Subtitles

Select, style, search, synchronize, and generate subtitles in mpvRx.

mpvRx supports primary and secondary subtitle tracks, local files, embedded tracks, online search, custom fonts, and experimental speech-to-subtitle workflows.

Select and synchronize tracks

Open the subtitle controls during playback to select a track or explicitly turn subtitles off. Primary and secondary tracks are positioned independently to reduce overlap. Delay controls let you correct a constant timing offset without rewriting the subtitle file.

Styling

You can configure font, size, weight, italics, border, shadow, color, alignment, and scale behavior. ASS override modes decide how much embedded styling is preserved.

For custom fonts:

1. Choose a subtitle font directory.
2. Reload the font catalog.
3. Select the preferred default font.
4. Clear the font cache if a replaced file does not appear.

Move and resize during playback

Enable Drag to move subtitles in gesture settings. Drag visible primary or secondary subtitle text vertically to move only that track. A temporary highlight identifies the selected track. Hold in the center away from subtitle text, then drag to move both tracks together.

With Pinch to zoom subtitles enabled, pinch over either track to resize it. A pinch on the secondary subtitle adjusts only the secondary track. The existing Pinch zooms secondary subtitle option still links secondary scaling to a pinch on the primary; disable it for fully independent sizing. Two-finger vertical movement also repositions the selected track when subtitle dragging is enabled.

The Zoom bottom sheet has separate Zoom subtitles with video and Zoom statistics with video switches. Both default to off: video zoom and pan affect the video plane, leaving subtitle size and stats pages 1–6 independent. Enabling a switch scales that overlay with the video zoom without changing its saved base size.

Positions and sizes use the existing subtitle settings and are remembered. Direct dragging stays within 0–100%; the settings sliders retain the advanced 0–150% range. Horizontal swipes on the primary subtitle still seek dialogue. Locked controls block these gestures, and options owned by mpv.conf stay protected.

The touch region is estimated from the current text and font settings. Custom-positioned ASS signs and image subtitles may not have matching text bounds; use the subtitle position controls for those formats.

Online search

Three search modes are available:

TMDB-assisted search can identify a title, season, and episode before querying providers. Verify the selected episode when filenames use unusual anime or absolute numbering.

Speech-to-subtitle

Supported cloud and offline Whisper providers can generate subtitles from the active audio. This feature is experimental. Processing time, language support, privacy, and network use depend on the selected provider.

Troubleshooting

• Wrong language: review preferred subtitle languages and the selected track.
• Overlapping dual subtitles: adjust secondary position or ASS override behavior.
• Search returns nothing: confirm the title, season, episode, language, provider selection, and API key where required.
• Styling seems ignored: test a plain SRT file, then review ASS override settings.