How to Add Subtitles to a Movie/Video on VLC

A quick guide for adding subtitles to a video on VLC

Written by Jack Lloyd

Last Updated: August 24, 2022

This wikiHow teaches you how to add a subtitle track to a video in VLC media player. As long as you have the subtitle file in the same folder and under the same name as the video with which you want to use it, you should be able to select the subtitle from VLC's "Subtitle" section.

Part 1

Part 1 of 2:

Setting up the Subtitle File

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1
Find your subtitle file. Go to the folder in which your subtitle file is stored.
- You'll need to create the subtitle file if you don't have one.
- The file is probably in the Downloads folder if you downloaded it from online.
Click once the subtitle file, then press either Ctrl+C (Windows) or ⌘ Command+C (Mac).

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Open the folder in which the video you want to subtitle is located.
Press Ctrl+V (Windows) or ⌘ Command+V (Mac) to do so.
5
Copy the video's name. You'll need to rename the subtitle file to match the video's exact name:
- Windows — Right-click the video, click Rename, press Ctrl+C, and press ↵ Enter.
- Mac — Click once the video, click the video's name, press ⌘ Command+C, and press ↵ Enter.
6
Rename the subtitle file using the video's name. Right-click the subtitle file, click Rename, and press Ctrl+V to paste in the copied video name. You can then press ↵ Enter to save your changes.
- On a Mac, click once the subtitle file, click once the subtitle file's name, and press ⌘ Command+V to paste in the name, then press ⏎ Return.

Part 2

Part 2 of 2:

Selecting the Subtitle

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Click once the video to do so.
2
Right-click the video. This will prompt a drop-down menu.
- On a Mac, click File in the menu bar instead.
3
Select Open with. It's in the drop-down menu. Doing so prompts a pop-out menu to appear.
- On a Mac, you'll instead select Open With in the File drop-down menu.
This should be in the pop-out menu. Your video will open in VLC.
5
Click Subtitle. It's at the top of the VLC window. A drop-down menu will appear.
- On Mac, this option will say "Subtitles" in the menu bar at the top of the screen.
6
Select Sub Track. This is in the Subtitle drop-down menu. An additional menu will pop out.
- On Mac, this option sill say "Subtitles Track" instead.
It's in the pop-out menu. You should now see your subtitles appear at the bottom of your video.
8
Import the subtitle file if necessary. If VLC is having trouble finding or displaying the subtitle file, you can import it into your VLC session by doing the following:
- Click Subtitle.
- Click Add Subtitle File... in the drop-down menu.
- Select your subtitle file.
- Click Open or Choose.

Community Q&A

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Question

What if there is no option for a subtitle track in the video button?

Community Answer

In the latest VLC Media Player (2.2.4), the option should be found under: Subtitle > Add Subtitle File...

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Question

There is no "show the subtitle" option, so what can I do now?

Community Answer

Download a subtitle file on the internet, go on the subtitle menu and go to add subtitle file.

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Question

How can I add a subtitle only once?

Community Answer

Make a folder. Put both movie and subtitle (.srt file) in that folder. Now rename the subtitle file to be exactly the name as the movie file. Now after the first time of adding the subtitle, it will be added automatically.

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Tips

You can edit subtitle files in programs such as Notepad, TextEdit, and Notepad++.

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Warnings

If your subtitle file doesn't work with VLC, it's most likely corrupted. Double-check the subtitle file's syntax (e.g., the spacing and formatting of the subtitle file's lines) before trying it again.

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