Subtitle cleaner — strip tags, SDH and speaker labels from SRT or VTT

Why use Picute's subtitle cleaner?

• ✓ Works entirely in your browser — your subtitle file is never uploaded to a server
• ✓ Removes i, b, u and font tags and ASS override blocks, while keeping real punctuation and dialogue intact
• ✓ Strips SDH / closed-caption annotations — [music], (applause), ♪ — and leading speaker labels like NAME:
• ✓ Each cleanup is an independent toggle, and the result is renumbered, clean SRT — completely free, no sign-up

How it works

1. Paste your subtitles, or upload an SRT or WebVTT file
2. Tick the cleanups you want: formatting tags, SDH annotations, speaker labels
3. Click Clean — the cleaned, renumbered SRT appears instantly
4. Copy the text or download the clean .srt file

A quick example

Formatting tags, a sound annotation and a speaker label are removed; the timing stays untouched and cues are renumbered.

1
00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:02,000
[music]

2
00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,000
JOHN: '<i>'Hello'</i>' there!

1
00:00:03,000 --> 00:00:05,000
Hello there!

Frequently asked questions

What does the subtitle cleaner remove?

Three things, each optional: inline formatting tags (i, b, u, font and ASS override blocks), SDH / closed-caption sound annotations ([music], (applause), ♪), and leading speaker labels (JOHN:, - Mary:). Turn off any toggle to keep that category.

What is SDH and why remove it?

SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of hearing) add non-speech cues like [music], (door slams) and speaker names. They're great for accessibility but get in the way when you want clean dialogue for translation, reuse or a transcript — so the cleaner can strip them in one pass.

Will it break my timings?

No. Only the text inside each cue is cleaned; every timecode is preserved exactly. If a cue becomes empty after cleaning (for example a line that was only [music]), it is dropped and the remaining cues are renumbered so the SRT stays valid.

Does it work with WebVTT files too?

Yes. You can paste or upload SRT or WebVTT; the cleaner reads both and always outputs clean SRT. WebVTT tags and word-timing markers are removed along with the rest.

Is my file uploaded anywhere?

No. Everything runs in your browser — the subtitle text never leaves your device and nothing is sent to a server, so it's safe for confidential or unreleased subtitles.