How to Permanently Add Subtitles to MP4 on Windows and Mac

Add Hardcoded Subtitles to MP4 Videos: A Complete Guide

Adding subtitles to MP4 videos increases accessibility and helps your message reach more viewers. While many online platforms and media players support subtitles and captions, not all of them do. Choosing the right subtitle method ensures everyone can enjoy your content.

What Are Hardcoded Subtitles?

Hardcoded subtitles, also known as burned-in subtitles, are permanently visible text added directly onto your video. Unlike separate subtitle files, hardcoded subtitles cannot be toggled on or off. This approach ensures your text displays on any device or platform.

Why Choose Hardcoded Subtitles for Your MP4?

• You eliminate worries about separate subtitle files being lost or unsupported.
• Your subtitles always appear, even on devices and platforms that don’t support external captions (such as most social media sites).
• The video’s message remains accessible, regardless of language barriers, hearing impairments, or noisy environments.

A study found that 80% of people are more likely to watch a video to completion when subtitles are available (Ofcom, 2019).

How to Hardcode Subtitles into an MP4 Using HandBrake

HandBrake is a free, open-source video converter available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It allows you to burn subtitles into your MP4 video with ease. Follow these simple steps:

What You Need Before Starting

• Your MP4 video file
• A subtitle file (commonly .srt format)
• The latest version of HandBrake

Step 1: Open Your Video in HandBrake

• Launch HandBrake.
• Click File or drag and drop your video into the HandBrake window.

Step 2: Set Output Video Format

• HandBrake’s interface appears after you load your video.
• Click Preset and select a pre-configured profile or create your own.
• In the Summary tab, ensure the Format is set to MP4.

Step 3: Add Your Subtitles

• Go to the Subtitles tab.
• Click Tracks > Import Subtitle.
• Select your .srt (or other supported format) subtitle file and click Open.
• Check the Burn In box so the subtitles are hardcoded onto the video.

Step 4: Start Encoding

• Click Start Encode at the top menu.
• Encoding may take some time, especially for longer videos or higher quality settings.
• Once the process finishes, your new MP4 will include the subtitles permanently.

Where to Get Subtitles for Your MP4 Video

If you don’t have a subtitle file for your video, there are several options to create one.

DIY Subtitles

• Create your own subtitle files manually.
• This is budget-friendly, but time-consuming and requires careful timing and formatting.
• Manual transcription takes longer, especially if you have no experience.

Automated Solutions

• Use software or online tools to auto-generate subtitles.
• Automated transcription services are fast and convenient.
• However, AI might struggle with:
  • Multiple speakers
  • Heavy accents
  • Background noise
  • Complex audio
• Automated results will likely need proofreading.

Professional Human Subtitling Services

• Offers the highest accuracy for complex content or translation.
• Professional subtitling services ensure clear timing, formatting, and translation.
• Best choice for important videos where mistakes could cause confusion.

Need Translations?

• If viewers speak different languages, text translation services or audio translation services are essential for accuracy.

Pricing and How to Order Subtitles

• Pricing for high-quality subtitles and captions is available. Check captioning services pricing for affordable solutions.
• To get your subtitles or captions, simply order captions online or visit the subtitling page.

Conclusion: Get Reliable Subtitling Solutions

Adding hardcoded subtitles to your MP4 videos makes your content more accessible and versatile across platforms. Whether you need subtitles, captions, translation, or automated options, GoTranscript offers solutions for all your needs. From fast automated transcription to expert transcription proofreading, you get quality and reliability for every video project.

Choose GoTranscript’s subtitling services to reach more people—clearly and accurately, in over 50 languages.