Fix SharePoint Video Closed Captions Upload Error
Question details
The user is unable to upload a VTT caption file or automatically generated captions to an MP4 video hosted in SharePoint.
- Product
- SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Uploading closed captions or a VTT transcript to a hosted MP4 video using Chrome or Edge.
- Observed behavior
- The upload process fails with the error message 'Something went wrong on our end and we couldn't upload the file selected.'
Ensure you have Edit permissions for the SharePoint library and verify that your video file is fully processed and playable within SharePoint before attempting to add captions.
Verify VTT Formatting and Use the Correct Upload Settings
Ensure you are uploading the caption file through the correct Video settings panel and that the VTT file is properly formatted.
SharePoint requires specific formatting for caption files. If a VTT file has structural errors or the wrong character encoding, the server will reject the upload with a generic error.
Navigate to your SharePoint library and open the MP4 video. Click on 'Video settings' in the upper right corner of the playback screen.
Select 'Transcript and captions' from the right-hand settings menu to reveal the upload options.
Click 'Upload' and select your VTT file. Ensure the selected language in the dropdown matches the video's actual language settings.
If the upload still fails, open your VTT file in a text editor like Notepad. Ensure the very first line reads exactly 'WEBVTT' and that timecodes use the standard '00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.000' format without syntax errors.
Isolate the Issue by Testing Another Library
Rule out site-specific or file-specific corruption by testing the upload process in a different location.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does SharePoint say 'Something went wrong' when uploading a VTT file?
This error usually occurs due to incorrect WebVTT formatting (like a missing 'WEBVTT' header or incorrect timecode syntax), unsupported file encoding (needs to be UTF-8), or temporary server glitches in SharePoint.
Can I use an SRT file instead of a VTT file for SharePoint videos?
SharePoint natively requires the WebVTT (.vtt) format for closed captions and transcripts. You will need to convert your .srt files to .vtt using an online converter or a text editor before uploading.
How do I generate automatic captions for my SharePoint video?
If enabled by your administrator, you can open the video, go to 'Video settings', select 'Transcript and captions', and click 'Generate'. SharePoint will automatically process the audio and create a transcript.
Where is the Video Settings panel located in SharePoint?
When you open a video file directly in the SharePoint web viewer, the 'Video settings' button is typically located in the top-right corner of the playback screen.
