How HandBrake Adds Subtitles or Removes Unwanted Captions

Recent studies have found that most people on social media play videos without sound. More often, they rely on the subtitle for comprehension. It is also important when viewers don't have their earbuds at hand, so they rely more on captions, so as not to disturb the people that surround them, especially in a crowded place. Therefore, people watching videos want to get a quick information fix from your video. Meanwhile, HandBrake is a free open-source program that enables users to add and delete subtitles. You read it right. This tool is more than just a video converter or transcoder. To learn how to remove and add subtitles with HandBrake, check out the full guide below.

Before You Start

True enough, HandBrake is an excellent choice for encoding and basic subtitle tasks. However, it falls short compared to some subtitle editor alternatives, like AVAide Video Converter. In other words, it has limited editing features for subtitle handling, while AVAide offers more. It gives you control over styling, allowing you to change the font style, size, and color. Additionally, you can add an outline to the subtitles for readability. It also comes with formatting that enables users to add subtitles to different positions, including bottom, middle, and top. You may adjust the opacity and add some delay to sync the subtitles with the audio perfectly.

What is more? The tool is user-friendly even for first-time users, can easily get the hang of it. Click the Free Download button and try it for yourself now.

Step 1Download the program on your Windows or Mac computer by clicking the Free Download button. Install it. Once installed, launch it and take a tour of its interface.

Step 2Now, import your desired video by clicking the Add Files button at the top left portion of the main interface. Find and select the video. This time, click the Edit button associated with the video to open the editing studio.

Step 3This time, access the subtitle editor by opening the Subtitle tab. Tick the Plus button located on the right side of the Subtitle option and upload an SRT, SSA, or SSS file. This method just solves the HandBrake SRT subtitles, not the ASS issue. Then, set the font, color, outline, and position according to your needs. Click OK to save the changes.

Step 4Head back to the Converter tab and select an output format. Once done, click the Convert All button to save the final video.

Part 1. How to Add Subtitles with HandBrake

Adding subtitles to your videos helps you reach your target audiences and convey your message even when the sound is off. Also, people who are having difficulty hearing will benefit from it. If you want to even reach beyond the borders of your country, who speak different languages, subtitles will help you. This task can be done using HandBrake. It is not just a video transcoder, but is also a good tool to add captions and subtitles with ease.

Furthermore, it works with different operating systems such as Windows, Mac, and Linux. Therefore, you can add subtitle tracks no matter the platform you're using. Now, here is how to add subtitles with HandBrake:

Step 1Download the latest version of HandBrake from its official website. Next, install and launch it on your computer after successful installation.

Step 2This time, prepare your subtitle track by either downloading or creating one. Make sure to export it in .srt (SubRip Subtitle File) format. The spoken content in your video will match with accurate timing codes when it is in an SRT file.

Step 3Going back to HandBrake, click the Open Source button and upload the video where you wish to add a caption from.

Step 4Then, go to the Subtitles tab in the menu above. From here, click Tracks > Import Subtitle. After that, locate and select the SRT file you created and click the Open button. Foreign subtitle tracks can be added to support multiple languages if necessary.

Step 5To make the subtitle track permanent, you can burn in subtitles with HandBrake by ticking the Burned In check box. Leaving it unchecked will allow viewers to toggle the caption on or off in media players.

Step 6Once the subtitle is added, adjust the video settings to match your preferences. You can tweak settings, like quality, format, and resolution. Then, save this as a profile or template for future use.

Step 7At the top menu, click the Start Encode button to export your video with subtitles. Then, try checking the subtitles. If they are burned-in, they should appear automatically. If you used open captions, look for the subtitle options in your media player and enable the subtitle tracks. Just like how you would normally add subtitles to a video, it is also possible to add subtitles to a DVD easily.

Part 2. How to Remove Subtitles on HandBrake

There are also instances where you may need to remove captions or subtitles from a video. It just ruins the video, especially when they were mistakenly added or no longer needed in the video. HandBrake never fails to showcase its versatility as it also supports the removal of subtitles. In other words, you can use HandBrake to embed subtitles and remove them if necessary. To learn how to remove subtitles on HandBrake, follow these instructions as follows:

Step 1Launch HandBrake on your computer and click the Open Source button to import your video that has the subtitles you wish to remove.

Step 2Under the Subtitles tab, click the Clear button from this tab. Note that only those soft subtitles can be removed, meaning these are the selectable tracks. The HandBrake subtitles forced or hardcoded cannot be removed.

Step 3After deleting the subtitle track from the video. You may now browse for a new subtitle and add subtitles with HandBrake again. You may follow the same procedure above.

Part 3. Can You Remove Hard Subtitles with Handbrake

If you find difficulty in removing hardcoded subtitles with HandBrake, a workaround may be realized when you use AVAide Video Converter. This tool is packed with a watermark remover that can erase even the persistent burned-in subtitles from your favorite videos. What is more? You may also add another watermark, customize it and personalize your own video for branding. Underneath is the step-by-step guide to help you remove hard subtitles using a HandBrake alternative.

Step 1If you haven't yet downloaded AVAide Video Converter, click the Free Download button below and install it on your Windows or Mac computer. Once installed, launch it afterward.

Step 2Access the Toolbox tab and look for the Video Watermark Remover option from the list of tools here. Next, it should show an upload interface where you will click the Plus button and import your video.

Step 3Once the video is imported, locate the subtitle that you wish to remove from the video and click the Add watermark removing area button. Then, place the selection in the area of the subtitle.

Step 4Preview the video and adjust the remover selection accordingly. Hit Export at the bottom right corner and save the final output of the video. Finally, you can remove text from a video easily.

By Ben Carter on Nov 05, 2025