How to Get Subtitles on Kodi with OpenSubtitles (2024)

This guide outlines how to get subtitles on Kodi with OpenSubtitles.org. The methods described here work for Kodi on FireStick,  FireStick 4K,  FireStick 4K Max, Windows PC, Mac, Nvidia Shield, Android, and all other Kodi-supported devices.

Nowadays, TV shows and films are becoming global. Streaming services like Netflix have bolstered the consumption of international content.

Social media and the internet also contribute to making the world a global village by exposing consumers to content from different countries.

The availability of subtitles has allowed the users to watch and understand international content despite the language differences.

I have watched an entire season of a Norwegian TV show, relying on English subtitles. The same goes for Japanese anime.

Subtitles are not only necessary to understand foreign languages. Sometimes, you need them to keep the volume low, such as when watching content in public. Other instances that demand subtitles are when the dialogue is low, or someone has a hearing impairment.

This post explains how to configure subtitles with Kodi addons.

Important: Some addons require subtitles to be enabled within addon settings for the subtitles to work. You may enable the subtitles within the addon if they don’t work. I have provided the steps later in this guide.

Read: How to Install and Use the Best Kodi VPN

How to Get Kodi Subtitles Using OpenSubtitles

OpenSubtitles is probably the best subtitle service for Kodi. It offers subtitles in various languages for nearly all the movies and TV shows.

Let’s learn how to get subtitles on Kodi from OpenSubtitles.org.

1. Go to https://www.opensubtitles.org and click the Register link at the top of the page.

2. Enter your username, email, and password, and confirm the password. Select the checkbox to agree to the terms of use and the captcha box to confirm you’re not a robot. Next, click Register.

3. Open your email and click the confirmation link to confirm your account. Then, follow the on-screen instructions to log in.

Now that you have an OpenSubtitles account, you can configure the subtitles on Kodi.

4. Launch Kodi and select Add-ons on the left panel on the home screen.

5. Open the Package Installer option at the top left of the screen. It looks like an open box.

6. Click Install from repository on the next screen.

7. When you see the list of repositories, click Kodi Add-on repository. This is the official Kodi repository that comes pre-installed with Kodi.

8. Click Subtitles when you see this window.

9.  Click OpenSubtitles.org from the list.

10. Click the Install button on the next screen’s bottom-right.

11. Now wait for the Opensubtitles.org add-on installed notification (seen below in the top-right corner of the screen).

12. Now click OpenSubtitles.org again and click the Configure button on the next window.

13. You will now see the following dialogue box. Click Username and enter the username you created for Kodi subtitles at OpenSubtitles.org in Step 1.

Click Password and enter your OpenSubtitles account password. Click OK once done.

14. Return to the Kodi home screen and click Settings (the gear icon).

15. Open Player.

16. On the bottom left, where you see the gear icon, ensure Standard is selected. Select Subtitles.

17. On the right, click Languages to download subtitles for Kodi. Choose your preferred language for subtitles.

18. Click Default TV show service to set up Kodi subtitles for TV shows.

19. Select OpenSubtitles.org and click it. As you can see, I have already downloaded OpenSubtitles.org. Therefore, it appears on the list.

20.  Click Default Movie Service and select OpenSubtitles.org.

21. This is how the screen will look like once you install and set up OpenSubtitles on Kodi.

To add Kodi subtitles, you only need to play the movie or TV show and click the CC icon in the media player settings. Then, you can stream your content with subtitles.

Before you start streaming with Kodi Addons or Builds, I would like to warn you that everything you stream on Kodi is visible to your ISP and Government. This means, streaming copyrighted content (free movies, TV shows, live TV, and Sports) might get you into legal trouble.

Thankfully, there is a foolproof way to keep all your streaming activities hidden from your ISP and the Government. All you need is a good VPN for Kodi. A VPN will mask your original IP which is and will help you bypass Online Surveillance, ISP throttling, and content geo-restrictions.

I personally use and recommend ExpressVPN, which is the fastest and most secure VPN. It is compatible with all kinds of streaming apps and devices.

