YouTube Caption Downloader
Privacy policy
The extension processes captions in your browser. It has no developer-operated server, analytics, ads or account system, requests captions directly from YouTube and does not send your transcripts to us or to an AI service.
This website uses PostHog analytics with cookies to understand visits, installs and uninstalls. It does not store IP addresses. Details and how to opt out.
The extension
Information the extension processes
On www.youtube.com, the extension reads information needed to show and export the current video's captions:
- The video title, channel name, video identifier, duration and URL.
- Available caption tracks, their languages, caption text and timing.
- Player state and temporary request information provided by YouTube to retrieve a caption track.
- Your choices within the panel, such as the selected track and whether to include timestamps.
This information is used to load the requested transcript, display it beside the video, let you jump to a timestamp, and create the copies or files you request. The extension does not request access to your general browser history or run on unrelated websites.
Requests to YouTube
Caption requests go directly to YouTube over HTTPS through your existing browser session. YouTube may therefore receive the requested video or track information and normal connection information, such as your IP address and session cookies. The extension does not ask for your Google password or send session information to us.
When needed, the extension may temporarily change the player's caption track or open YouTube's transcript panel. It tries to restore the previous state. An interrupted operation can leave a different caption setting; you can change it using YouTube's controls. YouTube is a separate service; its handling of information is covered by the Google Privacy Policy.
Storage and deletion
Loaded video and caption data, including temporary request information, is kept in the page's memory and cleared when you close the page. The extension does not keep a transcript library or synchronize transcripts to an account. Two display preferences, whether the panel is open and whether timestamps are enabled, are kept in session storage for the current tab. You can stop the extension by disabling or uninstalling it. Uninstalling does not delete files you downloaded or clear your clipboard.
Copying and downloading
Copy writes the transcript to your clipboard. Download creates a TXT, Markdown, SRT or VTT file in the location managed by your browser. These copies remain until you remove them. If you paste or upload a transcript into another service, that service's privacy terms apply.
Pages the extension opens
Starting with version 0.1.1, the extension opens a page on this website once after you install it and once after you uninstall it. The link contains only the extension's version number. The extension sends nothing else to us; what these pages measure is described under This website.
Use and sharing
We do not receive the video or caption data the extension processes. The extension does not sell data, use it for advertising, send it for AI training, or transmit usage analytics or crash reports. Its use of information is limited to its caption-reading and export features, in accordance with the Chrome Web Store User Data Policy, including its Limited Use requirements.
This website
youtubecaptiondownloader.com, including the pages the extension opens after install and uninstall, uses PostHog analytics, hosted in the European Union, to count visits, installs and uninstalls and to see how the pages are used.
What is collected
- Pages you visit, the referring page and campaign tags in the link.
- Browser, operating system, device type, screen size and language.
- Approximate location (country and city), derived from your IP address. The IP address itself is not stored.
- Clicks and scrolling on our pages, and page loading performance.
- The extension version from the link opened after install or uninstall.
- Your answer if you fill in the optional form after uninstalling. Please do not include personal details.
PostHog stores a random identifier in a cookie and in local storage so that repeat visits from the same browser can be recognised. We do not identify you, sell this information or use it for advertising. Analytics data is kept for up to one year.
Opting out
To stop analytics in this browser, open this opt-out link; the choice is remembered on this device. Blocking cookies for this site also works. Opt back in.
Hosting
The site is served by Cloudflare, which processes connection information such as IP addresses to deliver and protect it. Analytics requests pass through our own domain to PostHog.
We rely on our legitimate interest in understanding and improving the extension and this website. You can ask us about or object to this processing at the address below.
Contact
For privacy questions or support, email nikoscwsapps@gmail.com. If you contact us, we receive your email address, message and any attachments, and use them only to respond. You can ask us to delete your correspondence.