How to Add Subtitles in Windows Media Player

Adapted by: Lamar Stonecypher • Edited by: Lamar Stonecypher
Updated Nov 4, 2011 • Related Guides: Windows MEdia Player | Movie

Here's a guide to show you how to play SRT subtitle files when playing movies or videos in Windows Media Player.

What are subtitles?

Subtitles or captions are textual versions of the dialogue being played out in movies and videos. They are either the exact same dialogue in the same language, or they are translated versions of the dialogue in some other language. You are most likely to use subtitles when you don't understand the speech properly, for example, if it's in a foreign language or in an accent that is hard to understand. Subtitles are also used by hearing impaired people.

How to play subtitles?

Subtitles are generally available as .SRT or .SUB files that you can download from one of the many subtitle websites on the internet. You can just search for a subtitle with the name of the movie on Google, and you will likely find what you need in the first five results. Some of the popular subtitles sites where volunteer translators provide free subtitles are:

1. Open Subtitles Database - http://www.opensubtitles.org/

2. My Subtitles - http://www.mysubtitles.com/

3. DivX Subtitles - http://www.divxsubtitles.net/

4. Movie Subtitles - http://www.moviesubtitles.org/

To display subtitles when playing video, you can use video players like VLC or GOM. Windows Media Player doesn't support playing SRT subtitles by default, but since this article is about "How to play a SRT file in Windows Media Player," we'll show you the easiest way:

Just install the DirectVobSub codec!

DirectVobSub is a Directshow filter which allows you to display subtitles in Windows Media Player. It is also compatible with all Direct Show players. The latest version of Direct Vob Sub is 2.39. You can download it from here - http://www.free-codecs.com/download/DirectVobSub.htm. It is a 450 KB download. After downloading it, just install it.

Now when whenever you want to view any subtitles, copy the SRT file to the same folder as your video and rename it to the same file as the movie but with the SRT extension. If your movie file is ABC.avi, then you should have your subtitle file ABC.srt in the same folder. Now, open your video file in Windows Media Player. Go to Play → Captions and Subtitles and select "On if Available." (It's perfectly safe to leave this option selected - WMP will look for the subtitle file and use it only if it's present.)

Now whenever you play that video, you should see the subtitles near the bottom of the display window. The procedure is exactly the same for SUB subtitles as well.

Tobro1988 Feb 2, 2012 7:35 PM

RE: How to Add Subtitles in Windows Media Player

Same problem here.

Vanxzai Jan 29, 2012 4:02 PM

thanks! very helpful indeed!

winapps Jan 26, 2012 10:14 AM

AHA, we found a fix for WMP & subs, works perfect now....... may need to show a screenshot, lemme know if int'd..

Fixme Jan 26, 2012 2:33 AM

Doesn't work for me. Windows 7 X64. Installs fine, i can configure it, but nothing happens. I renamed the .srt file as instructed, of course, to no avail. I tried both the X86 and X64 versions (2.40.3971).

mei_zee Jan 22, 2012 3:06 PM

very helpful. thank you! =)

guest Jan 17, 2012 10:41 AM

found answer, still interested in fixing??

Jay Jan 7, 2012 4:41 PM

Great stuff! Thanks

Joe43 Jan 5, 2012 6:47 AM

I have given up on WMP to play movies. I am now using free "VLC Media Player". Subtitles work without any problem. (I do have the subtitle file in the same folder as the movie file, and exactly the same name - same as for WMP.)

Sweineboobe Jan 4, 2012 10:35 PM

same problem here! please help...

Uweyriweu Dec 27, 2011 11:16 PM

Joe43 Dec 26, 2011 6:10 AM

I am running Windows 7 - 64 bit and I can't get the subtitles to work. I have downloaded DirectVobSub, both the 32 and 64 bit versions. There is quite a bit of configuration to do, and I don't know how to do it. Not very user friendly software, I am affraid.

Santosh Dec 9, 2011 7:29 PM

Thanks! This was helpful :-)

Emo Cinderella Nov 23, 2011 11:22 AM

thank you soo much, this was so helpful, i love you right now haha, you legend =]

Jonshriegl Nov 22, 2011 10:54 PM

This doesn't work at all on windows xp x32. I've tried WMP, and MPC. There are no subtitles no matter how many settings are changed. We need a new solution. Windows is pathetic.

