Updated 2026-06-28

How to Use an SRT File on iPhone

By the iPhone Captions editorial team · Updated 2026-06-28

An SRT is a plain-text subtitle file: numbered lines with start/end timecodes and the text to show. On iPhone you can read it, play it with a video, or turn it into burned-in captions — but you can't just attach it to a clip in Photos.

How do I use an SRT file on my iPhone?

It depends what you need. To read or edit it, open the .srt in Files or a text editor. To watch a video with it, use a player like VLC that loads external subtitles. To post on social, burn the SRT into the video with a captioning app — platforms ignore standalone SRT files. The Photos app can't attach an SRT to a video.

What's inside an SRT

An SRT (SubRip) file is just text. Each entry has a number, a timecode range like `00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,000`, and the caption text. Because it's plain text, any editor can open it — and any tool can generate one.

Open or edit an SRT on iPhone

Find it in Files. Save the .srt to the Files app (from Mail, iCloud Drive, AirDrop, etc.).
Open it. Tap to preview, or open it in a plain-text editor app to make changes.
Keep the format. If you edit, don't change the timecode formatting or numbering, or players may reject it.

Watch a video with an SRT

The stock iPhone player won't load an external subtitle file. Use a player that does — VLC for iOS is free: put the video and the matching .srt (same filename) in VLC, and it overlays the subtitles during playback. This is for watching, not for posting.

Add an SRT to a video for social

Instagram, TikTok and YouTube Shorts don't display a standalone SRT on uploaded video — you have to burn it into the clip. Open a captioning app, bring in the video, and either import the SRT (if the app supports it) or auto-transcribe and export with the captions baked in.

Frequently asked questions

What's the difference between SRT and VTT?

Both are plain-text subtitle files. SRT (SubRip) is the most widely supported. VTT (WebVTT) is the web/HTML5 standard and supports extra styling and positioning. For most uploads SRT is the safe choice; YouTube and web players accept both.

Can I open an SRT file on my iPhone?

Yes. Save it to the Files app and tap to preview, or open it in any plain-text editor to read or edit the captions and timecodes.

How do I play an MP4 with an SRT on iPhone?

Use VLC for iOS. Add the video and the SRT (ideally with the same filename) to VLC and it loads the subtitles automatically during playback. The built-in Photos player won't do this.

Written for iPhone users. App features and iOS steps can change between versions — check the latest before you rely on them. How we test & our sources →