Strip hearing-impaired (SDH) descriptions such as [DOOR CREAKS] and (laughs), speaker labels, formatting tags and “Subtitles by…” ads from SRT and WebVTT files. The tool also deletes the cues that end up empty, fixes overlapping times and re-wraps long lines, and shows every change before you download.
Last updated:
Changes
#
Time
Before
After
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How to use the Subtitle Cleaner
Drop your .srt or .vtt files on the box, or paste subtitles into the left text box. An example is loaded so you can see what happens.
Tick what to remove: bracketed sounds, parenthesized descriptions, music notes, speaker names, formatting tags, ads.
Choose the fixes: delete empty cues, fix overlaps, re-wrap long lines and the output format.
Check the Changes table to see each cue before and after cleaning.
Download the cleaned file, copy it, or press Download all as ZIP for several files.
What each cleaning option removes
Option
Before
After
Square brackets
[DOOR CREAKS] Who's there?
Who's there?
Parentheses
(laughs) That song again?
That song again?
Music notes
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
Happy birthday to you
Song lyrics (optional)
♪ Happy birthday to you ♪
cue deleted
Speaker names
- DAD: Mind the sawdust!
- Mind the sawdust!
HTML tags
<i>In here.</i>
In here.
ASS/SSA tags
{\an8}Meanwhile, upstairs…
Meanwhile, upstairs…
Ads and credits
Synced and corrected by …
cue deleted
All-caps lines (optional)
BREAKING NEWS
line deleted
Formatting tags matter: <i> often marks off-screen voices or foreign words, and {\an8} moves a subtitle to the top of the screen so it does not cover on-screen text. Untick those options if you want to keep that styling.
Subtitle readability guidelines
These are common professional targets used by broadcasters and streaming style guides. They are guidelines, not hard rules, and vary by language and audience.
Rule
Typical value
Why
Characters per line
37 – 42
Keeps lines short enough to read at a glance
Lines per subtitle
2
More lines cover too much of the picture
Minimum gap between cues
2 frames (≈ 83 ms at 24 fps)
Lets the eye notice that a new subtitle has appeared
Minimum duration
about 5/6 of a second
Short flashes are hard to read
Maximum duration
about 7 seconds
Longer cues tend to be re-read
Reading speed
15 – 20 characters per second
Faster subtitles are hard to follow
Tips
Check the Changes table before downloading. If a line of real dialogue was removed (for example a sentence in parentheses), untick that option.
Keep the original file. The download is named yourfile.cleaned.srt so it never overwrites your source.
Out of sync? Cleaning does not move subtitles. Use the SRT Time Calculator to shift them or fix a frame-rate mismatch.
Need plain text for a transcript? SRT to Text removes all timing lines.
Frequently asked questions
What are hearing-impaired (SDH) subtitles?
SDH means Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of hearing. Besides dialogue they describe sounds and identify speakers, for example [DOOR SLAMS], (laughs), ♪ soft music ♪ or MAYA: Hello. They are essential for viewers who cannot hear the audio, but many hearing viewers prefer plain dialogue subtitles, which is what this cleaner produces.
Will removing tags leave empty subtitles behind?
No. A cue that contained only a sound description, such as [THUNDER RUMBLING], becomes empty after cleaning, and with Delete empty cues ticked it is removed and the remaining cues are renumbered from 1. Leftover dialogue dashes are also tidied, so a line that read “- (gasps) - Run!” becomes “Run!” when only one speaker is left.
How are speaker names detected?
By default the tool removes labels written in capitals at the start of a line and followed by a colon, such as JOHN:, DR. LEE: or NARRATOR (V.O.):. Tick Also Mixed-case names to remove labels like John: as well; that option is off by default because ordinary sentences such as “Note: …” can look the same.
What does Fix overlapping cues do?
If a subtitle is still on screen when the next one starts, players may show both at once or hide one. The cleaner shortens the earlier cue so it ends before the next begins, leaving the gap you choose. 84 ms equals two frames at 23.976 or 24 fps, the minimum gap used by many professional subtitle style guides.
What line length should I use?
42 characters per line is the most common professional limit for Latin-script languages and the default here; 37 to 40 suits smaller screens and children’s content, and 32 is the classic broadcast teletext limit. Only cues with a line over the limit are re-wrapped, into two lines that are as even as possible.
Is the timing changed?
Only when Fix overlapping cues shortens a cue that runs into the next one. All other start and end times are kept exactly. To shift or stretch timings, use the SRT Time Calculator.
Are my subtitle files uploaded?
No. Files are read and cleaned with JavaScript in your browser, so they never leave your device and the tool works offline once the page has loaded.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.