Pam Nov 20, 2011 12:52 PM

Thanks!

jason Nov 11, 2011 5:52 AM

gud .......it worked

Whiteoutprints Nov 6, 2011 9:09 AM

thanks! this one did it for me

Co_tica Oct 30, 2011 8:43 PM

it works for me, thanks!

Bogza Sep 1, 2011 2:37 PM

Got it..thanks

james Aug 12, 2011 8:22 PM

it didn't work for me either

S Jul 18, 2011 8:53 AM

Very Good

You Save My Nerves And my bf :P thnx it work very good :D

anonymouse Jul 9, 2011 9:34 PM

worked on gom thanks! :D

changing the srt file name to exact same name as the movie name is what did the trick! thanks for this great info! :D

Mo Jul 5, 2011 11:53 AM

Thanks.....

It works perfect for WMP And MPC.

Anonymous Jul 4, 2011 7:25 PM

Thank you! it's working on WMP 12, but the x86 version only!

Roberts Jun 7, 2011 9:45 PM

sub player

it wouldnt work for me :'(
I even download the k-lite, maybe i should go back to WMC

Anonymous May 20, 2011 10:19 AM

Subtitle

Great. it works ! thanks, you're the man...

JP Apr 24, 2011 5:16 AM

Thanks for your help!

Nik Apr 15, 2011 6:14 PM

thank you very much! It works now!

Tomon Apr 5, 2011 2:31 PM

Good stuff, it works...

Nice, my friend; thanks...

Frank Mar 26, 2011 3:01 AM

Re how to add subtitles

You were able to answer a question that not even Cyberlink could answer. Changing the name of the .srt to match the name of the movie worked out perfectly. Now it work in my PowerDVD 10. Thanks so much.

aravind Mar 18, 2011 6:50 AM

superb!!!!!!!!!!!

haha ur a cracker of man...lolxxxx coool it workssssssssssssssssssss

mark glez Mar 18, 2011 12:40 AM

It doesnt work on my laptop!

i installed the program and activated the subtitles and change the SRT to the movies name and it just wont work!

can you ploease help me?

rivan Feb 20, 2011 11:06 PM

it works!

it works! thanks so much!

Mikes Feb 18, 2011 4:57 AM

Vobsub / VSFILTER Alternative

Another way is Local Subtitles for WMP :

This is a background plug-in for Windows Media Player. Its sole purpose is enabling textual subtitles, that accompany media files in formats not supported directly by Microsoft.

http://codecpack.co/download/Local-Subtitles-for-WMP.html

daniel Feb 13, 2011 11:02 AM

SUB PLAYER

http://www.allsubs.org/subs-download/the-kings-speech-2010-dvdscr-nydic/3451153/#captcha

Pham Kim Chi Feb 5, 2011 2:36 AM

thanks so much. it works!

jeffsss Feb 1, 2011 4:47 AM

thank you

it is a very helpful tips ... thanks

jeff Jan 30, 2011 9:32 AM

thanks a lot, these is a very helpful and good

Pedro Jan 21, 2011 10:58 AM

RE: How to Add Subtitles in Windows Media Player Read more: http://www.brighthub.com/computing/windows-platform/articles/41466.aspx#ixzz1Bgd73Nba

Thanks, it worked great

Aminu Jan 21, 2011 8:55 AM

I have tried iit on windows it works but it doesn't work on my mac book any ideas you might share will be helpful....

Micky Jan 19, 2011 6:55 AM

Hi m micky m luking laptop i hope acha hi hoga this leptop.

cp Dec 22, 2010 8:49 AM

realy works

hi thanx to you
it works on windows 7 also
download it with installer
thanx budy

kasun dhanushka Dec 14, 2010 1:01 AM

subtitles

i have downloaded a movie i got 2 subtitle file for this movie.how do i add them in to the movie.one subtitle is finish in half of the movie.then how i add the second subtitle.

thelegosoftware.wordpress.com Dec 6, 2010 7:49 PM

Works for windows 7 ultimate

It works! Thanks

Mys Nov 28, 2010 11:29 PM

thanks a lot ....

Ana Maria Plymen Nov 28, 2010 1:58 PM

two sets of subtitles

It worked very well, however, I am now getting two sets of subtitles. Where have I gone wrong?
Many thanks.

Bob Nov 24, 2010 7:06 PM

Install Dll??

I downloaded it and got VSFilter.dll but I don't know how to "install" it. Do I need to move the file somewhere? I have a windows 7 64-bit

NVhjkjhk Nov 3, 2010 1:07 PM

BNV

NO IT DOES NOT WORK FOR WINDOW 7

Jim Nov 1, 2010 5:13 PM

Took under 1 minute!

