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Subtitles and languages

Pick languages once, style subtitles to taste, fix timing, and find subtitles a file doesn't have.

Choosing languages once

In SettingsPlayback:

  • Audio Language and Audio Fallback: the soundtrack to pick first, and the one to try next.
  • Subtitle Language and Subtitle Fallback. With a language set, you can also choose Subtitle Type (Standard or SDH, which adds sound descriptions).
  • Auto-Select Subtitles: Automatic turns subtitles on only when the soundtrack isn't in your language; Always, Forced Only (just signs and foreign dialogue) or Never.
  • Anime Audio: Sub for the Japanese soundtrack with subtitles, or Dub for your own language.

How they look

SettingsSubtitles sets the Font, Size (50% to 300%), Weight and Colour; the Text Edge Style, Background and its Opacity; and HDR Brightness, which stops white text glaring in HDR films. Vertical Alignment moves them up the screen. Size and position are kept per device, because a phone and a TV need different sizes.

Anime and some films come with styled subtitles: coloured signs, typefaces, positions. Turn on Keep original ASS styling to see them as they were made, instead of in your chosen style.

On Apple TV you can also change the style mid-film: swipe down in the player and choose Subtitle Style.

When they're out of sync

  • Auto-sync subtitles (beta) lines subtitles up with the dialogue by itself.
  • To shift them by hand: on Apple TV, swipe up → Subtitles → Timing, then left and right. On other devices, use Sync Offset on the Subtitles page (up to ten seconds either way).

Finding subtitles a file doesn't have

Strand can search four subtitle services: SubDL, SubSource, Wyzie and OpenSubtitles. Each needs your own free key, entered in SettingsAccountAPI KeysSubtitle Sources (on the Mac, on the Subtitles page).

Then, while something is playing: on Apple TV, swipe up → Subtitles → More Subtitles…; on iPhone and iPad, open subtitles and switch to the Online tab, or use Get More Subtitles... under the cog's Advanced Options.