Subtitle problems in Stremio almost always come down to one of a handful of causes. This guide goes through them in the order worth checking: missing subtitles first, then timing problems, then fixes specific to BingeLingo.
Part 1: Subtitles not showing
1. You don't have a subtitle add-on installed
Stremio doesn't create subtitles itself. They come from add-ons, from subtitles embedded in the video file, or from files you load yourself. If the subtitle menu only shows embedded tracks (or nothing), check Add-ons → My Add-ons for at least one subtitle add-on. OpenSubtitles is the common default.
2. You're looking before playback starts
Subtitle add-ons are asked for subtitles once the player knows which title and stream you've chosen. Start playback, wait a few seconds, then open the subtitle (CC) menu. Some add-ons take a moment on the first request for a title.
3. There are no subtitles in that language for that title
Subtitle coverage varies a lot by language. Popular titles in major languages are almost always covered. Rarer languages, or less popular titles, may have nothing at all. Check the menu for other languages: if those appear, the add-on is working and there's simply no track in the language you want.
4. You're using an external player
On Android and Android TV, Stremio can hand playback to an external player such as VLC. External players may not receive subtitles from Stremio's add-ons, so you get the video with no add-on subtitles. Switch back to Stremio's built-in player in Settings → Player and try again.
5. The add-on was installed on a different profile
Add-ons are tied to your Stremio account. If a subtitle add-on works on your laptop but not on your TV, make sure both devices are signed in to the same Stremio account, and check My Add-ons on the TV.
6. Old app, stale state
Update Stremio, then fully close and reopen it. It's boring advice, but it fixes a surprising number of "it worked yesterday" problems.
Part 2: Subtitles out of sync
First, work out which kind of sync problem you have. They have different fixes.
Constant offset: always early or always late by the same amount
The subtitle file and the video are the same cut, but one starts a bit before the other, such as a studio logo that's in one version and not the other.
Fix: open the subtitle menu in Stremio's player and adjust the delay until the lines match. Once it's right at the start, it stays right.
Drift: fine at the start, badly off by the end
The subtitle was made for a video with a different frame rate, typically 23.976 fps versus 25 fps (common with European TV releases). The gap grows steadily through the episode, so a fixed delay can't fix it.
Fix: pick a different subtitle track for the same language, or a different stream of the title. Choose a subtitle and stream that clearly match, for example the same release name or the same source (WEB, Blu-ray).
Jumps: in sync, then suddenly off
The video and the subtitle are different cuts: one has an extra scene, a recap or ads that the other doesn't. It's in sync until the cut, then off by the length of the missing piece.
Fix: the same. Switch subtitle or stream. A delay adjustment will only fix one section at a time.
Part 3: BingeLingo-specific fixes
If you use BingeLingo for language-learning subtitles:
- A mode is missing from the menu. Each mode needs source subtitles. Bridge needs a track in your native language, Immersion needs one in the language you're learning, and Dual needs both. If one is missing for that title or release, that mode won't appear. Try another release.
- The track takes a moment the first time. The first time you choose a Bridge or Immersion track for a title, BingeLingo builds it. If it doesn't appear, close and reopen the subtitle menu, then select it again. Watching an existing track again never uses your allowance.
- "Installation revoked" or an invalid link message. Your install link was revoked or replaced. Reinstall BingeLingo from your dashboard.
- Out of sync. BingeLingo builds its tracks from the source subtitles, so it inherits their timing. All the sync fixes above apply: delay for an offset, a different release for drift.
- Want different languages or settings? Create a new install link with the new settings on your dashboard, install it, and revoke the old one.
Still stuck?
For Stremio app issues (playback, add-on screens, accounts), Stremio's help centre is the right place. For BingeLingo tracks, contact support from your dashboard with the title, your device, your Stremio version and the mode you picked. Never send your private install link.
New to BingeLingo? Here's the two-minute setup guide.