Thanks! Typing this message takes longer than installing the codec.

Tim Nov 1, 2010 6:04 AM

MY GOD! It worked! Thank you very much!

Gizelle :) Oct 27, 2010 2:25 AM

.AVI and .SRT doesn't play even they are at the same folder

Thanks for this! I just rename my .SRT file as the same as the one in .AVI, and yeah I get it. thanks a lot! :)))

Dan Oct 22, 2010 1:49 AM

Thanks..

Hi Thank you very much.. this really worked.. im using windows media player to watch avi files.. cos vlc doesnt seem to be working properly since the machine is pretty old... so thanks for the info..

cheers!

roldan chow Oct 10, 2010 2:36 AM

amazing

thank you so much...im using windows 7 ultimate.theres no problem.cool ever.

Bonny Sep 2, 2010 9:23 PM

?Works w Netflex Instant Play movies?

Hello - thanks for the info.
I've odwnloaded theDirectVobSub ( and the subtitle for a Netflex instant play movie) but still don't know how to make the subtitle show up for the Netflex moving I'm watching...

Please advise. Thank you.
Bonny

Azita Aug 29, 2010 3:54 PM

Thanks

thank youfor your work,I can try it in windows XP.

max Aug 29, 2010 4:12 AM

Great Job

I struggled a lot efore reading this .. good job buddy ... thanks

Prince Aug 28, 2010 2:09 PM

Great work

thanks a lot...

Anonymous Jul 14, 2010 10:45 PM

Amazing!

So simple and easy! And yes, it works with windows 7 as well! great job!

Rici Jul 9, 2010 8:12 PM

Wow first i downloaded it, without realising it says "for windows XP/ vista" but then it worked even for windows 7, Thank you !

qwerty Jul 4, 2010 4:45 PM

i already have a installed codec(shark 007) on wmp12. do i need to uninstall it before install this?

SeaHorse Jun 26, 2010 5:59 PM

Gret wrk

Nice job. Hats off.

stuck with wmp Jun 19, 2010 10:46 AM

screwed up

How the hell am i supposed to 'install' a dll file?

#000 Jun 10, 2010 7:03 PM

This is great!

This was really helpful. Thanks a lot!

doubting_thomas May 17, 2010 4:26 PM

just install it

"just install it"

HOW?!

matt May 16, 2010 7:25 AM

this actually works!

suddenly my spanish girlfriend has access to my film collection - thanks !

ev May 9, 2010 3:06 PM

thx Pat

you are my hero
why did you do it? It's so helpful, thx so much and...haha could I perhaps have your email address in case I eget stuck on something like this again. I am happy to help always with what i know *although it may not be a fair exchange. cheers
ev
from itsteddy.com (ev@itsteddy.com)

chao May 8, 2010 4:27 PM

thanks

gr888888888 help to me from long time m nt able to see subtitle in windows 7 bt nw i m ,just bcoz of u.bt this not happen wid me in windows xp.

ravi sharma May 2, 2010 1:06 AM

Wow

Thanks whoever it is, it has been g8 help. downloading codec solved my problem...other sites were explaining as if we were fools

Sam Apr 20, 2010 3:15 AM

I downloaded the file linked above and installed as directed but only ended up with a vsfilter.dll file. Is this correct? Am I supposed to download something else, am I supposed to move the .dll file somewhere? I've been chasing this for days to watch my movie!

doesnt matter Mar 2, 2010 1:15 AM

awesome

simple, easy, effective. awesome.

Kevz916 Feb 25, 2010 7:00 AM

Yeehah!!

Thank you very much for this useful information..
I thought i will download another media player just to play that .srt file..

Boxxy Jan 23, 2010 3:42 PM

Awsome

This was awesome thank you so much this worked perfectly.

Shiva Aug 23, 2009 9:07 AM

What about synchronization?

I know how to manage the synchronization in VLC, but never done this with WMP. Do you have a good tip how to "move" the subtitles one or two milliseconds forward or backwards in case they don't come at the exact millisecond that I want? ;D

Bskr Jul 18, 2009 7:47 PM

It worked

Its very helpful..It worked like charm. Other websites didnt had proper solution. thanks a ton.

Jose Jul 16, 2009 2:09 PM

Very Helpful. Better than other pages, including Youtuve. Thanks

How to Add Subtitles in Windows Media Player

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