Fix overlapping subtitles and timing errors
Clean up timing problems that make subtitles flicker, stack on top of each other or vanish too quickly — in one click.
Move subtitles by a fixed amount when every line is off by the same delay.
Seconds (2.5), milliseconds (1500ms) or a time (00:00:02,500). Subtitles appear too early → Later.
For subtitles that drift. Pick two cues far apart and enter when each should appear.
Rescale times when the subtitle was made for a video with a different frame rate.
The file open now is part 1 / language 1.
Cues
Save options
Output preview
How to fix overlapping subtitles and timing errors
- Open the file. Overlapping cues are highlighted in the cue list and counted in the file bar.
- Choose fixes. Keep the defaults or adjust the gap, minimum and maximum durations.
- Fix and check. Click Fix subtitles, read the report, and download.
About this tool
Overlaps happen when one subtitle has not ended before the next begins. Some players stack the two lines, some hide one, and TVs often flicker. The fixer ends each cue a small gap before the next one starts (84 ms — two frames at 24 fps — by default); if two cues start almost together, they are merged into one two-line subtitle instead.
Automatic captions and machine translations produce other glitches: empty cues, the same line repeated in back-to-back cues, flashes shorter than a reader can follow, and lines out of order. The Fix tab removes empty cues, merges duplicates, sorts by start time, lengthens cues shorter than the minimum duration (without creating new overlaps) and can cap cues that stay on screen too long.
Every fix is reported — “12 overlaps fixed, 3 duplicate cues merged” — and Undo restores the previous state if you want to try other settings.
FAQ
What minimum gap should subtitles have?
Professional guidelines usually ask for at least two frames — about 83 ms at 24 fps — so viewers notice that one subtitle changed to the next.
What is a good minimum duration for a subtitle?
Around 5/6 of a second (833 ms) is a common minimum; most readers need longer for a full line. The tool never extends a cue into the next one.
Will fixing overlaps break deliberate simultaneous lines?
Cues that start within 300 ms of each other are combined into one subtitle, so both lines stay visible together.