MP4 to SRT Converter
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Extract subtitles from an MP4 as an SRT file. Nothing about the video is converted: the first subtitle stream inside the container is mapped out and rewritten as SubRip, which is a small text file of timings and lines.
When should you convert MP4 to SRT?
- Get a transcript-style file from a video with captions
- Edit or retime subtitles in a dedicated subtitle editor
- Supply captions separately to a platform that wants them uploaded
- Translate subtitles without touching the video
Before you convert
The video must have a subtitle track
We probe for one before starting and stop with a clear error if there is none. Burned-in subtitles are part of the picture, not a text stream, so there is nothing to extract.
Only the first track
A multi-language release needs one extraction per track. Styling and positioning are not represented in SRT.
What happens to your file
This does not convert the video. ffmpeg maps the first subtitle stream inside the MP4 file (-map 0:s:0) and rewrites it as SRT. The picture and audio are discarded — the output is a small text file of timings and lines.
Settings this conversion runs with
| Engine | ffmpeg |
|---|---|
| Stream selected | -map 0:s:0 |
| Subtitle codec | srt |
| Video kept | No |
What changes
- The MP4 file must already contain an embedded subtitle track. We probe for one with ffprobe before starting, and stop with a clear error if there is none — a video with burned-in (hardcoded) subtitles has no text stream to extract.
- Only the first subtitle track is taken. Multi-language releases need one pass per track.
About MP4 and SRT files
MP4 video
Strengths
- plays almost everywhere
- good quality-to-size
- widely supported
Limitations
- lossy compression
- less flexible than MKV
SRT subtitle
Strengths
- the most common subtitle format
- plain text and simple
Limitations
- no styling
- basic timing only
MP4 vs SRT
| Format | MP4 | SRT |
|---|---|---|
| Compression | Lossy | — |
| Transparency | — | — |
| Best for | streaming and sharing, playback on any device | video captions, subtitles for players |
Guides for this conversion
- SRT, VTT, ASS: subtitle formats and what conversion loses
The three subtitle formats you will actually meet, what each can express, and why converting a styled ASS file to SRT strips it back to plain lines.
Related tools
Frequently asked questions
- Does converting MP4 to SRT re-encode the file?
- This does not convert the video. ffmpeg maps the first subtitle stream inside the MP4 file (-map 0:s:0) and rewrites it as SRT. The picture and audio are discarded — the output is a small text file of timings and lines.
- What should you know before converting MP4 to SRT?
- The MP4 file must already contain an embedded subtitle track. We probe for one with ffprobe before starting, and stop with a clear error if there is none — a video with burned-in (hardcoded) subtitles has no text stream to extract.
- Is this MP4 to SRT converter free?
- Yes. You can convert MP4 to SRT online for free, with no account and no watermark.
- Do I need to install software or sign up?
- No. Use the converter from your browser without installing software or creating an account. Files are uploaded to our servers for processing.
- Are my files safe?
- Yes. Files are processed only to complete the conversion and are auto-deleted after 2 hours. We never share them.
- Can I convert multiple MP4 files at once?
- Yes. Drop several files to convert them in a batch and download the results as a single ZIP.