VLC for Android, App: Syncing Subtitles by Adjusting Subtitle Delay

In the Android version of VLC Media Player, a quick on-screen setting is available for syncing subtitles. The option is there on the screen to bring out the controls. It’s the three dots … on the app’s interface. You will find it on the bottom of the screen when a video is playing. Tap on it and then a whole set of options appear on the phone’s display. The subtitle delay option in the VLC app is the fifth button from the top. Once you tap on it, you can increase the subtitle delay by hitting the plus ‘+’ button. You can reduce the delay by hitting the minus ‘-‘ button. Obviously, you will have to load up the subtitle in the VLC Android app first. Then, if it not appearing on time, you can fix it by slowing it down or making it come up faster.

If you need the detailed steps for syncing subtitles by adjusting subtitle delay in the VLC for Android app:

• Open a movie in VLC for Android.
• Tap on the screen to bring out the on-screen controls.
• Tap on the three dots (…) options button.
  
• Tap the fifth button from the top.
  
• Hit the plus ‘+’ or minus ‘-‘ button to adjust the subtitle delay.
  

You must have noticed that hitting the plus button once will adjust the delay by 50 milliseconds. Hitting the minus button will reduce it by 50 milliseconds. 1000 ms is equal to 1 second. So, if your subtitle is appearing 1-second faster, you must have to adjust the delay by +1000 ms. If the subtitles are appearing 1-second slower then you must make the delay -1000 ms.

At first, it might be a bit confusing but understand it like this.

When your subtitles are showing up faster, you will have to slow them down. To slow them down, you delay them. So, a positive delay like 2000 ms.

When your subtitles are showing up later, you will have to speed them up. You have to speed them up. Speeding them up means reducing the delay. So a negative value is required. That means, something like -5000 ms.

The best way to learn it is to use it in actual videos. So, pop in a movie, open it with VLC, add in the subtitles and play around with the delay buttons. You will get used to it. Know that, you can also format the subtitle text that appears on the screen.