How to Add Subtitles Easily in Kdenlive

Does Kdenlive Open-source viedo editing software support subtitles?

Can you import .srt files? Do you have to create everything by hand?

In this guide, we’ll show you exactly how to subtitle your videos in Kdenlive — step by step.

Does Kdenlive Have a Built-In Subtitling Feature?

Yes — Kdenlive comes with its own built-in subtitling tool.

It lets you add subtitles directly into your video timeline. You don’t need any external plugin or extra software. Everything is built into the editor.

You’ll find a dedicated subtitle track in your timeline. It works just like your video and audio tracks, but for subtitles only. You can add, move, trim, and adjust subtitles the same way you handle clips.

You also get a Subtitle Tool Window that helps you manage the text, timing, and style of your subtitles.

With Kdenlive’s subtitle feature, you can:

• Add and edit subtitle text line by line
• Set start and end times for each subtitle
• Style subtitles with different fonts, sizes, and colors
• Preview subtitles directly in the timeline

You can even manage multiple subtitle tracks for different languages or purposes.

It supports export and import in popular formats like:

• .srt
• .ass
• .vtt
• .sbv

Does Kdenlive Have Automatic Subtitling?

Not yet.

Kdenlive does not offer any built-in automatic speech recognition or subtitle generation tool. There’s no AI that listens to your video and writes captions for you.

So if you want to generate subtitles from scratch, you’ll have to write them manually — or use an external tool like Checksub to handle the hard part for you.

How to Add Subtitles Manually in Kdenlive

Kdenlive makes it easy to add subtitles by hand — directly in your timeline.

Here’s how to add subtitles manually, step by step.

Step 1: Add a Subtitle Track

First, you need to create a subtitle track in your timeline.

• Open Kdenlive and load your video project
• In the Timeline Toolbar, click the “Edit Subtitle Tool” icon (it looks like a speech bubble)
• This will add a new track labeled “Subtitles” just below your video tracks

If the track doesn’t show up, go to Project > Subtitles > Add Subtitle Track

Now you're ready to start adding subtitles.

Step 2: Create a Subtitle Line

To add a new subtitle:

• Double-click anywhere on the subtitle track
• A box will appear in the Subtitle Window — this is where you type your text
• Kdenlive automatically sets the subtitle to start where your playhead is

You can drag the subtitle block in the timeline to move it or adjust the edges to change when it starts and ends.

Repeat this process to add each new line of dialogue or narration.

Step 3: Edit and Sync Your Subtitles

Each subtitle line needs to match the speaker’s voice perfectly.

Here’s how to fine-tune it:

• Use the zoom tool to get more precise on the timeline
• Drag the subtitle blocks to sync with the audio
• Trim the duration to make sure lines don’t overlap or disappear too soon

You can preview your video and adjust the timing as you go.

Step 4: Style Your Subtitles

Want your subtitles to match your video’s look?

Kdenlive lets you customize:

• Font family and size
• Text color and background color
• Line height and alignment
• On-screen position

You’ll find these options in the Subtitle Tool Window or the Project Settings > Subtitle Styles section.

This helps keep your captions clear and readable — especially on mobile or noisy environments.

Step 5: Save and Export

Once all your subtitles are in place, you can:

• Export them as a .srt file for use on other platforms
• Burn them into the video later (more on that soon)
• Or keep them as part of your Kdenlive project for future editing

How to Import Subtitle Files into Kdenlive

Already have your subtitles written? Great — Kdenlive makes it easy to bring them into your project.

Whether you’ve created subtitles using another tool, received them from a translator, or exported them from Checksub, you can import them and use them right inside your timeline.

Let’s walk through how to do it.

Step 1: Prepare Your Subtitle File

Kdenlive supports several common subtitle formats:

• .srt (SubRip)
• .vtt (WebVTT)
• .ass and .ssa (Advanced SubStation Alpha)
• .sbv (YouTube Subtitle format)

Make sure your file is saved in one of these formats.

Keep your subtitle file named clearly — especially if you’re managing multiple languages or versions.

Step 2: Import the Subtitle File

Here’s how to bring your subtitle file into Kdenlive:

• Go to the top menu and click Project > Subtitles > Import Subtitle File
• Select your subtitle file from your computer
• Kdenlive will load it and place all the subtitle lines into the subtitle track

Each subtitle line will appear as a block on the dedicated subtitle track, fully synced with the timing from your file.

You’ll now see your subtitles show up directly in the video preview window.

How to Add Subtitles Automatically to Kdenlive Videos

Typing subtitles manually takes time. Syncing them line by line takes even longer.

That’s where Checksub comes in. It’s an AI-powered tool that generates subtitles for your video in just a few clicks.

Step 1: Generate Subtitles

Go to checksub.com and log into your account.

Click “Upload Video” and select the video you’ll be editing in Kdenlive. There’s no need to convert it — Checksub accepts all major formats.

Once your file is uploaded, choose the original language spoken in the video. You can also add additional subtitle languages later if needed.

Now the magic starts.

Checksub’s AI will:

• Transcribe your video with high accuracy
• Time each line perfectly to match the speech
• Break long lines into shorter, readable captions

It usually takes just a few minutes, depending on the length of your video.

Step 2: Edit and Style Your Subtitles

Once the transcription is ready, you can review and adjust your subtitles inside the Checksub editor.

You can:

• Fix any transcription errors
• Adjust timing if needed
• Add speaker names or sound effects
• Format your text — font, color, size, and position

This lets you get everything just right before you bring it into Kdenlive.

Step 3: Export Your Subtitles

When your subtitles are ready, click “Export”.

Choose the format .srt — this is fully compatible with Kdenlive.

You can also export in .ass or .vtt if you prefer. Just make sure your file format matches what you plan to import.

Now switch to Kdenlive:

• Go to Project > Subtitles > Import Subtitle File
• Select your exported .srt file
• Your subtitles will appear on the subtitle track, perfectly synced

From here, you can preview, adjust, or style them just like any other subtitle in Kdenlive.

You want to generate subtitles oon Kdenlive ? Try Checksub for free.