How to Get PGS (SUP) from HandBrake and Convert to SRT
When ripping with HandBrake, enable PGS subtitle passthrough in the Subtitles tab. The output MKV contains the PGS/SUP stream. Extract it with FFmpeg: ffmpeg -i output.mkv -map 0:s:0 -c copy subs.sup.
- Upload your SUP (PGS) file
- Select subtitle language
- Click Convert
- Download your SRT file
HandBrake and PGS (SUP) Subtitles: What You Need to Know
Passthrough vs Burn-In for PGS and SUP
HandBrake handles PGS subtitle tracks in two ways during a Blu-ray rip: passthrough mode preserves the PGS/SUP track in the output container, and burn-in mode renders the subtitle images permanently onto the video frames. If you plan to convert PGS to SRT later, always choose passthrough.
Burn-in permanently embeds PGS images into the video — after burn-in, there is no subtitle track to extract, and converting to SRT is impossible. Passthrough keeps the PGS stream intact in the MKV output for later extraction and conversion.
HandBrake Does Not Extract Standalone SUP Files
HandBrake does not output standalone .sup files during a rip. To get a .sup file for OCR conversion, use FFmpeg or MKVToolNix after HandBrake produces the MKV. Workflow: HandBrake rip with PGS passthrough, then ffmpeg -i handbrake_output.mkv -map 0:s:0 -c copy subs.sup, then upload the .sup file here for conversion.
Extract SUP from HandBrake Output and Convert to SRT
Using FFmpeg After HandBrake
If you already have a HandBrake MKV with PGS passthrough, extract the subtitle stream with FFmpeg: ffmpeg -i handbrake_output.mkv -map 0:s:0 -c copy subtitles.sup. The -c copy flag extracts the PGS stream without re-encoding anything.
Upload the resulting .sup file to this browser converter, select the OCR language, and convert. The full workflow — HandBrake rip to SRT download — takes under 10 minutes for a typical Blu-ray subtitle file.
Extracting Before HandBrake Encoding
If you haven't ripped yet, consider extracting subtitles before the full HandBrake encode. MakeMKV creates a full-quality MKV with all tracks in minutes. Use MKVToolNix to extract only the PGS .sup file from that MKV — much faster than waiting for a complete HandBrake transcode.
HandBrake PGS Conversion
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Frequently Asked Questions
Can HandBrake convert PGS or SUP to SRT directly?
No. HandBrake can pass through or burn in PGS/SUP subtitle tracks but has no OCR capability. Use this browser tool for the text conversion step after extracting the .sup file.
Should I use PGS passthrough or burn-in in HandBrake if I plan to convert to SRT?
Always use passthrough. Burn-in permanently embeds PGS images into the video frames — there is no way to extract or convert them to SRT afterward. Passthrough preserves the PGS/SUP track for later extraction.
Does HandBrake work on Mac for ripping with PGS passthrough?
Yes. HandBrake is cross-platform. On Mac, rip with PGS passthrough, use FFmpeg via Homebrew to extract the .sup file, and convert here in Safari or Chrome.
Which HandBrake output container keeps PGS/SUP subtitles intact?
MKV preserves PGS subtitle tracks in passthrough mode. MP4 does not support PGS tracks. Use MKV output if you want to retain the PGS stream for later SUP extraction and SRT conversion.