the timeline and double-click it to edit.

Do imported SRT captions use AI credits?
Credits are charged for AI features like Speech-to-Text (4 credits per minute). Importing a file you already have isn’t speech recognition. Check your credit balance if you’re unsure.

Will my Filmora caption styling show on YouTube?
Not through an SRT, because it only stores text and timing. To keep your style, burn the captions into the exported video.

Can I export translated subtitles too?
Yes. Wondershare's AI translation FAQ says translated subtitles can be edited and exported as an SRT the same way. We’ll cover translation in a separate guide.

Can I open an exported SRT outside Filmora?
Yes. SRT is plain text, so any text editor can open it. Be careful not to break the numbering or timing lines.

Can I make subtitles in another language from my SRT?
Filmora has an AI Translation feature, and Wondershare says translated subtitles can be exported as SRT too. See our translation guide.

Should I export the SRT before or after my final edit?
After. An SRT from an earlier cut won’t match a trimmed video.

Honest take

Filmora’s documented SRT workflow is simple. You can generate captions as SRT, export the subtitle track, import a file you already have, and edit everything on the timeline. For YouTubers, soft captions are worth the extra step, because viewers can turn them off and you can fix a typo without re-uploading the video. Just remember that SRTs drop all styling, and AI captions still need a careful proofread. To see the full editor first, read our Wondershare Filmora review.

Get Filmora from the official Wondershare site and check the current plans and AI credit details there.

Sources (checked October 2026)

Wondershare: Speech to Text in Filmora for Windows (SRT output format, Smart Text Correction, other ways to open it)
Wondershare Support: How to use Speech to Text (menu path, internet and credits, editing timing, SRT export)
Wondershare Support: AI Video Translation FAQ (Export Subtitle File, Advanced Edit, Subtitle Editor)
Wondershare: How to add subtitles in Filmora (importing an SRT and editing the text track)
Wondershare: AI credit rules (Speech-to-Text at 4 credits per minute)
YouTube Help: Supported subtitle and closed caption files (SubRip .srt)

How to export a subtitle track as a file

How to import an SRT you already have and edit it

How to upload the SRT to YouTube as captions viewers can turn on or off

What to check when imported subtitles don’t appear

Who this is for

YouTubers who want captions viewers can switch on and off, not text burned into the picture
Creators who get SRT files from a client, a transcription service or a translator
Editors who want to reuse one caption file on YouTube, a course platform and social media
Anyone who wants a backup copy of their captions outside the Filmora project

Who should skip

Shorts, Reels and TikTok creators who only use burned-in animated captions. You may never need a separate file.
Videos with almost no speech
Teams that already caption in a dedicated subtitle editor and only use Filmora for the picture edit

What is an SRT file, and why it matters

There are two ways to put captions on a video:

Burned-in captions are part of the picture. Everyone sees them, and they can’t be turned off or searched.
Soft captions (an SRT uploaded separately) can be turned on or off by the viewer, and you can fix a typo without re-exporting the video.

The captions tutorial explains burn-in vs soft subtitles in more detail. In short: if you want soft captions, you need the SRT.

Before you start (quick checklist)

An up-to-date copy of Filmora for Windows or Mac. Wondershare's guides are written for current desktop versions.
Clear speech in your audio. Wondershare notes that accented speech may need manual fixes.
A stable internet connection if you’re generating new captions. Wondershare says Speech-to-Text runs in the cloud.
AI credits if you’re generating new captions. Wondershare’s credit rules list Speech-to-Text at 4 credits per minute. Importing an SRT you already have doesn’t involve speech recognition.

Part 1: Generate captions with SRT as the output format

If you don’t have a subtitle file yet, Filmora can make one from the speech in your video. According to Wondershare’s guides:

Put your clip on the timeline. Create a new project, import the video and drag it to the timeline.
Open Speech-to-Text. Wondershare documents the path Titles → AI Captions → Speech-to-Text. Its Windows guide also mentions right-clicking the clip, the toolbar above the timeline, and AI Captions in the homepage Toolbox as other ways in.
Set the language. Choose the spoken language. You can also pick a translation target.
Choose SRT as the output format and click Generate.
Turn on Smart Text Correction if your version has it. Wondershare says it highlights subtitle text that may be wrong and suggests fixes.

Try Filmora’s caption tools. You can download it free from Wondershare. Free exports usually carry a watermark, and generating captions uses AI credits.

Part 2: Export the subtitle file (SRT)

Wondershare’s official FAQ gives this method:

Find the subtitle track on your timeline.
Right-click the subtitle track and choose Export Subtitle File.
Pick where to save the file.

