Add Subtitles to Video in VLC (iPhone/iPad/Mac/Android/PC)✅

Adding subtitles to a video can improve the watching experience by miles. That's why this article will show users how they can easily watch any videos with subtitles on VLC on their iOS, Android, and PCs. It'll also show a bonus tip for users who cannot find subtitles.

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Dawn Tang

Updated on Jan 31, 2024

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Video captions and subtitles make viewing pleasure all the more convenient for users. A lot of users simply use said subtitles because they don't speak one language, and that's why they love to add subtitles to videos in VLC. This lets them enjoy the content without having to focus on what's being said.

Other times people simply like subtitles because they like to focus on the story rather than watching anything at high volumes. That's why many VLC users wish to know how to add captions to YouTube videos and subtitles to videos in VLC.

They won't have to wonder about it anymore as this article will answer all the questions that they are asking about adding subtitles. So, let's find out how users can efficiently add subtitles to a video in VLC.

What is VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is one of the top media players available on various devices such as PC/Mac as well as iOS and Android. It has seamless compatibility for various file formats as it effortlessly handles all the video and audio needs.

Besides that, it has no codec issues or glitches and ensures a just smooth playback. And a user-friendly interface makes it a go-to for any media enthusiast, as it offers.

  • Universal format support that plays everything;
  • No codec hassles as it bears most codecs needed;
  • Cross-platform compatibility across various devices;
  • And the ability to stream and download with versatile options.

That's why a lot of people use it to watch movies and use the best auto subtitle generator alongside it to enjoy streaming or downloaded content.

Add Subtitles to Video in VLC in 4 Ways

There are two main ways that people can add subtitles and overlay subtitles VLC on either their mobile devices or PC/Mac. Now, a lot of mobile users won't have to download specific subtitles as VLC will download and add subtitle files for them.

But PC and Mac users will have to manually download subtitles to add them in VLC Media Player. So, here are the four methods to add subtitles in VLC.

1. How to Add Subtitles to Video in VLC iPhone/iPad📱

There are times when videos come with their in-built subtitles, and users just have to enable them. So, they just have to check the use of a subtitle file option and click on the first subtitle available in the list.

Or the user will have to download said subtitle to a movie if there's nothing there, and here's how to do that.

Step 1. Head into Safari Browser.

Step 2. Search the movie title and the language of the subtitle.

Step 3. Download the subtitle from a trusted website.

Step 4. Move the subtitle file into the "Movie/Video" folder.

add subtitles to video in vlc iphone step 2

Step 5. Open the video on VLC iPhone.

Step 6. Now tap the subtitle tab on VLC.

Step 7. Select "Track 1" or whatever the subtitle file name is.

add subtitles in vlc iphone

These are the key steps to take in order to add a subtitle to a video file in VLC on iPhone. So, users will have to ensure that they download the right subtitle file for their video.

Share the article to help others get the hang of adding subtitles to the video in VLC!

 

2. How to Add Subtitles to Video in VLC Android🎬

VLC Android has one of the most intriguing and convenient features to download and add subtitles to a movie or TV show automatically. This option prevents the hassle that iPhone or PC/Mac users have to go through.

That's why all Android users need to do is prompt VLC to download subtitles to a movie or video like this.

Step 1. Open the video on Android VLC.

open video in vlc

Step 2. Tap on the "Subtitles" tab option.

add subtitles to video in vlc android step 2

Step 3. Find the "Download subtitles" option and wait.

add subtitles to video in vlc android step 3

Step 4. Simply select one of the subtitles after VLC is done adding subtitles.

This will make adding subtitles very easy as all the user will have to do is select the file and click subtitles on the video after VLC downloads it.

add subtitels to vlc in android

3. How to Add Subtitles to Video in VLC Mac💻

Now adding subtitles to a video on Mac isn't quite rocket science, as all it requires is using the right option after playing the video file. Now the user will have to download subtitle file using a third-party website like in iPhone.

