How to Generate SRT Files in ElevenLabs (Auto Captions Step-by-Step)

Auto captions are essential today. Whether you're creating YouTube videos, Instagram Reels, Shorts, or tutorials, captions help viewers understand your content even when the sound is off.

Instead of writing subtitles manually, you can generate them automatically using ElevenLabs Speech-to-Text and export them as an SRT file.

This guide will walk you through the exact process.

What is an SRT File?

An SRT (SubRip Subtitle) file is a subtitle file that contains:

• Caption text

• Start and end timestamps

• Sequence numbers

Video editors like Premiere Pro, CapCut, Final Cut Pro, DaVinci Resolve, and YouTube support SRT files. Once uploaded, subtitles automatically sync with the audio.

Example of an SRT format:

1
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Step-by-Step Guide to Generate SRT Auto Captions in ElevenLabs

Step 1: Go to the ElevenLabs Website

1. Open your browser

2. Go to elevenlabs.io

3. Click Log in

4. Access your dashboard

Once logged in, you will see the main navigation panel on the left side.

Step 2: Open the Speech-to-Text Tool

From the left sidebar:

1. Find Speech to Text

2. Click on it

This tool allows you to convert audio or video into text and subtitles automatically.

Step 3: Click “Transcribe Files”

At the top right of the page:

1. Click Transcribe files

2. A new upload window will open

You now have multiple options to upload your content.

You can upload:

• Audio files (MP3, WAV, etc.)

• Video files

• YouTube links

• Any URL containing audio or video

This makes it easy to generate captions even if the file is hosted online.

Step 4: Upload Your Audio or Video

Upload your file or paste the URL and then:

1. Click Upload / Transcribe

2. ElevenLabs will start processing the file

Depending on the length of the audio or video, transcription usually takes a few seconds to a couple of minutes.

The AI will automatically:

• Detect speech

• Convert speech into text

• Generate timestamps

• Create subtitle segments

Step 5: Wait for the Transcription to Finish

After processing, the transcription will appear in your Speech-to-Text dashboard list.

Click on the generated file to open the subtitle editor.

Inside the editor you will see:

• Timestamped subtitle blocks

• Editable text captions

• Timeline synced with the audio

You can also edit captions manually if needed.

Step 6: Export the SRT File

To download your subtitle file:

1. Look at the top-right corner

2. Click the Export button

3. Select SRT from the dropdown menu

Other export formats may include:

• TXT

• DOCX

• JSON

• HTML

• VTT

But for video editing, SRT is the most commonly used format.

Step 7: Use the SRT File in Your Video Editor

Once downloaded, you can import the SRT file into your editing software.

Common tools that support SRT:

• CapCut

• Premiere Pro

• Final Cut Pro

• DaVinci Resolve

• YouTube Studio

• Veed / Descript / other editors

After importing, the captions will automatically sync with your audio.

You can then:

• Style subtitles

• Add animations

• Change fonts

• Adjust timing

Benefits of Using ElevenLabs for Auto Captions

Using ElevenLabs to generate SRT files offers several advantages:

• Fast transcription: Captions are generated in seconds.

• High accuracy: The AI speech recognition is very accurate across many languages.

• Multiple input options: Upload files or paste URLs.

• Editable subtitles: You can correct or adjust captions before exporting.

• Multiple export formats: Download subtitles as SRT, VTT, TXT, and more.

Final Thoughts

Generating subtitles manually can take hours. With ElevenLabs Speech-to-Text, you can create accurate SRT auto captions in just a few minutes.

The process is simple:

1. Log in to ElevenLabs

2. Open Speech to Text

3. Click Transcribe Files

4. Upload your audio or video

5. Wait for the transcription

6. Export the SRT file

After that, you can import the subtitle file into your video editor and start editing immediately.

Want to generate even better AI voices with ElevenLabs?

If you're using ElevenLabs for voiceovers, subtitles are only half the workflow. The real power comes from mastering the latest voice models and prompt techniques.

Read our complete guide:
ElevenLabs Guide 2026: Master V2, V2.5, and V3 to Generate Premium Human AI Voices for Free (With Prompts)

In that guide you’ll learn:

• How to choose the best ElevenLabs voice model

• The exact prompts used for high-quality AI voiceovers

• Tips to create studio-level narration for videos

Perfect for creators making YouTube videos, reels, audiobooks, and AI voice content.