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Windows Media Player: Subtitles Don't Work

Anonymous
2024-01-06T21:05:38+00:00

I have an mp4 with a subtitle stream built in (not burned in), which plays perfectly in every media player except windows media player.

One simply goes to the subtitles menu, wherever that is, and selects the subtitle track to include.

Windows media player "old" with the blue interface, and the orange on blue logo doesn't show them, even if "on if available" is selected.

Windows media player "new" with the grey and orange interface, and the white on grey logo doesn't show them, clicking on the icon at the bottom shows Subtitles: off / choose subtitle file.

I then created an srt file with the same name as the mp4, which is alongside it.

Old player won't work

New player does now allow you to select the subtitle, but it's white with no stroke on the text, so they are not visible when the background is white....

Plus, it would be really inconvenient to have to send a video with all it's subtitles separately....

I need to send a video to people who could be using "any" player, and it's crazy that it seems windows default video player doesn't support subtitles...

I have searched for hours, and I really hope I was just bad at searching and there's an easy answer, because it's just awful if there's not...

Help please!

Windows for home | Windows 10 | Accessibility

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  1. Anonymous
    2024-01-08T17:45:14+00:00

    I don't think we need to keep this private, it's worth sharing with those who have the same issue.

    I will however attach the source files privately.

    I have a file called subs-in.mp4 which has a subtitle track in it.

    Here's how it looks in VLC

    In WMP Legacy, I can't see any subs, even when switched on

    in WMP 2022, I can't see any subs either

    So that is the first problem. Subs don't work in WMP.

    I then created a sidecar SRT subtitles file, with the same name as a video that does NOT have subtitles embedded as the stream.

    subs-ext.mp4 and subs-ext.srt

    This also works in VLC the same.

    in WMP legacy, doesn't work, the same...

    in WMP 2022, I can select the file (this is annoying as you'd have to send all subtitle files with videos when sharing...)

    When I select the file, the subtitles are included. But, they are white... so see what they look like below...

    Compare this to the original VLC screenshot, where you can read all the text.

    So, they don't work, and then problem 2) with the sidecar file, you can't read them...

    I had believe that tools like this now had a requirement to be accessible, yet I just can't use subtitles with WMP, and that will be the default app for many people I send a video to...

    This really has to work - it's absurd that it doesn't in 2024...

    6 people found this answer helpful.
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  2. Anonymous
    2024-03-22T20:21:53+00:00

    Same issue as you have. I have embedded the subtitles into the video. VLC plays them and other types of players play them but when it comes to Windows Media Player - I have no luck. I'm searching for an answer but what I did was just send the text files with the videos so they could just read them if necessary. Most are not that tech literate so will not know how to combine the different files.

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  3. Anonymous
    2024-01-10T02:43:10+00:00

    Hello，wcndave2

    hank you for your reply, we have tested with the file you sent, but the test results are the same as your feedback, I think this is indeed a part that needs to be improved, we have logged this issue and feedback through internal channels, at the same time you can also submit your ideas and suggestions through the Feedback Hub, and the development team will regularly review submissions for ideas or fixes.，Microsoft attaches great importance to user experience.Until the issue is resolved by the developers, you can add subtitles directly into the video file as an alternative temporary solution.

    After you have submitted your feedback, please share the feedback link here as this will allow others on the forum to vote for your submission, including me. More votes will increase the attention and priority of the development team.

    Best Regards，

    Rota Ye |Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    2 people found this answer helpful.
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  4. Anonymous
    2024-03-25T05:10:53+00:00

    Hello，CMC2019TA

    You can submit this issue through the  Feedback Hub and share the link with me so that together we can expect the issue to be resolved soon.

    Best Regards，

    Rota Ye |Microsoft Community Support Specialist

    1 person found this answer helpful.
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  5. Anonymous
    2024-01-08T07:55:41+00:00

    Hello，wcndave2

    Thank you for posting in the Microsoft community.

    Understanding that your video file is not displaying the letters properly in Windows Media Player, we do understand your frustration, if it is convenient, could you please share this file with us via private message? I've enabled private messaging for you，we will test and reproduce your issue and we look forward to hearing from you!

    Private Message Steps:

    ① You can send private message through the Messages link at the top right of the page.

    Image

    ② Check your sent PM by going to My Profile, and then selecting View private messages on the left pane of your profile page.

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    Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions!

    Best Regards，

    Rota Ye |Microsoft Community Support Specialist

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