VLC Subtitle Delay? Ways to Sync Subtitles in VLC [2024🔥]

Bothered by VLC subtitle delay issues? Discover quick and efficient solutions to sync subtitles in the VLC media player to enhance the view experience in the article below.

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Sasha

Updated on Jan 11, 2024

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How can I re-sync the subtitle and the video using a VLC media player?

--From Super User

Even though VLC is the preferred choice for playing mainstream audio and video formats, its subtitle delay issue has always been a challenging problem, especially when it comes to manually importing subtitles for audio or video. Subtitle delay can impact the viewing experience, so knowing how to fix this problem is crucial, especially for beginners. The following article will provide a detailed guide on fixing VLC subtitle delay.

Fix 1: Sync VLC Subtitle with a Shortcut

The easiest way to solve the problem of delayed VLC subtitles is to use the shortcut keys to synchronize the subtitles with the screen.
For Windows users, you can use the "G" or "H" key to delay VLC subtitles and the "G "key to speed up the subtitles.
For Mac users, please press the "H" or "J" button. The "H" button is used to speed up the subtitle playback, and the "J" button can delay the subtitle playback.

Notice:
1. Each time you press the button, the delay/acceleration changes for 50 milliseconds
2. All changes will be reset after the video is turned off.

Fix 2: Adjust VLC Subtitle Delay Manually

If the subtitle delay issue is too severe, repeatedly pressing buttons can become frustrating. VLC's built-in synchronization feature can help you accurately correct subtitle timing in such cases. We have outlined methods for synchronizing subtitles on different devices.

Scene 1: Fix VLC Subtitle Delay on Windows

If you are watching a video on a Windows computer, you can try the following steps:

Step 1. Launch VLC, and open the video with the subtitle you want to use. Select "Tools" > "Track Synchronization" from the menu.

vlc select tool

Step 2. A "Adjustments and Effects" window pops out; click on the "Synchronization" tab to access the "Subtitles/Video" section. Click the down-pointing arrow to speed up subtitles.

vlc access subtitle video

Save the changes after modifying the parameters. Then you're done, and you may watch videos in VLC without having to wait for subtitles.

Scene 2: Fix VLC Subtitle Delay on Mac

If you are watching a subtitled video on a Mac, the method to correct subtitle delay is as follows:

Step 1. Open the video and subtitle with VLC.

Step 2. Navigate to "Window" > "Track Synchronization."

mac vlc go to windows

Step 3. Under "Subtitle track synchronization" to adjust subtitles.

mac vlc subtitle track synchronization

Scene 3: Fix VLC Subtitle Delay on iPhone/Android

Here's how to sync subtitles on iPhone or Android:

Step 1. Open the video using VLC on your smartphone.

Step 2. Tap the speech balloon icon in the screen's bottom left corner.

phone vlc subtitle track

Step 3. Tap "Subtitles Track" to check if subtitles are enabled.

Step 4. Scroll through the speech balloon menu and choose "Subtitle delay." Here, you can tap the "+" symbol to introduce a delay to the subtitles or tap the "-" symbol to accelerate them.

phone vlc subtitle delay

It's important to note that all the methods mentioned above are temporary solutions. Any changes you make will revert when you close VLC, requiring you to repeat the process whenever you encounter subtitle delay issues. So, is there a way to permanently resolve subtitle delay problems? The answer is yes.

Fix VLC Subtitle Delay Permanently-Hardcode Subtitle to Video

If you're frequently bothered by synchronization issues between subtitles and the video, you can embed or hardcode subtitles into the video. This method solves VLC's subtitle delay problem and prevents potential subtitle issues when playing videos on various mainstream media players.

EaseUS VideoKit offers you an easy way to embed subtitles into videos permanently. Moreover, it can even generate subtitles using AI if you don't have subtitle files. It also allows you to customize the appearance of subtitles, including font, background color, and transparency. Additionally, aside from closed captions, you can use it to create SDH subtitles.

Some Key Features of EaseUS VideoKit include:

  • Use AI to generate subtitles for videos quickly and precisely
  • Allow users to customize subtitle appearance and edit SRT files freely
  • Support more than 100 languages
  • Offer an accuracy of 90%

With such a feature-rich subtitle tool at your disposal, wouldn't you want to try it?

In the End

In the content above, we've presented how to fix VLC subtitle delay issues using shortcuts and its synchronization feature. We've also demonstrated methods for syncing subtitles on different devices. Furthermore, we've provided a method that offers a permanent solution to subtitle delay: using EaseUS VideoKit to hardcode subtitles into videos. For beginners, we strongly recommend using it for subtitle editing.

If you find this information helpful, why not share it with your friends and family?

 

FAQs on VLC Subtitle Delay

Now that you're equipped with effective strategies for resolving VLC subtitle delay let's delve into some frequently asked questions that might still linger in your mind. These FAQs will provide further clarity and insights into addressing common concerns about subtitle synchronization in VLC.

1. How do I automatically sync subtitles in VLC?

To automatically sync subtitles in VLC, you must play the video and open the subtitle synchronization controls by pressing "H" (delay subtitles) or "J" (speed up subtitles). VLC will automatically analyze the subtitle delay and adjust it for better synchronization with the video.

2. How do I add sub-delay in VLC?

To manually add subtitle delay in VLC, do the following:

Step 1. Play the video and pause it where the synchronization is off.
Step 2. Go to "Tools" in the menu bar and select "Track Synchronization."
Step 3. Under the "Subtitles/Video" tab, adjust the "Subtitle track synchronization" by entering a positive or negative time value to delay or speed up the subtitles, respectively.
Step 4. Click "Close" when you're satisfied with the synchronization.

3. What causes subtitle delay?

Various factors, including video playback speed mismatch, variability in video sources, and network buffering, may cause subtitle delay.

4. How do I sync subtitles easily?

To easily sync subtitles in VLC, manually adjust through "Track Synchronization" in the "Tool" menu. Or you can use EaseUS VideoKit to generate and download subtitle files that are specifically timed for your video source.

EaseUS VideoKit

All-in-one Video and Auido Tool

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