This wikiHow teaches you how to use subtitles with videos on a Windows computer. Unfortunately, not all videos can display subtitles when played in Windows Media Player. The quickest solution to this problem is to use the free program VLC Media Player to play videos because VLC always displays subtitles, as long as you have organized and prepared the subtitles file beforehand.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Adding Captions to Videos
Step 1. Find the video you want to watch
Go to the save folder of the video you want to play with the caption.
Step 2. Right-click the video
After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 3. Click Rename
It's at the bottom of the drop-down menu. The video name will then be tagged.
If you don't see this option, first click on the video, then right-click and select “ Rename ”.
Step 4. Copy the video name
Press Ctrl+C to copy it. This way, when you name a caption file, you can use the exact spelling and format of the video file you want to add the caption to.
You can click anywhere outside the file or press Enter to cancel the renaming and use the video's original file name
Step 5. Locate the video caption file
Go to the folder where the subtitle file you want to use is stored.
If you don't already have a caption file for your video, you'll need to create your own before continuing
Step 6. Rename the caption file according to the video name
Right click the caption file, click “ Rename ”, and press Ctrl+V key to paste the copied video name. After that, press Enter or click an area outside the file to apply a name to the file.
Step 7. Place the video and caption files in the same folder
In order for a subtitle file to work with videos, both files must be located in the same folder (eg “Desktop” or “Pictures” folder). Once both files are saved in the same location, you can move on to the next step.
Part 2 of 3: Using Windows Media Player
Step 1. Understand that this program does not always work for all videos
Some videos may not display subtitles in Windows Media Player, depending on their encoding settings. If the subtitles don't appear on the video when it's playing in Windows Media Player, you'll need to use VLC Media Player.
Step 2. Open the video in Windows Media Player
Right click the video, select " Open with, and click " Windows Media Player ” from the pop-out menu that appears. After that, the video will be displayed in the Windows Media Player window.
If you don't see Windows Media Player in the “ Open with ”, the computer may not have the program installed or the video may not play in Windows Media Player. You need to use VLC Media Player.
Step 3. Right-click the Windows Media Player window
After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 4. Select Lyrics, captions, and subtitles
It's in the middle of the drop-down menu. A pop-out menu will be displayed.
Step 5. Click On if available
It's in the pop-out menu. With this option, Windows Media Player will use the available subtitle files.
Step 6. Replay the video
Close the Windows Media Player window, and then reopen the video in the program. At this point, you will be able to see the video captions if Windows Media Player supports your video captions.
If it doesn't work, you need to use VLC Media Player
Part 3 of 3: Using VLC Media Player
Step 1. Download VLC Media Player
Visit https://www.videolan.org/vlc/index.html via a computer web browser, then click the “ Download VLC ” in orange on the right side of the page.
Step 2. Install VLC
Double-click the downloaded VLC installation file, click “ Yes ” when prompted, and follow the installation instructions.
Step 3. Open the desired video
Find the video you want to show with the caption. This video must be saved in the same folder as the caption file.
Step 4. Right-click the video
After that, a drop-down menu will be displayed.
Step 5. Select Open with
This option is in the drop-down menu. After that, a pop-out menu will be displayed.
Step 6. Click on VLC media player
It's in the pop-out menu. After that, the video will open in VLC Media Player.
Step 7. Click the Subtitles tab
This tab is at the top of the VLC window. A drop-down menu will appear after that.
Step 8. Select Sub track
This option is in the drop-down menu. A new pop-out menu will appear.
Step 9. Click Track 1
It's in the pop-out menu. Now you can see the captions on the video.
