Guide
How to fix subtitles that are out of sync
Open the subtitle file in Anyfile’s subtitle editor and use Shift times… when every line is late or early by the same amount, or Sync to two points… when they drift further out as the film goes on. Then download the corrected file. Your video can play beside it while you check.
Step by step
Open the subtitles
Drop the .srt, .vtt or .ass file on the subtitle editor, or on the SRT page and choose Edit file. Each subtitle appears in a table with its start, end, length and text.
Play your video beside them
Under Preview with your video, press Choose video and pick the film on your device. It plays with the subtitles drawn on it, and the list follows along. The video stays on your device.
Fix a steady offset with Shift times…
If every line is out by the same amount, open Timing › Shift times…, type the seconds in Shift by (seconds), with a minus sign to make them earlier, choose what to Apply to, and press Shift.
Fix drift with Sync to two points…
If the start is right and the end is wrong, open Timing › Sync to two points… and type when the first line is really spoken and when the last one really ends; play the video to each moment to find them. Press Sync, and everything between is stretched to fit.
Download the corrected file
Press Download. Lines you didn’t touch keep their exact numbering and spacing.
Drift that gets steadily worse often means the subtitles were made for a different frame rate, such as 23.976 against 25. Timing › Change frame rate… converts between the two: choose what the subtitles were made for and what the video plays at, then press Convert.
For a single line, select it, play the video to the moment, and press Set start or Set end to take the time from the playhead. The status bar also counts problems, such as overlaps and lines too fast to read.
Nothing is uploaded: your browser reads the file and makes the new one on your device. See how it works, and how to check.
Other ways to do it
VLC. While a film plays, the H and G keys move subtitles later or earlier in small steps. It only lasts for that viewing: the subtitle file itself isn’t changed, so the next player shows the old timing.
Subtitle Edit. A free Windows app with the same timing tools and much more, including waveform views and spell checking.
Aegisub. A free app for Windows, Mac and Linux, made for detailed timing and styled ASS subtitles.
When Anyfile is quicker
Anyfile is quicker for a one-off fix on any computer, a Mac or a Chromebook included, with nothing to install. If you time subtitles for a living, Subtitle Edit or Aegisub has deeper tools.
Questions
How do I know whether to shift or sync?
Check a line near the start and one near the end. If both are out by the same amount, shift. If one is right and the other wrong, or they’re out by different amounts, sync to two points.
Will it change the text of my subtitles?
No. Timing tools change only the times; lines you don’t edit are written back exactly as they were.
Which video formats can play beside the subtitles?
Any your browser plays: MP4 with H.264 and WebM work almost everywhere.
Are my subtitles or video uploaded?
No. Both are read by your browser, on your device.