YouTube has reportedly disabled and started removing specialized captions [U]

YouTube videos have long supported the custom SRV3 caption format, which creators have been using in pretty creative ways. Apparently, that format has been disabled, and some are reporting that uploaded caption files are being deleted from videos.

Update 1/20: YouTube addressed the missing SRV3 and YTT captions on some videos. According to a post on YouTube’s official forum, users were having issues with video playback for videos with custom captions attached. For that reason, SRV3 and YTT caption files were purposefully disabled to prevent users from experiencing issues across the platform.

The statement does not include a resolution or an estimated fix date, but it does provide background for the curious custom caption removal. YouTube says it will post an update “as soon as possible.”

According to some reports on Reddit, the option to upload SRV3 files in YouTube Studio has disappeared. These reports are a couple of days old, but the information still seems current. Even further, some are now reporting that YouTube has begun deleting these custom caption files from live videos.

While not the go-to option for most creators, SRV3 captions allow creators to go the extra mile with subtitles. It’s often a staple of VTuber channels and throughout Japanese and Korean creations.

That file format gives the option to use separate colors and add a little depth to an otherwise basic option offered by default in YouTube. Videos with SRV3 captions can have outlines and drop shadows, or custom positioning. This really shines when an original video language needs a direct translation underneath, written in custom text. That’s the reason this format has become synonymous with Asia-based channels.

This change may not affect the majority of channels, but substantial ones like Hololive and other international creators will see the biggest hit.

The report is followed by user comments expressing dissatisfaction with YouTube’s bare-bones caption editor. Others worry that YouTube is positioning AI captions as the default option for channels that rely on SRV3 caption formats.

YouTube has not released any information regarding the lost format. The most recent announcement from the company detailed a big mobile redesign, though these two events seem unrelated.

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