How to Fix VLC Subtitle Delay Issue? (3 Useful Methods)

Although VLC offers high compatibility to play mainstream video or audio formats smoothly and freely, the VLC subtitle delay problem has been an annoying situation preventing users from enjoying video streaming, especially when importing external subtitles to play with the video. So, this post from MiniTool MovieMaker (a free video editor) introduces several methods for adjusting VLC subtitles and avoiding their delay effectively, regardless of whether the problem is caused by VLC instability or incorrect operation. Scroll down to read if you are experiencing this problem.

3 Methods to Have VLC Subtitle Synced on PC

When VLC subtitle delay occurs unexpectedly, there are some clever methods you can take advantage of to stabilize the video streaming experience by handling some simple settings in the program. They can all be done with a few clicks and no 3-party extensions are required. Now, let’s see how to fix VLC subtitle delay.

Way 1. Extended Settings by Hand

The first in-app setting that you can change to avoid VLC subtitle delay is by utilizing its synchronization feature. Complete the settings by following the processes outlined below:

1. First of all, open the video using VLC and load the subtitles you would like to play with it. Then, click Tools > Track Synchronization.

2. When the Adjustment and Effects window appears, click the Synchronization tab and you will find the Subtitles/Video section. Here, you can delay or accelerate the subtitles to your calculated value in seconds.

Tips:

If you’re watching a film and the subtitles are displayed 3s behind the film. You need to enter a negative value of -3.000s in Subtitle track synchronization. On the other hand, if the subtitles are ahead of the film for 3s, you can put a positive value of 3.000s here.

3. After you determine the settings, click the refresh icon to save the modifications. Now you are finished and you will be able to play the video in VLC without subtitle delay.

Way 2. VLC Subtitle Delay Shortcut

Many of you may overlook the use of hotkeys to control the media playing function in VLC. In fact, this is a viable way to synchronize subtitles with a video and effectively prevent delays. The following will guide you through the process on Windows and Mac respectively.

Syncing Subtitles in VLC for Windows

You can sync the VLC subtitle with the G/H key during playback. Press the H key for VLC subtitle delay. To speed up the VLC subtitle, press the G key. You can press these keys on your keyboard to have the VLC subtitle precisely sync with the video.

Syncing Subtitles in VLC for Mac

If you are using a Mac, the hotkeys are slightly different. The H/J buttons will be used to change the VLC subtitle delay on Mac. When the subtitle shows before the sound, press J. Instead, press H to accelerate the subtitle to match the sound.

Note:

Remember that closing the video resets the synchronization, thus if you load it again later, you’ll need to re-synchronize the subtitle.

Way 3. Accelerate Subtitles to Match Audio

If you find that the VLC subtitle delay only occurs to match the audio, try manually accelerating it to synchronize with the audio. It only takes a few simple clicks to achieve your goal:

If you feel that the subtitles are out of sync with the audio, press Shift + H on the keyboard while listening to the sentence.
Next, press Shift + J and read the sentence matched in the subtitles.
Lastly, just press Shift + K to accelerate subtitles so that they match the audio again.

Tips:

If you want to add subtitles to your videos and enjoy video streaming with no delay in subtitles, MiniTool MovieMaker is the ideal choice for you. You can install and try out this video editing software free of charge.

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Bottom Line

If you realize that the VLC subtitle delay problem has significantly impacted your video streaming experience, try to fix the error in VLC immediately using the methods presented in this post. They are all useful.

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About The Author

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Position: Columnist

Jocelin is keeping a strong passion for the multimedia industry with her first thoughts and visions. While continuously absorbing relevant knowledge, she believes that pictures, videos, and music can bring so much pleasure to life. To go deeper into the industry, she has acquired many skills in video editing. Also, she can provide readers with ways to solve problems on image, video, and auido topics.