How to Add Subtitles on Kodi: Step-by-Step Guide
Did you know that Kodi has a built-in subtitle feature? Whether you're watching foreign films, having trouble with audio quality, or your back. In fact, you can enable subtitles on Kodi even if the content you're watching does not have subtitle files on . This free, open-source media player is designed to be highly customizable and enjoys a thriving ecosystem of plugins that make subtitle support possible. This guide will teach you everything you need to know about the top subtitles available for Kodi and how can enable subtitles using them on Kodi.
Part 1: Top 5 Subtitle Add-ons for Kodi
1. OpenSubtitles

OpenSubtitles is one of the most popular subtitle for Kodi. In fact, it's among the best sources of subtitles among video content fans. It has a massive library of subtitles in over 75 global languages. The addon's subtitles sync perfectly with most of the content on Kodi and constantly updated to ensure its accuracy on a daily basis.
Pros
- Supports automatic and manual subtitle download
- High accuracy of subtitles and perfect syncing on most content
- Multiple language support
- One of the largest libraries of subtitles
Cons
- Sometimes, subtitles may be outdated or not perfectly synced
2. Addic7ed

Addic7ed is the go-to subtitles add-on for many Kodi users because of its extensive library of subtitles in several different languages. Although its movie subtitles database leaves a lot to be desired, its TV subtitles database is second to none. Addic7ed excels in delivering high-quality, accurate TV show subtitles that sync perfectly with content on Kodi, even in the case of latest episodes. However, some users might encounter syncing issues with older TV shows and may have to make some manual corrections to address them.
Pros
- High-quality, accurate subtitles for TV shows
- Massive library of subtitles
- Multi-language support
- Updated regularly
Cons
- subtitles database is not as extensive
- Struggles with rare content
3. Subscene

Subscene is needs of most Kodi users. It is easy to while supplying high-quality subtitles to users. Whether you're looking for TV shows, movies, or even niche content, Subscene delivers reliably thanks to its large database of subtitles. Technical issues with Subscene are not unheard of, but it's generally a good source of subtitles for most users.
Pros
- Multi-language support
- Large database of subtitles
- Generally has subtitles for rare and niche content
- Frequently updated
Cons
- Can sometimes fetch incorrect subtitles
- Syncing issues in some cases
4. YIFY Subtitles

YIFY Subtitles is not for everyone. YIFY movies are widely popular among torrent users and YIFY Subtitles fetches high-quality, accurate subtitles for their movies. Although YIFY does offer TV shows and Kodi users can fetch subtitles for them with YIFY Subtitles, the TV subtitles database is not as extensive as the movies one. For YIFY movie fans, however, YIFY Subtitles is a great source of accurate subtitles that sync perfectly with their content.
Pros
- Highly accurate matching
- Perfectly synced subtitles
- Fast and efficient
Cons
- No support for non-YIFY content
- Not the best option for TV show fans
5. Podnapisi

