Fix Overlapping Subtitles — Find and Trim SRT Overlaps

Find every caption that runs into the next one. Safe overlaps are trimmed in one click; the rest are explained so you can decide. Free, no account, runs in your browser.

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What an overlapping subtitle is

Two captions overlap when the first one ends after the next one starts:

12
00:01:04,000 --> 00:01:06,400
I told you we'd be late.

13
00:01:06,000 --> 00:01:08,000
We're not late.

For 0.4 seconds both lines are on screen. Players handle it differently: some stack the two captions, some cut one off, and the lines can jump around on screen. Overlaps usually come from merging two files, auto-captions that time each phrase on its own, or editing words in one tool and re-importing into another.

Which overlaps are fixed automatically

In the example above, cue 12 is shortened to end at 00:01:06,000, when cue 13 starts. The tool trims only when that leaves a readable caption:

the earlier caption still stays on screen for at least 0.7 seconds, and keeps at least half its time;
the later caption doesn't start at the same moment as the earlier one;
the later caption doesn't sit entirely inside the earlier one.

When any of these fails, the overlap is usually a timing mistake rather than a small slip, and trimming would hide dialogue. Those are listed under "Needs a decision" with the reason, and nothing is changed.

Tiny gaps that make captions blink

The opposite problem is common too, and editors report it in files exported from CapCut and Premiere: consecutive captions separated by a few hundredths of a second. Each gap makes the caption blink off and on, which is easy to miss in the editor and tiring across a two-hour video. The check lists gaps shorter than 0.1 seconds, and the repair can close them by extending the earlier caption. It's off by default, because some delivery specs require a small gap between captions.

When every caption is off, not just a few

If most of your captions overlap, or all of them appear too early or too late, the file is probably out of sync rather than badly edited. Trimming won't fix that. Use the Subtitle Delay Fixer to move every caption by a set amount, or to stretch the timing when it drifts further out as the video goes on.

How do I fix overlapping subtitles in an SRT file?▼

Upload the file here and click Fix. Each overlapping caption is shortened to end when the next one starts, as long as it stays readable. The download lists every caption whose end time changed.

Will fixing overlaps change my dialogue?▼

No. Only end times change. Text, start times, and line breaks stay exactly as they are.

Why are some overlaps not fixed?▼

Because trimming them would hide a caption or leave it on screen too briefly to read. That usually means the timing itself is wrong. Those overlaps are listed with the reason so you can fix them in your editor, or let Fix Subtitles propose a timing for you to review.

Why does CapCut or Premiere show my captions overlapping?▼

Auto-captions are timed phrase by phrase, and splitting, merging or retiming captions by hand can leave one running into the next. Exported files can also carry tiny gaps between captions. This check finds both.

Can overlapping subtitles be intentional?▼

Sometimes: two people speaking at once, or a positioned sign translation alongside dialogue. SRT has no reliable way to place two captions apart, so most platforms still show them stacked. If the overlap is intentional, leave that cue as it is.

Does it work on VTT files?▼

The check works on WebVTT. The one-click repair writes SRT, so convert first with the VTT to SRT converter, or use Fix Subtitles to keep VTT.

Fix Overlapping Subtitles — Find and Trim SRT Overlaps

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