Add ability to download default subs/captions only #11257

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opened 2026-02-21 04:35:55 -05:00 by deekerman · 0 comments

deekerman commented

2026-02-21 04:35:55 -05:00

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Originally created by @Nytrox on GitHub (Jul 13, 2017).

Please follow the guide below

You will be asked some questions and requested to provide some information, please read them carefully and answer honestly
Put an x into all the boxes [ ] relevant to your issue (like that [x])
Use Preview tab to see how your issue will actually look like

Make sure you are using the latest version: run `youtube-dl --version` and ensure your version is 2017.07.09. If it's not read this FAQ entry and update. Issues with outdated version will be rejected.

I've verified and I assure that I'm running youtube-dl 2017.07.09

Before submitting an issue make sure you have:

At least skimmed through README and most notably FAQ and BUGS sections
Searched the bugtracker for similar issues including closed ones

What is the purpose of your issue?

Bug report (encountered problems with youtube-dl)
Site support request (request for adding support for a new site)
Feature request (request for a new functionality)
Question
Other

The following sections concretize particular purposed issues, you can erase any section (the contents between triple ---) not applicable to your issue

If the purpose of this issue is a site support request please provide all kinds of example URLs support for which should be included (replace following example URLs by yours):

Single video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvgquqdyTfA
Single video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37sR5Akt_Q4

For these videos, the auto-generated captions are for their respective language (spanish and korean). I would like an option to choose "default" for the subtitle language part so that it can download whatever the default speaking language is rather than just one language or every language.

Description of your issue, suggested solution and other information

I would like to download subtitles in the default language of the video rather than only one language or every language. If the video is spoken in Chinese, I want to download the chinese subtitles only. And if the video is English, I want to download the english version without having to change my code.

Maybe detecting the default language of the video. When the auto-generated subtitles are of a different language, it usually says so in the video player.

Originally created by @Nytrox on GitHub (Jul 13, 2017). ## Please follow the guide below - You will be asked some questions and requested to provide some information, please read them **carefully** and answer honestly - Put an `x` into all the boxes [ ] relevant to your *issue* (like that [x]) - Use *Preview* tab to see how your issue will actually look like --- ### Make sure you are using the *latest* version: run `youtube-dl --version` and ensure your version is *2017.07.09*. If it's not read [this FAQ entry](https://github.com/rg3/youtube-dl/blob/master/README.md#how-do-i-update-youtube-dl) and update. Issues with outdated version will be rejected. - [x] I've **verified** and **I assure** that I'm running youtube-dl **2017.07.09** ### Before submitting an *issue* make sure you have: - [x] At least skimmed through [README](https://github.com/rg3/youtube-dl/blob/master/README.md) and **most notably** [FAQ](https://github.com/rg3/youtube-dl#faq) and [BUGS](https://github.com/rg3/youtube-dl#bugs) sections - [x] [Searched](https://github.com/rg3/youtube-dl/search?type=Issues) the bugtracker for similar issues including closed ones ### What is the purpose of your *issue*? - [ ] Bug report (encountered problems with youtube-dl) - [ ] Site support request (request for adding support for a new site) - [x] Feature request (request for a new functionality) - [ ] Question - [ ] Other --- ### The following sections concretize particular purposed issues, you can erase any section (the contents between triple ---) not applicable to your *issue* --- ### If the purpose of this *issue* is a *site support request* please provide all kinds of example URLs support for which should be included (replace following example URLs by **yours**): - Single video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XvgquqdyTfA - Single video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37sR5Akt_Q4 For these videos, the auto-generated captions are for their respective language (spanish and korean). I would like an option to choose "default" for the subtitle language part so that it can download whatever the default speaking language is rather than just one language or every language. --- ### Description of your *issue*, suggested solution and other information I would like to download subtitles in the default language of the video rather than only one language or every language. If the video is spoken in Chinese, I want to download the chinese subtitles only. And if the video is English, I want to download the english version without having to change my code. Maybe detecting the default language of the video. When the auto-generated subtitles are of a different language, it usually says so in the video player.