How to add subtitles to a video free

✔ Add subtitles to a video fast with Freemake. 100% FREE & safe download.
✔ No manual work, get an SRT file & embed it into a movie automatically!
✔ Create videos with subtitles for any device: a PC, TV, iPhone, Android, iPad.
✔ No file size limit. Awarded as the Best Video Software of 2020.

Also find out how to:
edit subtitles font & sizeadd subtitles to YouTube video
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Add subtitles to your video in these easy steps:
1. Download free software for adding subtitles
2. Add a video that you want to subtitle
3. Get & add a subtitle file to your video
4. Choose the output video format
5. Merge subtitles with the video

Learn how to add subtitles to a video:

1

Download and install
Freemake subtitle adder

Download free software for adding subtitles. It's safe & easy to use. The supported OS's are Windows 10, 8, 8.1, Windows 7, Vista. By default, you get the lightweight online installer which loads all the necessary components during the installation.

Run the file on your desktop computer or laptop.

Freemake freeware doesn’t contain any ads or third-party offers so you can safely install it on your system. Accept Freemake EULA and click the "Next" button all the time till the installation process finishes.

In case you are a proficient user, you can choose another location for the tool and select a custom installation to add the program to a context menu or make it the default utility for your media data.
2

Add a video that you want to merge with subtitles

Run the software to add subtitles to video. Press the "+Video" button to add your movie into the subtitle editor. The tool accepts over 500 video formats: MP4, AVI, MOV, MPG, WMV, 3GP, FLV, SWF, MTS, etc. Just keep in mind that your video file should not be protected. If your film is in a foreign language, you can integrate English subtitles into it to enjoy the movie with the original sound.

You can import several videos at once (for example, TV series) and subtitle them one by one.

Pay attention to the signs next to your movie thumbnail. Find the "No subtitles" button that goes right after the audio settings.
3

Get & add subtitle file to your video

Now you need to merge the video with the subtitles file in SRT, ASS, SSA formats. Please note that Freemake freeware doesn’t contain any subtitle files within itself. You can only add subtitles to video with it. It’s up to you to find them online or create with special tools.

Choose and follow one of these ways to get a subtitle file:
  • visit the website opensubtitles.org & look for free subtitles for your movie;
  • create a corresponding text file for your video using Notepad (here you'll find the detailed instruction how to do this on Windows & Mac).

When you got the subtitles file, go back to Freemake app. Press the "Add subtitles" button, browse, and choose the subtitle file that you want to put into your video.

Click on the scissors button to run Freemake video editor. Here you can preview the video with the embedded subtitles. Use the timeline to check if the subtitles sync with the movie.

Please note that the resulted video will be with hardsubs. It means the text will be permanently presented on the video so you won’t be able to switch the subs on/off.

Click "OK" to close the editor.
4

Choose the output video format

Now you need to choose an output format for your video.

It can be:
  • MP4, a universal extension for portable gadgets & streaming, Facebook or YouTube upload,
  • AVI, a format for a big TV screen and home media systems,
  • 3GP for old smartphones.

You can also convert videos right for your device by clicking the respective button: Apple, Sony, Nokia, etc. and selecting your phone or tablet from the list.

In case you want to write a DVD with your new subtitled video, look for the text instructions here and get our free burning software.
5

Add subtitles to your videos permanently

Set a location for your output media files. By default, the content (after you add subtitles to video) will be saved to "My videos" folder. In case you don’t have enough of disc space, you'd better limit the file size of your video clip. Just click on the weight sign button and set the necessary output size.

When everything is ready, click the "Convert" button to run the embedding process and attach subtitles to your movie.

After the process finishes, you may upload the video file to your device or YouTube, share on social media, & start watching the subtitled movie immediately.