Timestamps must strictly use the format ( 00:00:00,000 ). Hours, minutes, and seconds must always be two digits. Milliseconds must always be three digits.

Click , then select Add under the subtitles column. Select Auto-Sync .

Forgetting the empty line between subtitle blocks causes players to merge subtitles or stop reading the file entirely.

: Instant online tool that preserves timing if your TXT already includes time stamps. EditingTools.io

1 00:01:20,000 --> 00:01:23,500 Hello and welcome to our video tutorial! 2 00:01:24,100 --> 00:01:26,900 Today we are learning about subtitle files. Use code with caution. Method 1: Manual Conversion Using Notepad or TextEdit

: Always save your SRT file in UTF-8 encoding to ensure special characters (like accents) display correctly across all platforms.

: Highly regarded for advanced typesetting and translation workflows. Workflow Setup Open the software and go to File > Import Text .

Set the (this ensures special characters and foreign alphabets display correctly). Click Save . Method 2: Use Free Online Converters

If you don't want to learn software, use YouTube as your free converter. This works because YouTube generates timestamps automatically from plain text.

The decimal separator , not a period (.). Method 1: Convert Manually Using Notepad or TextEdit

: Uses AI to automatically align your raw text with video audio, generating the timecodes for you. 2. Dedicated Subtitle Software (Most Control)