How to Add Subtitles to Kodi

How to Add Custom Subtitles to Kodi

Kodi is one of the most versatile media players out there. Whether you are running it on a PC, an Android TV box, a Fire Stick, or a Raspberry Pi, adding custom subtitles is easy once you know where to look.

If you have translated subtitles using SubWiz, here is how to get them loaded and playing in Kodi.

How Does Kodi Detect External Subtitle Files?

Kodi uses filename matching to detect external subtitle files, similar to Plex and Jellyfin. If the subtitle filename matches the video filename, Kodi loads it automatically when you start playback.

The naming convention is simple:

• Video: Matrix.mkv
• Subtitle: Matrix.srt for the default language
• Subtitle: Matrix.fr.srt for French
• Subtitle: Matrix.es.srt for Spanish

The subtitle file must be in the same folder as the video. Kodi does not search subdirectories for external subtitles.

When the naming matches, Kodi will automatically display the subtitle during playback and you can toggle it on or off using the subtitle button in the player controls. No manual loading needed.

Method 1: How Do I Automatically Load Subtitles in Kodi?

This is the easiest method if you have your own media library stored on a hard drive or NAS.

1. Rename your subtitle file to match the video filename. If your video is Matrix.mkv, your subtitle should be Matrix.srt. Add a language code if you have multiple subtitle files, like Matrix.fr.srt for French.

2. Place the subtitle file in the same directory as the video. This is the key step. Kodi will not find it if it is in a different folder.

3. Start the video. Kodi will detect the matching subtitle file and load it automatically.

4. To toggle subtitles during playback, bring up the on-screen display by pressing Enter or M on a keyboard, or the center button on a remote. Click the subtitle icon to turn subtitles on or off.

5. If you have multiple subtitle files with different language codes, you can switch between them from the same subtitle menu.

This method is best for people who have an organized media library. Once the files are named correctly, subtitles just work every time you play the video.

Method 2: How Do I Manually Browse for Subtitles During Playback?

Sometimes you just downloaded a subtitle file and have not renamed it yet, or the naming does not match. You can load it manually during playback.

1. Start playing your movie or episode in Kodi.

2. Bring up the on-screen display by pressing Enter on a keyboard, M for the menu, or the center select button on a remote control.

3. Click the subtitle icon, which looks like a speech bubble with text inside.

4. Select "Browse for subtitle..." from the menu.

5. Navigate through your file system to find your .srt file. This works on all platforms including Android TV and Raspberry Pi, though navigation with a remote can be tedious.

6. Select the file. It will load instantly and display on screen.

The downside of this method is that you have to do it every time you play the video. It is a one-time load, not saved for future sessions. If you want the subtitle to load automatically next time, use Method 1 and rename the file to match the video.

How Do I Fix Subtitle Sync Issues in Kodi?

External subtitles are sometimes slightly out of sync with the video. This happens when the subtitle was made for a different release of the movie, or when there are different studio logos at the start that shift the timing.

Kodi has a built-in sync adjustment that works without leaving the video:

1. While playing, open the on-screen display and click the subtitle icon.

2. Select "Subtitle Offset" or "Subtitle delay" from the menu.

3. Use the slider or the left and right arrows to adjust the timing. Negative values move subtitles earlier, positive values move them later.

4. Adjust in small increments, 100 milliseconds at a time, until the subtitles match the audio.

5. The adjustment is saved for that specific video file, so you do not have to redo it next time you play it.

For more serious sync issues, like subtitles that are off by several minutes, the subtitle file was probably made for a different version of the movie. In that case, you are better off finding or generating a subtitle file that matches your specific video.

How Do I Enable Subtitle Downloads from Add-ons in Kodi?

Kodi also has built-in support for subtitle add-ons that let you download subtitles directly from within the player. Services like OpenSubtitles and Addic7ed have Kodi add-ons.

1. Go to Settings (the gear icon on the home screen).

2. Select Add-ons, then Install from repository.

3. Choose the Kodi Add-on repository.

4. Go to Services and install a subtitle add-on like OpenSubtitles.org.

5. Create an account on the subtitle service website if required.

6. Go to Settings, Player, Subtitles, and set the default subtitle service to the add-on you installed.

7. During playback, click the subtitle icon and select "Download subtitle." Kodi will search the service and download matching subtitles.

This is a good option when you do not have a subtitle file ready. For translated subtitles in specific languages though, generating them with SubWiz gives you more control over the output quality and language pairing.

What Subtitle Formats Does Kodi Support?

Kodi plays almost any subtitle format you throw at it:

• SRT (SubRip): The most widely supported format. Works on every Kodi installation.
• VTT (WebVTT): Supported on modern Kodi versions. Good for web-based content.
• ASS (Advanced SubStation Alpha): Full support including complex styling, positioning, and effects. Popular for anime.
• SSA (SubStation Alpha): Supported, older version of ASS.
• SAMI: Supported but rarely used today.
• SUB (MicroDVD): Supported but format limitations make SRT a better choice.
• SRT is the safest pick if you want maximum compatibility across all Kodi installations and platforms. SubWiz can generate SRT files that work on Kodi out of the box.

How Do I Change Subtitle Appearance in Kodi?

Kodi lets you customize how subtitles look. This is useful if the default text is too small on a TV, or if you want a different font, color, or background.

1. Go to Settings, Player, Subtitles.

2. Here you can adjust:

   • Font family and size
   • Text color
   • Background opacity and color
   • Border style and width
   • Position on screen

3. Changes apply to all subtitles, both external and embedded.

For 4K TVs viewed from a distance, bumping the font size up is often the first thing people do. The default size can be hard to read from across a living room.

Related Articles

• Plex subtitle guide
• Jellyfin subtitle guide

Summary

Adding subtitles to Kodi works in two ways. Automatic detection by matching the subtitle filename to the video filename is the clean approach for organized libraries. Manual browsing during playback works for one-off files you have not renamed yet. If timing is off, the built-in subtitle offset slider fixes small sync issues without leaving the player.

SRT is the most compatible format for Kodi across all platforms. Need accurate subtitles in another language? Create them in seconds with SubWiz.