How to Import an SRT Into Premiere Pro (2026 Steps)

To import an SRT into Premiere Pro, import the file like any piece of media (File > Import, or drag it into the Project panel), then drag it from the Project panel onto your sequence. Premiere creates a new caption track with every line at its timecode, which you can restyle and edit like captions made in Premiere.

More on this topic: Subtitles and captions, every guide in one place.

Premiere also takes SCC, MCC, STL, DFXP/TTML and other caption formats, can transcribe the video itself with Speech to Text in 18 languages, and exports captions as an SRT sidecar or burns them into the picture. This guide covers each step, based on Adobe's help pages read on 26 October 2026.

The short answer

File > Import (or drag the .srt into the Project panel), then drag the SRT from the Project panel onto the sequence: Premiere adds a caption track. Style the captions in the Properties panel. To export, choose Export in the header bar and set captions to a sidecar .srt file or to burn into the video. No SRT yet? Use Window > Text > Transcript > Generate static transcript, then create captions.

Key takeaways

An SRT imports like media and becomes a caption track when you drag it onto the sequence.
Premiere's caption import also takes SCC, MCC, XML, STL, DFXP/TTML, SMPTE-TT and EBU-TT.
Speech to Text transcribes in Premiere in 18 languages; language packs download as needed.
Export captions as a sidecar SRT (one stream per file), embedded in MOV/MXF, or burned in.
Check line length and timing after import: SRTs made elsewhere don't follow your caption style.

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 import an SRT file into Premiere Pro?

You import an SRT into Premiere Pro the same way as video or audio, then put it on the sequence. Adobe's page on importing caption files from third-party services says to import the SRT “just like any piece of media”:

Open your project and the sequence you want to caption.
Choose File > Import, or drag the .srt file into the Project panel.
Drag the SRT from the Project panel onto the sequence, aligned with the start of the video.
Premiere creates a new caption track holding every line at its timecode.
Select the captions to restyle them (font, size, background, position) and fix any line in the Text panel.

If the captions start at the wrong time, the SRT was made from a different edit or a version with a different start. Move the whole caption track, or shift the file before importing with the free subtitle time shifter, which also fixes frame-rate drift.

Which caption formats does Premiere Pro support?

Premiere Pro supports SRT and several broadcast caption formats. Adobe's list of supported caption file formats (updated 7 January 2026):

Type	Formats
Sidecar files	SCC, MCC, XML, STL, SRT, DFXP
XML standards	W3C TTML (also known as DFXP), SMPTE-TT, EBU-TT
Embedded in video	MOV, DNxHD MXF Op1a, MXF Op1a

WebVTT isn't on Adobe's list, so convert a .vtt to SRT before importing: the free SRT to VTT converter works both ways. ASS/SSA files from fansub tools aren't listed either; how to convert ASS to SRT covers that. SRT vs VTT explains the format differences.

How do you make captions in Premiere Pro without an SRT?

You make captions in Premiere Pro without an SRT by transcribing the sequence with Speech to Text, then turning the transcript into captions. Adobe's steps (updated 2 June 2026):

Open Window > Text and select the Transcript tab.
Click Generate static transcript.
Choose the language (Premiere downloads the language pack if you don't have it), speaker labelling, which audio to analyse, and whether to transcribe only between In and Out points.
Click Transcribe, then correct the text in the Transcript panel.
Create captions from the transcript: Premiere adds them as a separate caption track.

Speech to Text supports 18 languages, per Adobe: Danish, Dutch, English, English (UK), French, German, Hindi, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Norwegian, European Portuguese, Russian, Simplified Chinese (Mandarin), Spanish, Swedish, Traditional Cantonese and Traditional Chinese (Mandarin). For a language outside that list, such as Arabic or Bengali, make the SRT in another tool and import it.

How do you export captions from Premiere Pro as an SRT?

You export captions from Premiere Pro as an SRT from the Export screen. Adobe's caption export page lists three ways to deliver them:

Option	What you get	Use it for
Sidecar file (.srt)	A separate SRT next to the video; one caption stream per file	YouTube, Vimeo, LinkedIn, Facebook uploads
Embed in the video	Captions inside a MOV or MXF (CEA-608, CEA-708, OP-47)	Broadcast and delivery specs
Burn into video	Captions rendered into the picture, always visible	TikTok, Reels, Shorts, ads

Open Export in the header bar, find the Captions settings, and pick the option. If you have captions in two languages, export each as its own SRT, since an SRT holds one stream. To get a plain-text transcript from the SRT, paste it into the free SRT to text converter.

Why do imported SRT captions look wrong in Premiere?

Imported SRT captions usually look wrong because the SRT carries text and timing but no style, so Premiere applies its default style. Common fixes:

Problem	Cause	Fix
Captions tiny or in a box at the bottom	Default caption style	Select all captions and set size, font and background in Properties; save it as a style
Lines too long for vertical video	SRT made for 16:9	Split long lines, or make the SRT with shorter lines
Captions early or late	SRT made from a different cut	Move the track or shift the file
Accented letters broken	File not UTF-8	Re-save the SRT as UTF-8 and import again
Import fails	Formatting error (numbering, time format)	Fix the file in a text editor; see how to edit an SRT file

Check reading speed too: lines that flash past are unreadable whatever the style. The free subtitle reading speed checker flags them; subtitle reading speed explains the limits.

How do you make an SRT for Premiere in QuickVeed?

Make the SRT in QuickVeed when you need a language Speech to Text doesn't cover, translations from one transcript, or a file to check before you edit:

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. Import each SRT into Premiere as above. If you don't need Premiere's styling at all, QuickVeed can burn captions in itself, in 11 styles; see how to burn subtitles into a video.

Frequently asked questions

Can Premiere Pro import SRT files?

Yes. Import the SRT like any media file, then drag it onto the sequence to create a caption track.

Can Premiere Pro import VTT files?

WebVTT isn't on Adobe's list of supported caption formats. Convert the VTT to SRT first.

Can Premiere Pro auto-generate captions?

Yes. Speech to Text transcribes the sequence in 18 languages, and you create captions from the transcript.

How do I export an SRT from Premiere Pro?

On the Export screen, set captions to a sidecar file and choose SRT. Each SRT holds one caption stream.

How do I burn captions into a video in Premiere?

On the Export screen, choose to burn captions into the video. They're rendered into the picture and can't be switched off.

Why are my imported captions so small?

The SRT has no style, so Premiere uses its default. Select the captions and set the size and font in the Properties panel.

Try it with your own video

Get an accurate SRT in any of 32 languages to bring into your Premiere project. Upload the video, fix the transcript, and download an SRT 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.

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How to Import an SRT Into Premiere Pro (and Export One)