Last Updated: 23-Apr-19
Some popular video addons for Kodi already have automatic subtitles capabilities and that’s great, but some times you need more control over your selection process to get the right subtitles for your video. In this guide we’ll enable subtitles on Kodi using a couple of addons so you can watch all your shows and movies on Kodi with subtitles in any language.
Table of contents
Install subtitles addons on Kodi
1. Open the System menu by pressing the cog icon on the top left corner of the Home Screen. 
2. Select Add-ons.
3. Select Install from Repository. 
4. Click on Subtitles. (If you’ve installed 3rd party repositories on your system you’ll have to select the official Kodi Add-on Repository first).
5. Let’s install some subtitles add-ons. There are many providers, install the ones that suits your language needs. OpenSubtiles and Subscene are great for subtitles in English and many other languages.
If you want to install the official OpenSubtitles addon read the instructions at the end of this tutorial. 
6. Click on the Install button. 
Set up subtitles preferences on Kodi
Now that we installed a couple of add-ons for subtitles let’s set up the preferred language and default add-on for subtitles.
7. Go back to the Home Screen and open Settings by clicking the gear icon near the bottom-left corner.
8. Open the Player settings. 
9. Highlight the Language tab and click on Language to download subtitles for.
10. You can select more than one language. Select your preferred languages and click OK to confirm.
11. Now set the Default TV show service and Default movie service to one of the subtitles addons installed earlier.
12. You’re ready to go. When playing a video press the Subtitles button near the bottom right corner of the screen.
13. Select Download subtitles… 
14. Select a file to download the subtitles. 
[Optional] How to enable automatic subtitles on Kodi with Autosubs
If you use subtitles often you may find that clicking on Subtitles > Download every time you start a video can be a bit annoying. Lets solve that by installing the Autosubs service.
15. Go to the Home Screen and click on the Add-ons tab.
16. Select Addon Browser. 
17. Then select Install from repository.
18. Click on Services. (If you’ve installed 3rd party repositories you’ll have to select the official Kodi Add-on Repository first)
19. Select Autosubs.
20. Press Install. 
21. Now that Autosubs is installed the Subtitle Selection Dialog will automatically open when you start playing a video.
When choosing a subtitles file keep in mind the video quality and try to match it with the subtitle file name, this way you’ll have better chances of getting the right subtitles for your video. Most addons scrapping file locker websites for sources will show a truncated filename which makes finding the right subtitle harder.
How to install the official OpenSubtitles addon
OpenSubtitles.org has its own addon for Kodi called OpenSubtitles by OpenSubtitles. This addon doesn’t require authentication and it gives you access to their extensive collection of subtitles in several languages.
I. Download the addon from its GitHub page, remember the downloaded file’s location. 
II. Open the System menu by pressing the cog icon on the top left corner of the Home Screen.
III. Select Add-ons.
IV. Select Install from zip file. 
V. Locate the zip file we just downloaded and click on it to install the add-on. 
If you want to set the official OpenSubtitles Kodi addon as the default subtitles addon follow the instructions on step 11.
If you have problems with the OpenSubtitles add-on please visit the OpenSubtitles add-on thread on their official forum.
These are some of the most popular Kodi add-ons for March 2019:
- Exodus Redux: Based on Exodus, it uses OpenScrapers to get sources from file hosting websites.
- Yoda: Based on Exodus, scrapes sources from file hosting websites.
- Seren: New add-on written from scratch with very innovative features like playing next episodes automatically, requires Debrid and Trakt accounts.
- Elementum: High quality videos using Torrents.
- Plexus: Live sports using AceStream or SopCast.
I have the same problem. Stuck at register? How do you update the system? will that resolve the problem? thanks for your help.
Yes. There is a selection to choose the 1st subtitle right next to where you choose which subtitle service you want in the system menu under subtitles- it is used instead of choosing a subtitle service.
It seemed ok until you had to try to register. Fuck what a pain, gave up after 15 mins.
You should update system. You are running an old system. If you don’t want to update try to click get addons, and you should see install from repository on the next screen
Is there a way to have it automatically pick the first subtitle file available instead of opening the subtitle selection screen?
Currently, I also have the same problem… I’ve tried different sub provider, the result is the same… It has gone haywire…
Hey, were you able to find English subtitles? I’m also stuck yet I love watching Spanish shows
Scratch my last post. I figured it out. I someone hadnt completed the full sign up process on their website. Went back, paid attention to detail and got it done. Now its working somewhat. My only problem now is trying to get the subtitles to match whats being said. Its WAY off for me right now. Also, when “downloading” these subtitles do they automatically erase themselves from where ever they’re at or are they building up on our devices, filling up the drive and require manual deleting later? I have a firestick and we all know theres not much space on that.
Im having the same problem. I guess it stopped working between the 28th, which was the last time someone said it was working, and now.
I installed as you instructed but it would not load subtitles due to password error. How do I get around this? Thanks
Thanks so much for uncomplicated instructions!
Extremely easy to follow and it actually worked!
I followed the tutorial all the way. I want to get french or bulgarian subtitles for english movies, but it only ever finds english subtitles. Any tips?
Subscene has not been working for me for the last couple of weeks. I liked it even better than opensubtitles, but when I try to use it now it says “failed: check log for error” any idea on what this could be? I have uninstalled and reinstalled to no avail.
I’ve tried all these suggestions but I still get subtitles on all movies and TV shows. I uninstalled the autosub service, gone into audio settings during a show and un-enabled subtitles and saved for all media but still have subtitles on all media. Any idea what the issue is?
I have a quick question … I’ve uninstalled all of my subtitle services, but the screen that lets me choose a subtitle service is still appearing automatically every time I start watching something.
Is there a way to turn the automatic overlay off?
Hi, you have to uninstall the Autosubs service. Go to System > Add-ons > My Add-ons > Service and uninstall Autosubs.