Subtitles Not Showing in PikaShow: Fixes That Work

Subtitles that do not show are frustrating, especially when you rely on them to follow dialogue, catch a quiet line, or watch in a language that is not your first. The fault can be in the subtitle setting, the audio track, the source, the player, or the subtitle file itself. This guide focuses on the fault, rather than on first-time setup, and it takes you through fixes in order, so you can tell quickly whether the problem is a setting, a source, or a title that has no usable subtitles. For first-time setup, see the separate guide on how to turn on subtitles in PikaShow.

Start by checking the obvious details, and by testing a title you know well. Note whether subtitles are missing on every title, on one title, or on one episode. Note whether they are missing on every source for that title, or only on one source. Check the version on the PikaShow download page, where the site states that v94 is its latest version. A fault that affects every title points to a setting or a player fault, while a fault that affects one title points to that title or its source.

Subtitle and audio track settings

Start playback, tap the screen to show the player controls, and open the subtitle control. Make sure subtitles are switched on, and that a subtitle track is actually selected. A subtitle control can look switched on, while the track list shows “Off” or “None”, so open the list and choose a track by name. If the list is empty, the source may have no subtitle tracks, and you will need another source. Wait a few seconds after choosing a track, because subtitles can take a moment to appear, especially at the start of playback.

Check the audio track as well, because subtitles are often tied to the audio language. If you have changed the audio track to a different language, the subtitle list may change, or the chosen subtitle track may no longer match. Try the default audio track, then open the subtitle list again, and choose a track that matches the audio language. If the player offers a subtitle language, choose the language you need, not just “Auto” or “Default”, because an automatic choice can pick a track that is empty or in the wrong language.

Check subtitle appearance settings, in the app and in the player. Subtitles can be present but invisible if the text colour matches the background, the size is very small, or the outline is missing. Set the size to a larger value, set the colour to white with a black outline, and set the background to a dark, semi-transparent box, then test again. On a television, check the television subtitle settings as well, because some televisions apply their own subtitle style, which can override the app style. A style that looks fine on a phone can be hard to read on a television, and vice versa.

Source, server and title faults

Try another source for the same title. Different sources can carry different subtitle tracks, and one source may have no subtitles, broken subtitles, or subtitles in the wrong language, while another works. If another source shows subtitles, the fault was with the first source, and you can use the working source. Note the source that worked, so you can choose it first next time. If every source is missing subtitles for one title, but other titles show subtitles, the title itself is likely at fault, and another title is the practical answer.

Check whether subtitles are out of step, incomplete, or in the wrong language, because those are different faults from missing subtitles. Out-of-step subtitles can be caused by a source that uses a different cut of the film or episode, and trying another source often fixes the timing. Incomplete subtitles can be caused by a subtitle file that is missing lines, and again, another source is the fix. Subtitles in the wrong language can be caused by choosing the wrong track, or by a source that labels tracks badly, so open the track list and try each track in turn, watching for a few lines of dialogue.

External players and subtitle files

If PikaShow offers an external player, try it, because a different player can handle subtitle tracks that the built-in player misses. In the external player, open the subtitle control, and check that a track is selected. Some external players let you load a subtitle file from storage, which can help when the built-in player has no tracks. If you load a subtitle file, make sure it is for the same film or episode, the same cut, and the same language, because a mismatched file will be out of step or in the wrong language. Keep the file name close to the video file name, so the player can match them.

Do not download subtitle files from sites you do not trust, and do not grant a player access to all files if you do not need to. A subtitle file is a small text file, but a site that offers subtitle files can also offer misleading downloads. Use a source you know, check the file before you open it, and delete it if it does not match the title. If you do not need a subtitle file, do not load one, because the built-in tracks are simpler and safer.

Restart, cache and updates

Restart the app and the device, clear the app cache, and check for updates. A restart clears a temporary state that can stop subtitles from showing, and a cache clear removes a damaged temporary file without removing settings. Check for a PikaShow update on the download page, and for a device system update, because updates can fix player and subtitle faults. After an update, test playback with a familiar title, and check subtitles from the start, not only in the middle of a scene.

If subtitles show on a phone but not on a television, check the television and cast settings. When you cast, subtitles are handled by the receiving device, and a cast that works for video can still miss subtitles. Restart the cast, check that the television subtitle setting is on, and try casting from a different device if you can. On Android TV and Fire Stick, check the device subtitle and accessibility settings, because a device setting can override the app setting. A subtitle fault that follows the device is a device fault, while a fault that follows the title is a title fault.

When subtitles are present but hard to read

Subtitles can be present but hard to read because of size, colour, position or background. On a small phone screen, a small font can be lost against a bright scene, while on a large television, a font that is too large can cover too much of the picture. Set the size to a comfortable middle value, use white text with a black outline, and use a dark background box. Move subtitles to the bottom of the screen, away from the centre of the action, and test with a scene that has both bright and dark areas, so you can see how the style holds up.

Check accessibility settings on the device, because a device setting for subtitle style, high contrast, or large text can change how subtitles look in the app. If subtitles look right on one device but wrong on another, compare the device accessibility settings, and set them to the same values. On a computer with an emulator, check the emulator display scaling, because a scaled display can make subtitles look smaller or less sharp than they should. A clear subtitle style, tested on the device you actually watch on, is worth more than a style that looks good in a settings preview.

For setup help, see PikaShow for Android, PikaShow for PC and PikaShow for iOS. The iOS page sets out the honest position, which is that there is no official PikaShow app for iPhone, so subtitle problems on an iPhone are not problems in an official app.

Subtitles not showing? Choose a subtitle track in the player, try another source, check subtitle style, and get the latest version from the Download PikaShow page.

Frequently asked questions