Fix Subtitle Encoding Issues
How to fix garbled or corrupted characters
📖 What is Encoding?
Encoding is the method computers use to store characters. The same text can be stored using different encoding methods.
Simple Analogy
Encoding is like a cipher system. If you encrypt with A=1, B=2 but decrypt with A=26, B=25, you get garbage. Subtitle corruption works the same way.
How "Hello" is stored
❓ Why Does Corruption Happen?
Subtitle files must be opened with the same encoding they were saved with to display correctly.
Common Corruption
Opening EUC-KR encoded subtitles as UTF-8:
"Korean text" → "¾È³çÇϼ¼¿ä"
Reverse Situation
Opening UTF-8 encoded subtitles as EUC-KR:
"Korean text" → "????"
Note: Older Korean subtitles are usually EUC-KR, while modern and international subtitles typically use UTF-8.
📋 Common Encoding Types
| Encoding | Features | Usage |
|---|---|---|
| UTF-8 | Supports all world languages, current standard | Web, modern programs, international subtitles |
| EUC-KR | Korean only, older standard | Older Korean subtitles |
| CP949 | Extended EUC-KR with more characters | Korean Windows default |
| UTF-16 | Another Unicode format | Windows internal, some programs |
🔧 How to Fix Encoding Issues
Use Online Conversion Tool
The simplest method. Automatically detects encoding and converts to UTF-8.
- 1. Upload the corrupted subtitle file
- 2. Click Convert (auto UTF-8 conversion)
- 3. Download the fixed subtitle
Fix with Notepad ▼
- 1. Right-click subtitle file → Open with → Notepad
- 2. File → Save As
- 3. Change encoding dropdown to UTF-8 or ANSI
- 4. Save and reopen to verify
VLC Player Settings ▼
- 1. Tools → Preferences
- 2. Go to Subtitles/OSD
- 3. Change "Default encoding" to UTF-8 or appropriate encoding
Using VS Code ▼
- 1. Open subtitle file in VS Code
- 2. Click encoding in bottom-right status bar
- 3. Select "Reopen with Encoding"
- 4. Choose correct encoding, then "Save with Encoding" as UTF-8
💡 Prevention Tips
Always use UTF-8
When creating or editing subtitles, save as UTF-8
Save with BOM
UTF-8 with BOM enables automatic detection
Use modern editors
VS Code and similar have excellent encoding detection
Verify after conversion
Always check subtitles in a player after converting
You can convert subtitle encoding for free
← Go to encoding converter