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Subtitle Fixer & Converter

Fix Arabic subtitles that show as strange symbols, convert between SRT and VTT, read ASS files, and shift the timing.

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Why Arabic subtitles turn into symbols

Many Arabic subtitle files were saved in an old encoding, Windows-1256, instead of UTF-8. A player or TV that assumes UTF-8 shows such a file as strange symbols (ال or ÇáÓáÇã); a file in UTF-8 opened as something else breaks the same way in reverse. Nothing is wrong with the words, only with how the bytes are read.

This tool detects the encoding (a file that is not valid UTF-8 is almost always Windows-1256 for Arabic), shows a preview so you can confirm the text reads correctly, and saves it as UTF-8, with a byte-order mark if you choose, which TVs and older players need to recognise it.

Why we built this tool

Use it when a downloaded subtitle shows symbols in VLC, Plex, a smart TV or a video editor; to convert between SRT (most players) and VTT (web players and HTML5 video), or turn an ASS/SSA file into SRT; and to shift every subtitle earlier or later when they are out of sync with your video.

The file is read and saved in your browser; nothing is uploaded. Styling in ASS files (fonts, colours, positions) is dropped when converting to SRT or VTT, which do not carry it.

Tips and common mistakes

  • If the preview still shows symbols, choose another encoding under Read as: Arabic (ISO-8859-6) is the other common one.
  • Subtitles appear too early? Enter a positive shift (for example 1.5); too late, a negative one.
  • Keep UTF-8 with BOM on for TVs and older players; turn it off only if a program shows a stray character at the very start.
  • If punctuation appears at the wrong end of Arabic lines in your player, tick Keep punctuation on the right side.

Quick start: using Subtitle Fixer & Converter

  1. Add the subtitle file (SRT, VTT, ASS or SSA).
  2. Check the preview reads correctly.
  3. Choose the format and any timing shift.
  4. Download the fixed file and load it in your player.

To trim the video itself, use Trim Video; to convert it to a format your TV plays, Convert Video Format.

Frequently asked questions

Why does my Arabic subtitle show as ال or ÇáÓáÇã?

The file uses one text encoding and the player assumes another, usually Windows-1256 read as UTF-8 or the reverse. Saving it as UTF-8 here fixes it for nearly every player.

Can it convert ASS to SRT?

Yes. The text and timing are kept; ASS styling such as fonts, colours and positions is dropped, because SRT has no place for it.

Is my file uploaded?

No. It is read, fixed and saved in your browser.

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