Note: an SRT only stores text and timing. Fonts, colours and animations made in Filmora don’t carry over. The platform that plays your video decides how the captions look.

Part 3: Import an existing SRT into Filmora

Have captions from a client, a translator or another app? Wondershare’s guide on adding subtitles describes a manual workflow:

Start a project and drag your video to the timeline.
Import the SRT the same way you import media, using the import media option.
Drag the SRT onto the timeline to apply the captions to your video.
Double-click the text track to open the subtitle editing window. Choose a font, style and other settings, then click Save. Presets can save you time.
Preview the video, then click Export to save it with the captions.

This is useful if you want to burn a translator’s SRT into the picture with your own style, or check that an outside transcript lines up with your final cut.

Part 4: Edit timing and text after import

Once the captions are on the timeline, the editing tools are the same whether Filmora generated them or you imported them:

Fix the text by double-clicking the track, or with Advanced Edit for a full list of subtitles.
Fix the timing by dragging captions on the timeline. Wondershare mentions drag-and-drop timing changes for generated captions.
Match the cut. If you trim the video after importing an SRT, check that the captions still line up. An SRT from an older cut won’t move with your edits.
Export a fresh SRT (Part 2) after editing, so the file matches the final video.

Wondershare doesn’t document a one-click “shift all subtitles” setting, so I won’t claim it exists. Check your version’s Subtitle Editor.

Part 5: Upload the SRT to YouTube

If you’re new to the full upload process, read Filmora for YouTube Beginners. It covers the steps from the first edit to the first upload.

Proof checklist before you export

Names, brands and product terms spelled correctly
Numbers and prices checked against your script
No caption appears before the words are spoken or stays on long after
Captions line up after your last trim
The file name matches the video and language, for example my-video-en.srt
You kept a copy of the final SRT for re-uploads or translation later

Common problems and what to check

The text is mostly right but names are wrong. Speech recognition often misses names and brands, and Wondershare notes accents may need manual fixes. Fix them in the editor before exporting.

The exported SRT has no styling. That’s normal. SRT files don’t store styling. Burn the captions into the video if you need a particular look.

How much does it cost?

FAQ

Can Filmora export subtitles as an SRT file?
Yes. Wondershare documents right-clicking the subtitle track on the timeline and choosing Export Subtitle File.

Can I import an SRT file into Filmora?
Yes. Wondershare’s guide says to bring it in with the import media option, then drag it onto the timeline and double-click it to edit.

Will my Filmora caption styling show on YouTube?
Not through an SRT, because it only stores text and timing. To keep your style, burn the captions into the exported video.

Honest take

Get Filmora from the official Wondershare site and check the current plans and AI credit details there.

More Filmora captions guides

Sources (checked October 2026)

Wondershare: Speech to Text in Filmora for Windows (SRT output format, Smart Text Correction, other ways to open it)
Wondershare Support: How to use Speech to Text (menu path, internet and credits, editing timing, SRT export)
Wondershare Support: AI Video Translation FAQ (Export Subtitle File, Advanced Edit, Subtitle Editor)
Wondershare: How to add subtitles in Filmora (importing an SRT and editing the text track)
Wondershare: AI credit rules (Speech-to-Text at 4 credits per minute)
YouTube Help: Supported subtitle and closed caption files (SubRip .srt)

Filmora SRT Files: Import, Export & Edit (2026)

What you’ll learn

Who this is for

Who should skip

What is an SRT file, and why it matters

Before you start (quick checklist)

Part 1: Generate captions with SRT as the output format

Part 2: Export the subtitle file (SRT)

Part 3: Import an existing SRT into Filmora

Part 4: Edit timing and text after import

Part 5: Upload the SRT to YouTube

Proof checklist before you export

Common problems and what to check

How much does it cost?

Which workflow do you need? Quick table

What’s inside an SRT file (so you can spot problems)

Credit planning for caption generation

Organising your caption files

FAQ

Honest take

Sources (checked October 2026)

Who this is for

Who should skip

What is an SRT file, and why it matters

Before you start (quick checklist)

Part 1: Generate captions with SRT as the output format

Part 2: Export the subtitle file (SRT)

Part 3: Import an existing SRT into Filmora

Part 4: Edit timing and text after import

Part 5: Upload the SRT to YouTube

Proof checklist before you export

Common problems and what to check

How much does it cost?

FAQ

Honest take

Sources (checked October 2026)

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