Why aren't my captions showing?

Three usual causes: the file doesn't start with WEBVTT, it isn't served as text/vtt, or it's cross-origin without CORS headers. We serve the right content type; hosting the VTT with the video and page solves the third.

How do I convert SRT to VTT?

Add a WEBVTT line at the top and change the comma in timestamps to a full stop. Subtitle Edit and many online tools do it in one step.

Can I host the video and captions together?

Yes — upload them as a folder with your HTML page and everything is same-origin, which avoids caption CORS problems entirely.

Host a VTT file and add captions to web video

Put a WebVTT file at a public address — the caption format HTML5 video actually uses.

You can host:

Drop your VTT file here

Any other file works too — up to 25.0 MB, or 100.0 MB for a whole site

Free to use. Your VTT file is live at your-name.99helpers.site in about ten seconds.

What is a .vtt file?

WebVTT is the W3C caption format for HTML5 video. It's similar to SRT but adds styling, positioning and metadata, and it's the only subtitle format the <track> element accepts — which makes it mandatory for captioning video on the web.

What people use VTT files for

Captions for HTML5 video on a web page
Accessibility compliance for video content
Chapter markers and metadata tracks
Subtitles for video hosted alongside a page

What opens a VTT file

Every browser, via the <track> element
Any browser, which displays the file as text
Most video editors, as an export option
Subtitle Edit and similar tools, for converting from SRT

How to host a VTT file

1
Drop your VTT file in
Drag it onto the box at the top of this page, or click to choose it. Files up to 25 MB are supported, and nothing is uploaded until you publish.
2
Pick an address
Type a name and we'll tell you straight away whether it's free. That becomes the link: captions-web.99helpers.site
3
Publish and share
Create a free account — that step exists so the file is yours to update, replace or delete — and the link is live within seconds.

The same three steps work for any file — see how file hosting works on 99helpers.com.

What happens when someone opens the link

The file displays as text. Referenced from a <track> element it provides captions, since it's served with the correct text/vtt content type.

Why host a VTT file instead of emailing it?

Captioning a video on a page needs the VTT file at a URL, and it must be served with the right content type or browsers ignore it. That's a common stumbling block on static hosts, and it's handled here.

Worth knowing before you publish

A VTT file must start with the line WEBVTT or browsers reject it silently.
Cross-origin captions need CORS headers, so host the VTT alongside the video and page if possible.
Converting SRT to VTT is largely a matter of adding the header and changing comma decimals to full stops.

VTT hosting questions

Why aren't my captions showing?: Three usual causes: the file doesn't start with WEBVTT, it isn't served as text/vtt, or it's cross-origin without CORS headers. We serve the right content type; hosting the VTT with the video and page solves the third.
How do I convert SRT to VTT?: Add a WEBVTT line at the top and change the comma in timestamps to a full stop. Subtitle Edit and many online tools do it in one step.
Can I host the video and captions together?: Yes — upload them as a folder with your HTML page and everything is same-origin, which avoids caption CORS problems entirely.

Put your VTT file online now

It takes about ten seconds, and you only make an account once the file is ready to go live.

Back to the top

Hosting guides for related formats

Host an SRT subtitle file Host an MP4 video Host a WebM video Host an HTML file

VTT is one of over 211 formats you can host — see free file hosting for any file type for the full list, or read the hosting guides for other file types.