But the downloaded file won't be automatically detected by VLC on Mac unless the user shows it to VLC like this.

Step 1. Press "Media" > "Stream" to open a video file in VLC.

Step 2. Select the media/video file by clicking on the "Add" button.

Step 3. Check the "Use a subtitle file" option below the file selection.

Step 4. Browse the PC to select and open the file for subtitles.

This will open the video file once the user selects the file and click subtitles on the video. It's important that the user downloads the correct subtitles to a movie. So, they might have to check a few subtitles to find the one that fits.

add subtitles to video in vlc mac

4. How to Add Subtitles to Video in VLC Windows🖥️

Adding subtitles to a video in VLC on Windows is perhaps the easiest after Android. Windows offers a lot more headroom and ease to open the video and add subtitles to a movie compared to other options. That's why all that a user needs to do in order to add subtitles to VLC is follow these steps carefully.

Step 1. Right-click on the video and click subtitles on the video.

Step 2. Then click "Add Subtitle File" to browse the PC.

add subtitles to video in vlc windows step 1

Step 3. Browse the PC and open the file for subtitles.

add subtitles to video in vlc windows step 3

Step 4. Enjoy!

This is the best method to add subtitles and activate transcoding in a VLC video on PC/Windows.

Add Subtitles to Video Automatically

There are times when users just cannot find subtitles for videos or movies. That's when a lot of users face this issue and wish to find other solutions to fix this problem. And one of the best methods to fix this issue is by generating subtitles of their own.

Now, there aren't any great tools to do that except for why EaseUS VideoKit. This wonderful software allows users to edit their videos and tweak audio and video settings. But most importantly, a user can simply use the auto subtitle generator in this program.

Users can also benefit from a lot of other great options other than that.

  • Simple interface with many great features;
  • Easy to edit videos and tweak audio;
  • Supports multiple types of video files;
  • And converts subtitle files easily.

The video editor in this tool is quite remarkable as it makes video trimming and editing quite easy. Then users can also use it to convert video to audio into any format that they like. And the tool is an ideal feature for music lovers and those who wish to dive into music production.

See how to use the software to generate automatic subtitles in a video effortlessly.

Step 1. Open EaseUS VideoKit and find the "Subtitle Generator" panel.

open easeus videokit

Step 2. Click "Choose File" or drag the YouTube video file to the interface.

Choose File

Step 3. Wait for the AI analyzing.

ai analysis

Step 4. Click the "Text" button to change the text, or customize font, background, and position under "Style" menu.

set up subtitles

Step 5. Click "Export Subtitle" to select exported subtitle format, "Save to" to change location, and press "Export" to export the video with subtitles.

export

Conclusion

These are some of the top methods of using VLC to add subtitles to a video on all four main platforms. It's important that users follow all the techniques shown in this article according to their platform. Because the technique on iOS will not work on Android and vice versa.

Now there are times when users won't be able to find subtitles for certain videos and movies. That's when they'll find EaseUS VideoKit a very convenient option to use. With that tool, they can easily generate subtitles for any sort of video.

Add Subtitles in a Video in VLC FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions to address any additional queries and help users further.

1. How to embed subtitles into video permanently in VLC?

Users can simply embed permanent subtitles into a video right at the start. So, they will have to go into files and open the video file that they wish to play. Then in the Destination Setup settings, they'll have to check the Active Transcoding box, and that will hardcode the subtitles into any video file.

2. Why can't I add subtitles to the VLC media player?

This is a common problem for users who have intentionally or unintentionally disabled subtitles in preference settings. Simply open Preferences by going into the Tools Menu and then navigate into Subtitles/OSD option. Then the user will need to enable the On Screen Display (OSD) choice/checkbox and also check the Enable subtitles box.

3. How do I add subtitles to an existing video?

Downloading and copying the subtitle to the film or video folder is one of the best ways that one can simply add subtitles to an existing video. Then all have will have to do is rename the subtitle file the same as the video file. Or they can head into subtitle settings and select the file from there.

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