How to fix subtitle encoding
Add your file
Drop the SRT or VTT file that shows broken characters into the box.
Choose the encoding
Try Source encoding on Automatic first. If the preview still shows wrong letters, select the encoding of the language, such as Windows-1251 for Russian.
Download
When the preview looks right, click Convert to UTF-8, then Download.
When to use Fix encoding
- Accents show as é or è in your video player.
- Russian, Polish, or Czech subtitles show as question marks or random symbols.
- Japanese, Korean, or Chinese subtitles from an old DVD rip show as garbage.
- A website or a video platform rejects your file because it is not UTF-8.
- A file looked fine on Windows but breaks on a Mac or on a TV.
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Common questions
How do I fix broken characters in an SRT file?
Add the file here and look at the preview. If the letters are wrong, select another Source encoding until the preview is right. Then download the UTF-8 file.
How do I convert an SRT file to UTF-8?
Add the file, keep the right Source encoding, and click Convert to UTF-8. The download is a UTF-8 file with the same name.
Why do my subtitles show é instead of é?
The file is UTF-8, but a program read it as Windows-1252. The tool finds this pattern in Automatic mode and turns the pairs of wrong characters back into the right letter.
How do I know which encoding to choose?
Choose by language. Windows-1251 is for Russian, Windows-1250 and ISO-8859-2 are for Polish and Czech, Shift_JIS is for Japanese, EUC-KR is for Korean, and GB18030 and Big5 are for Chinese. The preview tells you if you chose well.
Does VLC read SRT files in UTF-8?
Yes. VLC reads UTF-8 files, and so do most other players and video platforms.
Can the tool fix question marks in the file?
No. A question mark that is saved in the file is the real character, and the original letter is lost. Get the original subtitle file again, or type the text again.
Is my file uploaded?
No. The tool runs in your browser. Your subtitle file never leaves your computer.
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