Fix subtitles that are out of sync

The words arrive before the mouth moves, or a beat too late. Adjust the subtitle delay during playback; the delay resets when another file opens.

Why subtitles drift

A subtitle file is timed against one particular release of a film. Use it with a different cut, a version with the studio logos trimmed, or a different frame rate, and every line lands at the wrong moment — usually by a consistent offset rather than randomly.

Shifting them into place

Open the subtitle delay control and nudge the timing while the film keeps playing. Watch one line of dialogue and adjust until the words land with the lips. If the offset is constant, a delay adjustment can help; check later scenes too. The other subtitle controls are on the subtitles page.

For the current playback

Subtitle delay is not saved per file; it resets when a new file opens.

Constant offset or growing drift?

The two look similar for the first minute and need different answers. A constant offset — every line early or late by the same amount — is the common case, and one adjustment fixes the whole film. Increasing drift can indicate a timing or edit mismatch; try subtitles made for the same release.

A quick way to find the right offset

Rather than guessing, find a moment where someone starts speaking clearly, and watch one line. If the words appear before the mouth moves, the subtitle is early and needs delaying. Use the subtitle-delay control’s small steps and compare several scenes.

When it is the audio that has drifted

If the subtitles match the words but the sound itself lags the lips, the subtitle is not the problem. Audio delay is a separate control for exactly this. Bluetooth headphones are a common cause, adding a delay of their own that has nothing to do with the file — testing with wired output rules that out in seconds.