Does mpv Support Dual Subtitles Simultaneously?

This article provides a quick overview and step-by-step guide on how to display two subtitle tracks at the same time using the mpv media player. You will learn the exact keyboard shortcuts and configuration commands required to show a primary subtitle at the bottom of the screen and a secondary subtitle at the top of the screen.

Enabling Secondary Subtitles in mpv

Yes, mpv fully supports displaying two subtitle tracks simultaneously. By default, mpv renders the primary subtitle track at the bottom of the screen and allows you to load a secondary subtitle track that typically displays at the top of the screen. This feature is incredibly useful for language learners or for watching content with commentary tracks.

Keyboard Shortcuts for Dual Subtitles

You can cycle through secondary subtitles dynamically while a video is playing by using the following default key combinations:

Configuring Permanent Dual Subtitles

If you want mpv to automatically load a specific secondary subtitle track every time you open a video, or if you want to define specific behavior, you can add configuration lines to your mpv.conf file.

To specify the default secondary language layout, use the following option:

secondary-sid=2

This tells mpv to automatically load the second subtitle track as the secondary subtitle. You can change the number to match the specific track index of your choice.

Customizing the Position and Style

While mpv automatically positions the secondary subtitle at the top of the screen to avoid overlapping with the primary subtitle, you can further customize its appearance, font size, and exact placement. To ensure the secondary subtitle stays fixed at the top of the screen, you can add the following configuration line:

secondary-sub-ass-override=force

This allows mpv to override any embedded styles in the subtitle file, ensuring that your top-of-the-screen placement and custom font choices remain consistent across all videos you watch.