Ijharul Islam
To add subtitles to a Vimeo video, open the video from your Library, click the Languages button to the left of the player, click +, upload your SRT or WebVTT file, choose its language and whether it's a subtitle or a caption, click Upload, then switch the track on. Vimeo recommends WebVTT and needs the file saved as UTF-8.
More on this topic: Subtitles and captions, every guide in one place.
You can also let Vimeo transcribe the video automatically, edit the result line by line, and download it as SRT, VTT or TTML. This guide covers each route, what each plan allows, and why a caption file sometimes won't show.
The short answer
Library > open the video > Languages (left of the player) > + > upload an .srt or .vtt file > choose the language and type (Subtitle or Caption) > Upload > turn the track on. Save the file as UTF-8. No file? Vimeo generates captions automatically for videos up to 8 hours on Free and most paid plans, in 99 languages, and you can edit and download them.
Key takeaways
- Vimeo accepts SRT and WebVTT, and recommends WebVTT.
- Caption files must be UTF-8, or accented and non-Latin characters break.
- Choose Caption for same-language text and Subtitle for a translation; one file can be both.
- Automatic captions cover videos up to 8 hours uploaded after 25 May 2022, in 99 languages.
- Transcripts download as SRT, VTT or TTML on the Free plan and every paid plan.
Disclosure: we make QuickVeed and show how to do this in it, along with other ways. Details about other products come from their public pages, checked in October 2026 and linked at the end.
How do you add subtitles to a Vimeo video?
You add subtitles to a Vimeo video by uploading a caption file in the video's Languages panel. These are the steps on Vimeo's help page, checked on 26 October 2026:
- Open the video from your Library.
- Click the Languages button in the toolbar to the left of the player.
- Click the + button at the top of the Languages window.
- Upload your caption or subtitle file from your computer.
- Use the drop-downs next to the file name to choose the language and the type: Subtitle or Caption.
- Click Upload.
- When the upload finishes, turn the track on.
Repeat for each language. The three-dot menu next to a track lets you download, replace, delete or edit it, and the toggle switches it on or off without deleting it.
Which subtitle files does Vimeo accept?
Vimeo accepts SRT and WebVTT (.vtt) caption files, and its help page says “We recommend using WebVTT.” Both must be encoded as UTF-8 so special characters display correctly.
| Format | Vimeo upload | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| WebVTT (.vtt) | Yes, recommended | Starts with a WEBVTT line; full stop before milliseconds |
| SubRip (.srt) | Yes | Comma before milliseconds; numbered blocks |
| TTML | Download only | Offered when you download a transcript |
| ASS/SSA, SBV, SCC | Not listed | Convert to SRT or VTT first |
If you have an SRT and want WebVTT, the free SRT to VTT converter converts it in your browser with every timestamp kept. SRT vs VTT explains the differences, and how to convert ASS to SRT covers styled subtitle files.
Should you choose Caption or Subtitle on Vimeo?
Choose Caption when the text is in the video's own language and written for viewers who can't hear the audio, and Subtitle when it translates the dialogue for viewers who don't speak the language. Vimeo's tutorial notes that one file can serve both, in which case you can select both types.
The difference matters for viewers: captions often include sound cues such as [music] or [laughter], subtitles usually don't. Captions vs subtitles goes through it in more depth.
Does Vimeo generate captions automatically?
Yes. Vimeo's automatic captions FAQ says the feature works on the Free, Standard, Advanced, Pro, Business, Premium and Enterprise plans, for videos of 8 hours or less uploaded after 25 May 2022, in 99 languages. Note that Starter isn't in that list on Vimeo's page; if you're on Starter, check your Languages panel.
Vimeo lists the usual reasons automatic captions fail: the first 30 seconds are silent, the music is louder than the speaker, or the spoken language isn't supported. Vimeo also says creators on Free and paid plans can use Vimeo AI to translate subtitles into other languages.
Automatic captions still get names, brands and numbers wrong, so review them before you publish. If there's no time to fix them yourself, Vimeo also sells human captions through its supplier, Rev, from the same Languages tab.