NOTE: We do not encourage the violation of copyright laws. But, what if you end up streaming content from an illegitimate source unintentionally? It is not always easy to tell the difference between a legit and illegal source.

So, before you start streaming on Kodi, here's how to get VPN protection in 3 simple steps.

Step 1: Get the ExpressVPN subscription HERE. It comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee. Meaning, you can use it free for the first 30-days and if you are not satisfied with the performance (which is highly unlikely), you can ask for a full refund.

Step 2: Click HERE to download and install the ExpressVPN app on your streaming device. If you are using a FireStick, I have given the exact steps starting with Step 4 below. 

Step 3: Click the Power icon to connect to a VPN server. That's all. Your connection is now secure with the fastest and best VPN for Kodi.

The following are the steps to install Kodi VPN on your Fire TV devices. If you have other streaming devices, follow Step 1-3 above.

Step 4: Subscribe to ExpressVPN HERE (if not subscribed already).

Step 5: Go to Fire TV Stick home screen. Click Find followed by Search option (see image below).

Step 6: Type Expressvpn in the search bar and select when it shows up.

Step 7: Click Download.

Step 8: Open the ExpressVPN app and Sign in using the email ID and password that you created while buying the ExpressVPN subscription.

Step 9: Click the Power icon to connect to a VPN server. That’s all. Your FireStick is now secured with the fastest VPN.

Subtitles Not Working? Enable Subtitles in the Addon Settings

For some addons, you must enable the subtitles in the addon settings for them to work. If you’re having issues with subtitles on Kodi, adjust the subtitle settings within the addon settings. I am using The Crew addon in this example. However, the steps work much the same for other addons. Here are the steps:

1. Go to Add-ons > Video add-ons from the Kodi home screen and open The Crew addon. Scroll down on the main screen and click Tools.

2. On the next window, click SETTINGS: Subtitles

3. Ensure the Subtitles option in the left menu is still selected. On the right, turn on the Enable Subtitles toggle.

4. Click OK to save the changes.

With the subtitles enabled in the addon settings, you should see subtitles when you play your content on Kodi.

How to Get Subtitles on Kodi Without Registration

There are several subtitle options on Kodi, but the top ones are OpenSubtitles and Subscene. OpenSubtitles is great but involves a complex initial setup. You need to first create an account on the OpenSubtitles website, then use the login details on Kodi.

If you are looking for a hassle-free alternative, Subscene Subtitles is decent. The setup process is simple, happening directly on Kodi. You don’t need to create a separate account on an external website.

However, Subscene subtitles sometimes fail to sync with the audio. Overall, it is a good enough alternative to OpenSubtitles.

Follow these steps to set up Subscene Subtitles on Kodi:

1. Open Kodi and click Settings.

2. Select Player.

3. Select Subtitles.

4. Under Download Services on the right, click Languages to download subtitles and select your desired language.

5. Click Default TV show service.

6. Click Get more.

7. Scroll down the options and select Subscene.com (Subscene Subtitles).

8. Wait a few moments for the Subscene Subtitles service to be downloaded.

9. Click Default movie service and select Subscene.com (Subscene Subtitles) again to make it the default.

You have successfully set up Subscene Subtitles, which will fetch the available subtitles for Kodi for the specific title you are playing.

Note: Selecting Subscene Subtitles as your default subtitle service for Kodi does not mean you can no longer use OpenSubtitles. When looking for the subtitle while the title plays, you can always choose OpenSubtitles or any other service you may have installed.

Wrapping Up

Subtitles make content more accessible, whether you’re watching a foreign language movie, keeping the volume down, or are hearing impaired. This post explained how to set up subtitles on Kodi, using two of the best subtitle options, OpenSubtitles and Subscene. OpenSubtitles offers better subtitles than Subscene, but the latter is easier to set up.

Kindly share your experience with subtitles on Kodi and the subtitling service you prefer.

Related:

• How to Install Kodi on FireStick
• Best Working Kodi Addons
• Best Kodi Builds
• How to Update Kodi on FireStick
• How to Stop Buffering on Kodi

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