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SBV to SRT Converter

To convert SBV to SRT, drop a YouTube .sbv caption file on the page and SubtitleFixer turns each SubViewer time pair into numbered SRT timestamps, right in your browser, so your file never leaves your device.

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.sbv → .srt

Add a file to enable the download.

Your file never leaves your device.

How to convert SBV to SRT in 3 steps

You can turn a YouTube .sbv caption file into an SRT file in three steps, and your files stay on your device the whole time.

  1. Add your .sbv files. Drag one or more SubViewer (.sbv) files onto the page, or click to choose them.
  2. Convert. SubtitleFixer turns each block into a numbered SRT subtitle with the same text and timings. Switch the output to VTT if you need WebVTT instead.
  3. Download. One file downloads as an SRT (or VTT) file; several files download together as one zip.

Example: before and after

SBV uses one line for the start and end times, with a period before the milliseconds. SRT uses a cue number and a comma.

Before (SBV file):

0:00:01.200,0:00:03.800
Hi, and welcome back.

0:00:04.100,0:00:07.450
Today we're fixing subtitles.

After (SRT file):

1
00:00:01,200 --> 00:00:03,800
Hi, and welcome back.

2
00:00:04,100 --> 00:00:07,450
Today we're fixing subtitles.

The times are the same: 0:00:01.200 became 00:00:01,200. Multi-line text in an SBV block stays multi-line in the SRT file.

What it does and doesn't do

The converter changes the file format from SBV to SRT (or VTT). It does not change the text or the timing.

What it does:

  • Converts YouTube SubViewer (.sbv) caption files to SRT.
  • Keeps every start and end time exactly, to the millisecond.
  • Adds cue numbers, pads hours to two digits and uses a comma before the milliseconds.
  • Keeps multi-line text inside a caption block.
  • Can save as VTT instead of SRT.
  • Detects the file's encoding and saves the result as UTF-8. Tick "Add BOM (old players)" if your device needs a BOM.
  • Converts many files at once, with one zip to download.
  • Runs in your browser: your files never leave your device, and there's no sign-up.

What it doesn't do:

  • It doesn't download captions from YouTube for you. You export the .sbv file from YouTube Studio first.
  • It doesn't convert YouTube .vtt files. Use the VTT to SRT converter for those.
  • It doesn't repair double-encoded text like é. Use Fix subtitle encoding for that.
  • It doesn't fix subtitles that are out of sync. Use Shift subtitles for that.

Download captions from YouTube Studio

You can only download caption files for videos on a channel you manage.

  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. Open Subtitles in the left menu.
  3. Open the video.
  4. Next to the language, click Edit.
  5. Open Options and choose Download subtitles.

If Studio lets you pick a format, choose .sbv (SubViewer), then convert it here to SRT. If Studio offers .srt directly, download that and skip this page — this converter is for .sbv files you already have or older archives. Path checked against YouTube Help: Edit or remove captions on 6 October 2026.

FAQ

What is an SBV file?

SBV is YouTube's SubViewer caption format. Each block starts with a start and end time on one line, like 0:00:01.200,0:00:03.800, then the text, then a blank line. YouTube also accepts SBV when you upload captions.

How do I download SBV captions from YouTube Studio?

Sign in to YouTube Studio, open Subtitles in the left menu, open your video, click Edit next to the language, then Options → Download subtitles. You can only download captions for videos on a channel you manage. If Studio offers a format choice, pick .sbv (SubViewer). If Studio offers .srt directly, download that — this page is for .sbv files you already have or older archives.

Can I convert SBV to VTT?

Yes. Switch the output to VTT before you download, and you get a WebVTT file for HTML5 video players. You can also convert an SRT file later with the SRT to VTT converter.

Can I convert several files at once?

Yes. Add as many .sbv files as you need. They convert in one go and download together as one zip.

Will the timings change?

No. Every start and end time is kept to the millisecond. The only changes are the format: cue numbers are added, hours are written with two digits, and the period before the milliseconds becomes a comma (0:00:01.200 → 00:00:01,200).

I already have a YouTube .vtt file. Do I need this page?

No. For .vtt captions from YouTube, use the VTT to SRT converter instead. This page is for .sbv (SubViewer) files.

Why do I see weird characters after converting?

SubtitleFixer detects the encoding of each file and saves the result as UTF-8. If the text already shows characters like é, repair it first with Fix subtitle encoding.

Is my file uploaded?

No. SubtitleFixer converts SBV to SRT inside your browser, and your file never leaves your device. There is no upload and no sign-up.