How do you edit or download a Vimeo transcript?
You edit a Vimeo transcript from the Languages panel: open the three-dot menu next to it and choose Edit, then correct it line by line. Timestamps can be edited one subtitle at a time on uploaded videos (not live ones). Vimeo says some of its AI features are on the Free plan and others need a paid plan.
To download it, open Languages, click the three-dot menu next to the transcript and choose Download. Vimeo's help page says this works on the Free plan and all paid plans, for anyone with edit access to the video, and offers .srt, .vtt and .ttml. It only works once the video has captions or subtitles, uploaded or automatic.
A downloaded SRT is also the quickest way to get the text out as a plain transcript: paste it into the free SRT to text converter to strip the numbers and timestamps.
Why won't my subtitles show on Vimeo?
Subtitles usually don't show on Vimeo because the track isn't switched on, the file isn't UTF-8, or the timing doesn't match the video. Check these in order:
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Track uploaded but no text in the player | Track is switched off | Turn the toggle on in Languages |
| Accented or Arabic letters show as symbols | File saved as ANSI or UTF-16 | Re-save as UTF-8 and upload again |
| Upload fails | Formatting error in the file | Check numbering, time format and blank lines |
| Text appears early or late | File made from a different edit | Shift the times with the free subtitle time shifter |
| Viewers can't find the language | Wrong language chosen at upload | Replace the track with the right language |
If Vimeo still won't take it, its help page asks you to contact Vimeo Support with the file type, the video link and what happened. How to fix out-of-sync subtitles covers timing problems in detail.
How do you make subtitles for Vimeo in QuickVeed?
Make the file in QuickVeed when you want to check every line before it goes on Vimeo, or need several languages from one transcript:
- Open auto subtitles (Captions & subtitles in the sidebar) and upload the video, up to 3 hours long, or pick one from your library.
- Pick a caption style (11 to choose from) and a position: bottom, middle or top. Untick the captioned-video option if you only want subtitle files.
- Press Transcribe. Allow about a minute of processing per 10 minutes of video.
- On the Edit tab, click a time to jump to it, correct the text and save. Saving clears any translations, so edit before you translate.
- On the Translate tab, tick up to 5 of 32 languages at a time. Each line keeps its timing.
- On the Download tab, get an SRT, VTT or TXT file per language. On the Burn in tab, make a captioned copy per language; it's saved to your library.
A transcript costs 1.5 credits a minute, rounded up (2 credits for a 1-minute video, 15 for 10 minutes). Each burned-in copy is a credit a minute, 3 at least, for videos up to 30 minutes, and translation usually adds a credit or two per language. Download the VTT (Vimeo's recommended format) for each language and upload it in Vimeo's Languages panel. To make the file by hand instead, see how to make an SRT file.
Frequently asked questions
What subtitle format does Vimeo use?
SRT or WebVTT, encoded as UTF-8. Vimeo recommends WebVTT.
Can I add subtitles to Vimeo for free?
Yes. Uploading caption files, automatic captions and transcript downloads are available on the Free plan.
How many languages do Vimeo's automatic captions support?
99, according to Vimeo's automatic captions FAQ, for videos up to 8 hours long.
Can I add subtitles in several languages on Vimeo?
Yes. Upload one file per language; viewers pick the language in the player.
How do I download captions from Vimeo?
Open Languages, click the three-dot menu next to the transcript and choose Download. You can pick SRT, VTT or TTML.
Can I burn subtitles into a Vimeo video?
Not in Vimeo's caption panel, which adds switchable tracks. Burn them into the file before uploading if they must always show.
Try it with your own video
Get a checked SRT or VTT for every language you publish on Vimeo, from one transcript. Upload a video, fix the transcript, translate it, and download a VTT per language. QuickVeed plans start at $18/month, and new accounts get a 14-day trial with 250 credits, no card needed. Sign up or see pricing.
Sources
Competitor details in this post were checked against these public pages in October 2026. Products and prices change, so confirm with each vendor before you decide.
