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When I play a video in VLC it always starts with subtitles! I don't want this! I want subtitles OFF until I choose to turn them ON.
I tried unchecking 'enable sub-pictures' in the preferences menu, but this removed the subtitle user interface entirely, making it difficult to get subtitles on the occasions I really do want them (foreign films).
Colonel Panic
Posted 2013-01-13T17:13:14.157
Reputation: 9 529
28
I know this is kind of an old thread, but if someone else is looking for the answer, I found an easier way.
In the simple settings menu, go to "Subtitles/OSD" and under "Preferred Subtitle Language," enter "none" without the quotes. Subtitles will no longer be displayed unless you ask for them! This works in VLC 2.2.1 and 2.2.4 (windows 7 and 10 respectively) for sure, and probably others too, but I have not tested it beyond those two.
Hey VLC guys, how about just making the default "none," so we don't have to do this? Pretty please??
Justin Wilson
Posted 2013-01-13T17:13:14.157
Reputation: 296
This is BY FAR easier than all the other suggestions above and works like a charm, I'm on version 2.2.4 weatherwax with macOS. Please, upvote this answer for more attention. – chiappa – 2018-04-05T01:09:20.337
Preferred language option is no longer there in the latest version 3.0.4 – charsi – 2019-01-10T05:36:41.837
Option has been moved to Input/Codecs > 'subtitle language' – charsi – 2019-01-10T05:40:28.590
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Colonel Panic
Posted 2013-01-13T17:13:14.157
Reputation: 9 529
3They totally need to make this more prominent and simpler. Also it should default to off - most people don't want subtitles on. – niico – 2015-05-25T20:47:06.353
1Also, you need to click the "Show All" settings button to find these preferences. – Fabian Tamp – 2016-06-28T12:31:01.607
-1 is used to disable subtitles – user25 – 2018-02-25T17:43:41.973
@user25 -1 is the default setting, and subtitles are very definitely enabled when set to that. – jmbpiano – 2018-03-25T07:24:07.290
@jmbpiano did you test it? – user25 – 2018-03-25T10:14:04.373
@user25 Yes. Multiple times, switching it back and forth between 0 and -1. Set to 0, subtitles are not displayed by default. Set to -1, they are. – jmbpiano – 2018-03-25T16:53:15.873
I do not recommend this. There is a much much easier solution here: https://superuser.com/a/1219880/169409
– chiappa – 2018-04-05T01:27:03.27334+1 Warning to others, there's also an option just above Subtitles Track ID called just Subtitles Track that won't work. What a complicated way do disable something that should be disabled by default. I mean really, how often does the average person actually want their native language subtitled? – devios1 – 2013-06-16T01:47:17.407
4wow so obvious how did I miss that ಠ_ಠ – Damon – 2013-12-11T03:10:34.440
16Completely unintuitive. – Koobz – 2014-01-08T07:18:38.990
19
Setting it to 0 doesn't always work. It works about 50% of the time. I set mine to 99 which seems to work better ;-)
SupremeUser
Posted 2013-01-13T17:13:14.157
Reputation: 207
1Same here - accepted answer didn't work; this one did. – David – 2015-02-24T03:42:45.270
finally, after all these years, thanks so much – malhal – 2016-01-20T02:42:42.453
-1 is used to disable subtitles (or any other track) – user25 – 2018-02-25T17:43:26.590
This is what worked for me. Setting to "none" or setting track ID to 0 didn't. Thank you! – Mike Bethany – 2018-09-01T07:35:31.480
4The accepted answer didn't work for me, but this did. Thank you. – nc01 – 2013-09-21T08:22:55.960
3
Just wanted to say that you can do this using the "simple" options as well: it's tools / preferences / and then "subtitles/OSD" which is the 4th big button on the left of the preferences menu, right above "input/codecs."
Then just uncheck "enable subtitles," the subtitles will remain available anytime via r-click/subtitles.
Also, after doing this, then switching to "show settings: all" in the lower left, the "subtitles track ID" that Colonel Panic suggests, is set to -1, not 0, which could be why some folks are having trouble with it. You can manually set this to -1, to achieve the same result. Cheerio!
1 AlaskanAssassin
Posted 2013-01-13T17:13:14.157
Reputation: 39
The question clearly says they don't want to disable subtitles, they want them off by default. Also -1 does NOT disable subtitles it makes the subtitles go to the default language. – Mike Bethany – 2018-09-01T07:27:10.017
0
This answer corresponds to VLC 3.0.4 Vetinari on an ubuntu system. The subtitles can be disabled by unchecking Enable Subtitles on Tools-->Preferences-->Subtitles/OSD screen.
It can be enabled by pressing v during the running of video.
Screenshot below
Jay Chakra
Posted 2013-01-13T17:13:14.157
Reputation: 101
1This seems to be the default now in VLC 3. 0 and above. Finally they got it right.... – FreeSoftwareServers – 2018-06-27T04:51:01.650
Not what is being asked, but (in Ubuntu):
vto cycle subtitle track, andshift-vto toggle subtitles. – Daniel – 2019-07-28T19:29:14.477