Updated 2026-07-02 - Verified with SubPlayer v0.5.17
What you need
- A Windows 10 or 11 PC.
- SubPlayer installed. The installer is about 263 MB; the one-movie trial needs no card, but AI subtitles in public 0.5.17 require your Gemini API key.
- The movie and its .srt file, ideally in the same folder with the same name (movie.mkv and movie.srt).
- Internet access for the translation step. The movie itself is never uploaded - only the subtitle text is sent for translation.
1. Check that the SRT matches the movie
Play a few scenes and watch whether the subtitles appear when people actually speak. Translation keeps the original timing, so an SRT that is early or late now will stay early or late after translation. A constant offset is easy to fix while watching (keys G and H). Subtitles that drift further apart over time usually belong to a different cut of the movie - look for a different SRT or generate subtitles from the audio instead.
Keep a copy of the original SRT if you want to compare difficult lines later.
2. Open the movie in SubPlayer
Go to File > "Open... (Ctrl+O)" or drag the movie file into the window. Open the movie rather than the .srt file; opening an .srt directly is not supported. SubPlayer checks the movie for embedded or matching subtitle tracks.
3. Pick the target language
Subtitle language is its own tab on the menu bar, next to Subtitles - open it and choose your language. If your language is not in the list, click "Other language..." and type it - for example Italian, Norwegian or Türkçe.
4. Let the translation run
The status bar shows "Translating existing subtitles" with a note that no transcription is needed: the app reuses the existing timing, so translating an SRT is the fastest workflow in SubPlayer. The translation service uses the surrounding dialogue as context. When the run finishes, the status bar shows "All subtitles ready and saved" and the name of the saved .srt file, stored next to the movie.
5. Review the result while watching
Machine translation is usually good enough to follow a movie, but review these spots when accuracy matters:
- Names and places - they are sometimes translated when they should not be.
- Jokes, idioms and slang - dialogue context helps, but these still fail most often.
- Lines that are too long to read comfortably - adjust the font with Ctrl + = and Ctrl + -.
- Music and sound-effect labels.
If every subtitle is early or late by the same amount, press G (earlier) or H (later) instead of editing the file. The current offset is shown on screen in seconds.
What if something goes wrong?
The subtitles drift further out of sync over time
The SRT was made for a different release of the movie. No delay setting fixes drift - find an SRT for your exact release or generate subtitles from the audio.
The .srt file could not be saved
SubPlayer still shows the subtitles in the app, but the folder is probably read-only - this happens on some external drives and network shares. Move the movie to a writable folder and reopen it.
The translation stops partway
Translation needs an internet connection. If it fails, the subtitles are not saved to a file - fix the connection and reopen the movie to retry.
I can't find the saved .srt file
SubPlayer hides new .srt files next to the movie by default, so the folder does not get cluttered. Turn on Settings > "Show .srt files next to the video" to make them appear in File Explorer, or enable "Hidden items" on Explorer's View tab.
Windows SmartScreen warns about the installer
SmartScreen often flags installers from small publishers. Download SubPlayer only from the official site or the GitHub releases page, then choose "More info" and "Run anyway".
Frequently asked questions
Is my movie uploaded anywhere?
No. Playback stays on your PC. Only the subtitle text is sent for cloud translation; the video file never leaves your computer.
Do the timestamps change during translation?
No. The translated lines keep the timing of the original SRT.
How long does it take?
Translating an existing SRT skips audio transcription entirely, so it is the fastest workflow in SubPlayer. The exact time depends on the amount of dialogue.
Can I translate into a language that is not in the menu?
Yes. Choose "Other language..." in the Subtitle language menu and type the language name.
How much does it cost?
The one-movie trial needs no card, but AI subtitles in public 0.5.17 require your Gemini API key. The paid plan is 9.99 EUR/month or 59 EUR/year until 2026-09-01 and includes cloud translation.
Related guides
Generate subtitles from movie audio
When there is no SRT at all - transcribe the dialogue locally.
Add subtitles in your language
Pick the shortest workflow for the source you have.
Local vs online subtitle tools
What leaves your computer with each type of tool.