---
title: 'Add Subtitles to Video with FFmpeg | Embed SRT into MP4 & MKV'
source: 'https://youtube.com/watch?v=BCuhJp8A1Bo'
video_id: 'BCuhJp8A1Bo'
date: 2026-06-17
duration_sec: 311
---

# Add Subtitles to Video with FFmpeg | Embed SRT into MP4 & MKV

> Source: [Add Subtitles to Video with FFmpeg | Embed SRT into MP4 & MKV](https://youtube.com/watch?v=BCuhJp8A1Bo)

## Summary

This tutorial demonstrates how to add subtitles to a video using FFmpeg. It covers the prerequisites, the process for embedding soft subtitles into MP4 and MKV files, and explains the key commands involved.

### Key Points

- **Prerequisites** [0:26] — You need FFmpeg installed, a video file (e.g., my_video.mp4), and a subtitle file in SRT format.
- **Creating an SRT file** [1:28] — An SRT file starts with a number, then timing (e.g., 0:00:01,000 --> 0:00:04,000), then the subtitle text. Save as .srt.
- **Adding soft subtitles to MP4** [2:08] — Command: `ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -i subtitles.srt -c copy -c:s mov_text output.mp4`. This copies video/audio without re-encoding and embeds subtitles as a track.
- **Adding soft subtitles to MKV** [3:44] — Command: `ffmpeg -i video.mp4 -i subtitles.srt -c copy -c:s srt output.mkv`. Similar to MP4 but uses 'srt' codec for MKV container.

### Conclusion

By following these steps, you can easily add soft subtitles to any video using FFmpeg, preserving original quality and allowing subtitles to be toggled on/off.

## Transcript

Welcome to full course online.
In this tutorial, you will learn how to
add subtitles to a video using FFmpeg.
Before we begin, if you want to know how
to configure and install FFmpeg, watch
another video in this playlist.
That video will guide you step by step
through the installation.
Now, let's continue.
You need three things before adding
subtitles.
ffmpeg installed on your computer. Open
command prompt and type ffmpeg.
If you see output like this, then ffmpeg
is configured on your PC. If not, then
watch this video. Second thing you need
is a video file. For example, my
video.mpp4.
In our case, the file is stored in D
drive. Let me play the video.
>> Hello everyone. Welcome to full course
on
>> As you can hear the voice of a female.
Let me check the subtitle. And as you
can see, there is no subtitle available.
The third thing you need is a subtitle
file in SRT format. For example, my
video. SRT.
If you don't already have a subtitle
file, you can create one with a text
editor. Here is a simple example.
Line one starts with a number. Then
comes the timing.
For example, 0 hours, 0 minutes,
1 second
to 0 hours,
0 minutes for seconds.
Then write the subtitle text.
Save the file as my video. SRT.
There are also many transcribe tools
available which can convert audio file
to SRT.
Now let's add subtitles in a soft
format.
This means the subtitles are inside the
video but can be turned on or off. The
command is given on the screen. Here's
how this command works.
The first dash I gives the input video
file which is my video.mpp4
located in the D drive. The second dash
I gives the subtitle file which is my
video. SRT located in the SRT folder
inside the D drive.
- Copy means copy the video and audio
streams without re-encoding. So there is
no loss in quality. - C col sRT tells
FFmpeg to take the subtitle file and
save it as an SRT track inside the
output container.
Finally, we name the output file as
output MKV.
Mention correct path of both video file
and SRT file. The output file name is
output and will be stored on D drive.
This keeps the video quality the same
and only adds the subtitle track.
Let us test it. Open the output file in
VC media player.
>> Hello everyone. Welcome to full course
online.
>> As you can see now we can turn on
subtitles
>> in the search box. A list of websites l
>> you can see the subtitles on the screen.
Now,
if you prefer MKV format, the command is
slightly different. The command can be
seen on the screen. Here's how this
command works. The first dash I tells
ffmpeg the input video file. In this
case, it is my video.mpp4 stored in the
D drive. The second dash I tells FFmpeg
the input subtitle file. Here we are
using my video. SRT stored inside the
SRT folder on the D drive. - Copy means
copy the video and audio streams exactly
as they are without re-encoding.
This makes the process fast and keeps
the original quality.
- CSRT
tells FFmpeg to copy the subtitle file
and embed it as an SRT track in the new
container.
And finally we give the output file name
as output.m MKV which will be saved in
the D drive. This way the MKV file
includes the subtitles as a separate
track.
That's it. Now you know how to add
subtitles to any video using FFmpeg.
Subscribe this channel for more such
videos.
Thanks for watching.