Playing downloaded episodes with subtitles
DramaTime hands you two files: the episode and a subtitle file. The player does not need to be configured — it just needs to find them together. These are the three steps, followed by player-specific notes and fixes for the two things that usually go wrong.
The three steps
- 1
Put both files in the same folder
The video (.mkv or .mp4) and the subtitle (.srt) must sit next to each other. A subfolder will not be found.
- 2
Rename the subtitle to match the video
If the video is Show.S01E01.1080p.mkv, the subtitle must be Show.S01E01.1080p.srt. Everything before the extension has to be identical, including capitalisation.
- 3
Open the video
The player picks up the subtitle automatically. If it does not, most players have a subtitle menu — see the player notes below.
Player notes
VLC
Windows · macOS · Linux · Android · iOS
Autoloads a matching .srt from the same folder.
mpv
Windows · macOS · Linux
Press v to cycle subtitle tracks, j to shift timing.
KMPlayer
Windows · Android
Handles MKV with embedded and external subs well.
MX Player
Android · iOS
Tap the subtitle icon → Open → pick the .srt.
PotPlayer
Windows
Drag the .srt onto the window if it is not picked up.
If the subtitles do not appear
- Wrong filename. This is the cause roughly nine times out of ten. Compare the two names character by character, using the file manager's rename field rather than retyping.
- Subtitle track disabled. Right-click the video → Subtitle → Add Subtitle File, or press V in mpv to cycle tracks.
- File encoding. Every .srt DramaTime generates is UTF-8. Older Windows players sometimes assume ANSI — in VLC, set Tools → Preferences → Subtitles → Default encoding to UTF-8.
Out-of-sync subtitles
Every file DramaTime generates keeps the original timings exactly, so drift only happens if the subtitle is paired with a different cut of the episode. Each player has an in-app shift:
- VLC: press G / H to delay or advance by 50 ms.
- mpv: j / J.
- MX Player: subtitle menu → timing adjustment.
Still stuck?
Post a screenshot in the Telegram group — that is the fastest way to get help from other viewers.