About the Add Subtitles to Video
Add Subtitles to Video takes a subtitle file in SRT or WebVTT format, or text you paste in, and draws each line onto the picture at the right moment. This is often called burning in or hardcoding subtitles. Because the words become part of the video, they show in every player, on every phone and in every social app, without anyone having to switch subtitles on. You can pick the position, size and colour, and put a dark box behind the lines. It all happens in your browser, so your video and subtitles are never uploaded.
Updated October 2026
How to use the Add Subtitles to Video
- 1Select your video.
- 2Add a subtitle file (.srt or .vtt), or paste the subtitles into the box.
- 3Check that the tool reports the number of subtitles it found.
- 4Choose the position, size and colour, and MP4 or WebM.
- 5Press Add subtitles, preview the result and download the video.
Why burn subtitles in
Many people watch videos with the sound off, in public, at work or because they are deaf or hard of hearing. Social apps often do not support separate subtitle files, so the only way to be sure viewers see them is to draw them into the picture. Burned-in subtitles also help when the player is unknown, such as a TV, a projector or an old phone.
Anatomy of an SRT file
An SRT file is plain text. Each subtitle has a counter, a time line with the start and end, one or more lines of text, and a blank line before the next one. WebVTT is similar, starts with the word WEBVTT, and uses a full stop instead of a comma in times. This tool accepts both and strips simple tags such as italics and position codes.
- 1
- 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,000
- Hello, and welcome.
Making subtitles easy to read
Keep each subtitle to two lines of about 42 characters, and show it for at least a second, and at most about seven. Use the dark box for busy or bright footage. White and yellow are the most readable colours. Medium size suits phones; use large if viewers will watch from a distance.
Multiple speakers and long lines
Lines that are wider than 90 percent of the picture are wrapped automatically. Where two subtitles overlap in time, both are shown, one above the other. For a dialogue, start each speaker's line with a dash as is the custom in many languages.
Before and after
Cut the video to its final length first with Trim Video so your subtitle times match. To add just one title or caption without a file, use Add Text to Video. If the result is large, Video Compressor reduces it, and Change Video Speed lets you speed up a slow section, though subtitle times then need to be adjusted too.
Features
- Reads SRT and WebVTT subtitle files
- Or paste subtitles straight into the page
- Several lines per subtitle and overlapping subtitles are handled
- Position, size, colour and a dark box
- Formatting tags such as italics are removed cleanly
- Private: nothing is uploaded
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between burned-in and soft subtitles?
Burned-in (hard) subtitles are drawn into the picture and cannot be turned off. Soft subtitles are a separate track that a player can show or hide. This tool makes burned-in subtitles, which work in every player and social app.
Where do I get an SRT file?
You can export one from most video editors and caption services, download it from a site that offers subtitles for your own video, or write it in a text editor. An entry is a number, a time line such as 00:00:01,000 --> 00:00:04,000, and the text.
Can I paste text instead of uploading a file?
Yes. Paste the subtitles into the box under the file area. The tool tells you how many it found, so you know it was read correctly.
Why does it say no subtitles were found?
Each subtitle needs a time line with --> between the start and end time, and the end must come after the start. Check that the arrows are present and the times use the form hours:minutes:seconds.
What happens to subtitles that run past the end of the video?
They are simply not shown after the video ends. The tool warns you when the last subtitle ends later than the video.
Will the subtitles line up with my video?
They show at exactly the times in your file. If they are a little early or late, shift the times in your subtitle editor and run the tool again.
Does it support non-English subtitles?
Yes. Text in your language is drawn with the fonts on your device, so most scripts and accents work. Save your SRT file as UTF-8 so that letters are read correctly.
Is anything uploaded?
No. The video and subtitle text stay on your device and the new file is built by your browser.