LRC File Format (.lrc)
An LRC file pairs a song's lyrics with a [mm:ss.xx] timestamp at the start of each line, meant to sit alongside an audio file of the same name so a music player can display the lyrics in time with playback rather than caption a video.
LRC at a glance#
| Full name | Lyrics file |
|---|---|
| File extension | .lrc |
| Category | Subtitles |
| Developer | Kuo Shiang-shiang |
| First released | 1998 |
| Compression | Uncompressed |
| FileFlip support | FileFlip reads and writes this format |
What a .lrc file can hold#
These are the things a LRC file either supports or does not, and they are what decides whether a conversion keeps everything or quietly drops something.
| Selectable text | Yes |
|---|---|
| Human readable | Yes |
Strengths and limitations of LRC#
What LRC does well
- Tiny, plain-text sidecar file that any music player or script can generate and read
- Optional [ti:], [ar:] and [al:] tags carry title, artist and album alongside the timed lines
- The word-level A2 extension times individual syllables for karaoke-style highlighting, not just whole lines
Where LRC falls short
- Built for song lyrics timed against audio, not for captioning video, so video players generally don't recognize it
- Carries no positioning or styling; a player either shows the current line or it doesn't
- Only stays in sync with the exact audio track it was timed against; a different edit or remix throws off the timestamps
Use LRC to display synchronized lyrics alongside a song in a music player, not as a caption track for video.
Convert LRC to a video subtitle format only when the lyrics are being repurposed as on-screen captions, such as for a lyric video.
How to open a .lrc file#
A .lrc file opens in the programs below, grouped by the platform you are on. If you would rather not install anything, FileFlip converts LRC into a format your machine already opens, and it does it in the browser tab rather than on a server.
| Platform | Programs that open it |
|---|---|
| Windows | foobar2000, MusicBee |
| macOS | Doppler, VLC |
| Linux | VLC, Audacious |
| iOS | Doppler, VLC |
| Android | Poweramp, VLC |
| Web | FileFlip |
LRC questions people ask#
What is an LRC file used for?
An LRC file synchronizes a song's lyrics with its audio, showing each line at the moment it's sung. It's a music-player sidecar file, named to match its audio track, not a subtitle format for video.
Why won't my video player show an LRC file as subtitles?
LRC was built for music players to display lyrics against a song, so most video players don't look for or parse it as a caption track the way they would an SRT or VTT file. Converting the lyrics into a video subtitle format is the reliable way to caption a video with them.
Can LRC highlight lyrics word by word?
The base LRC format only times whole lines, but its extended A2 variant adds a <mm:ss.xx> timestamp before each word inside a line, letting a compatible player highlight lyrics word by word for karaoke-style display.
Converting LRC files#
Convert LRC to another format
Convert another format to LRC
Every conversion runs inside your browser. The file is read from your disk, the work happens on your own machine, and nothing is uploaded. How FileFlip works names the engine behind each family and how to verify that for yourself.