If you’re a fan of international cinema or enjoy watching content in rare languages like Arabic, Thai, Japanese, Sinhala, Czech, Bulgarian, and more, you may have encountered a common challenge on Netflix – the lack of subtitles in your preferred language. While Netflix offers a wide range of subtitles for popular languages, it might not always have the subtitles you need for less common dialects.
Fortunately, there’s a solution that allows you to add your own custom subtitles to virtually any Netflix movie or series. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the process step by step using a handy Chrome extension called Substital. Say goodbye to language barriers and enjoy your favorite Netflix content with the subtitles you desire.
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How to add your own custom subtitles to a Netflix movie or series
Below is a step-by-step guide to add custom subtitles to any Netflix video using a Chrome extension called Substital. As this tool is a Chrome-specific extension, you will need to use Chrome to watch Netflix in order to be able to make use of the extension. Let’s get started.
Also see: How to Watch Netflix with Dual Subtitles
Step 1: Installing Substital
Before we can begin adding custom subtitles to Netflix, we need to install the Substital Chrome extension. Follow these steps to get started:
- Open Google Chrome: Ensure you have the Google Chrome web browser installed on your computer. Substital is a Chrome-specific extension, so this method won’t work on other browsers.
- Go to the Chrome Web Store: In your Chrome browser, navigate to the Chrome Web Store. You can do this by either typing
chrome://extensions/into your address bar and hitting Enter. In the extension tab, you’ll find a link that says “Open Chrome Web Store.” Click on that link to proceed.
- Search for Substital: In the Chrome Web Store’s search bar, type “Substital” and press Enter. This will display the Substital extension in the search results.
- Install Substital: Click on the Substital extension in the search results to open its page. Then, click the “Add to Chrome” button. A confirmation dialog will appear; click “Add extension” to proceed with the installation.
- Confirm Installation: Wait for a moment while Chrome installs the extension. Once it’s finished, you’ll see the Substital icon in your browser’s toolbar, usually located in the upper-right corner. If it doesn’t appear, click on the puzzle icon to view all hidden extensions and pin the Substital extension so that it can appear directly on Chrome’s toolbar.
Useful tip: How to Download Subtitles in VLC on Windows 11
Step 2: Enabling Substital on Chrome
Now that you have Substital installed, it’s time to activate the extension and configure it for use with Netflix. Follow these steps to get Substital up and running:
- Open Netflix: Launch Google Chrome and visit the Netflix website if you’re not already there. Sign in to your Netflix account if prompted.
- Select a movie or series: Choose the movie or series you want to watch. Keep in mind that Substital works with both movies and TV shows on Netflix.
- Click on the Substital icon: In your Chrome toolbar (usually at the upper-right corner), you’ll see the Substital icon, which looks like a blue “S” inside a film reel. Click on this icon to open the Substital control panel.
- Select the video: In the Substital control panel, you’ll see the Netflix video you’ve chosen. To start adding subtitles, select the video from the list.
- Choose your language: To add custom subtitles to the video, proceed to the next step. Alternatively, click on the “Language” dropdown menu to select the language for the subtitles you wish to add. You can choose from a wide range of languages, including less common ones such as Arabic, Thai, Japanese, Sinhala, Czech, Bulgarian, and many more. Use the search bar to find the video you’re watching and directly download the subtitles from the sources provided by the extension.
Related resource: How to Add Subtitles to Video in Windows 11
Step 3: Adding custom subtitles
With Substital activated, you’re ready to add your own custom subtitles to Netflix. Here’s how to do it:
- Download subtitle file: First, you’ll need a subtitle file in your desired language. You can find subtitle files online through websites dedicated to subtitles or by searching for “Movie/TV show name + subtitles” on your preferred search engine.
- Open Netflix and select a video: Go back to Netflix and select a movie or series you want to watch with the downloaded subtitles.
- Click on the Substital icon: Return to the Substital control panel by clicking on the blue “S” icon in your Chrome toolbar.
- Select the video: In the Substital control panel, click on the Netflix video you’re watching.
- Upload the subtitle file: Drag and drop the custom subtitles to the area labeled “Drop your subtitles file here to load it”. Alternatively, click “Upload your own subtitles file” and manually browse to the subtitle file.
- Play the movie or series: Once you’ve added the subtitle file and configured your settings, start playing the movie or series on Netflix. Substital will overlay your custom subtitles on the video.
- Adjust subtitle settings: You can fine-tune the appearance of the subtitles by clicking the “S” icon next to the subtitles when they appear. Here, you can adjust the font size, color, and other visual aspects to ensure a comfortable viewing experience.
Handy guide: Convert SRT to 3D Subtitles and Add them to 3D Movies
Step 4 (Optional): Adjusting the synchronization (delay or speed up) of the subtitles
If the subtitles aren’t perfectly synced with the video, you can adjust the timing by using the “Synchronize” feature in the Substital control panel:
- Add custom subtitles to a Netflix video: Follow the previous steps to load custom subtitles onto a Netflix video.
- Adjust the synchronization: While the subtitle displays, click on the “S” icon next to it to open the settings panel. Next to “Synchronization”, use the slider bar to adjust the timing of the subtitles. For example, move the slider to the left if you want to delay the subtitles, or to the right if you want to speed up the subtitles.
Concluding thoughts
Adding custom subtitles to Netflix using Substital is a game-changer for international movie buffs and language enthusiasts. With this Chrome extension, you can watch Netflix content with subtitles in languages that might not be available on Netflix. Follow the steps outlined in this guide, and you’ll be able to enjoy a more inclusive and immersive Netflix experience.