Podnapisi is an excellent subtitles addon for casual Kodi users who generally stick to mainstream content. Podnapisi is fast, reliable, and easy to use. Its quick syncing and accurate matching of subtitles to content makes it a no-brainer for most Kodi users looking for a no-frills, subtitles add-on. However, Podnapisi does require some initial familiarization, especially if you're new to Kodi add-ons.
Pros
- Large database of subtitles for mainstream content
- Works reliably and accurately
- Multi-language support
Cons
- Not the most user-friendly subtitles add-on
- Accuracy varies between content
Part 2: How to Add Subtitles on Kodi With OpenSubtitles
OpenSubtitles is one of them most popular sources of subtitles for movie fans worldwide. So, it's only logical that an open-source tool like Kodi makes it easy to pull subtitles from there. However, adding subtitles on Kodi With OpenSubtitles is a two-part process. The first part is adding OpenSubtitles plugin on Kodi and the next part is downloading subtitles on the media player from this newly added source.
1. How to Add OpenSubtitles Plugin on Kodi
Step 1:Open Kodi >> Navigate to settings by clicking the 'Gear' icon from the main menu.
Step 2:In the upper-left corner of the screen, select the 'Add-ons' option.
Step 3:On the next screen, choose 'Install from Repository'.
Step 4:Look for and select 'Subtitles'.
Step 5:From the list of subtitle services, select 'OpenSubtitles.org'.
Step 6:Click the 'Install' button to proceed with the installation.
Step 7:After installation, right-click on 'OpenSubtitles' >> choose 'Settings'.
Step 8:Visit OpenSubtitles website to register an account >> Obtain your account details >> Enter your username and password in the 'Settings' window, >> Click 'OK' to finalize the setup.
2. How to Enable Subtitles on Kodi With OpenSubtitles Plugin
Step 1:Once the OpenSubtitles plugin is installed on Kodi, play a movie on the media player.
Step 2:Click on the 'Subtitles' button at the bottom right corner of the screen.
Step 3:Click 'Download Subtitle'.
Step 4:Choose an appropriate subtitle from the available list.
Bonus: How to Get Video Subtitles Except Kodi?
Whether you're using Kodi or another media player, finding the right subtitle is always a hassle. Even when you do, they may not sync properly. You can avoid all these issues by encoding the subtitles directly into the video file with HitPaw Univd (HitPaw Video Converter). You can download subtitles directly from online sources and add them to video content in HitPaw Univd, and even convert the videos into a format that's suitable for any media player of your choice like Kodi. Since the subtitles are pre-loaded on the videos, you don't have to worry about finding the right subtitle anymore.

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Guide to Add Subtitles to Videos for Playback on Kodi
Step 1:Open HitPaw Univd >> Click 'Add Files' or drag files directly to the tool to import them.
Step 2:HitPaw Univd automatically detects existing subtitles on videos. You can either keep them or remove them. Subtitles that are visible in videos but not detected by HitPaw Univd are hardcoded into the video and cannot be removed or edited.
Step 3:If no subtitles are detected, click 'Add Subtitles' to import external SRT, ASS, VTT, or SSA files.
Step 4:Once you've added subtitles to videos, click 'Convert All'to start video with added subtitles.
FAQs about Kodi Subtitle
Q1. How can I use external subtitle files with Kodi?
A1. You can download the external subtitle from a source like OpenSubtitles or Subscene, place it in the same folder as the video you're watching and rename the file to the exact name of the video file. Then, launch the video on Kodi and from its playback screen, choose Subtitle option and select from the list.
Q2. Can I add subtitles to Kodi streaming content?
A2. Enable subtitles in Kodi by going to Settings >> Player Settings >> Language. Then, while streaming videos, use the Subtitles icon at the bottom right to download and select subtitles. Of course, you must have installed suitable subtitles plugin for Kodi to use the subtitles in the first place.
Q3. How do I sync subtitles with video playback in Kodi?
A3. During video playback on Kodi, you can click on the Subtitles icon at the bottom right to access the 'Subtitle offset' option. Here you can adjust subtitle delay settings to sync it perfectly with the video.
Conclusion
Kodi offers an intuitive way to enhance your viewing experience with subtitles. By using top Kodi subtitle add-ons like OpenSubtitles, Addic7ed, and others, you can easily find and sync subtitles for your content. With the simple steps outlined in this guide, you'll be able to enjoy perfectly synchronized subtitles with any video on Kodi. If you need even more flexibility, tools like HitPaw Univd offer additional features to add or adjust subtitles directly to videos for seamless playback. Download HitPaw Univd today and add subtitles to all your videos with ease.
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Daniel Walker
Editor-in-Chief
My passion lies in bridging the gap between cutting-edge technology and everyday creativity. With years of hands-on experience, I create content that not only informs but inspires our audience to embrace digital tools confidently.
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