Why do subtitles appear constantly in bold in Windows 11? Only embedded subtitles display correctly

Question

I just reinstalled Windows (Windows 11 25H2, 10.0.26200 Build 26200). Now the subtitles look like this and appear in bold or bigger shadow/outline. Before I noticed this problem, I changed several settings so that the region and keyboard language would be correct (I live in Finland). As you can see, the Finnish subtitles in the picture are bold(or bigger shadow/outline).

I'm using the Stremio app, and I don't have anything else installed on my PC. Stremio doesn't have a feature to change or adjust subtitle fonts or appearance; it uses all the settings directly from the operating system.

enter image description here

• music2myear: Subtitles in which application(s)? If you use a different media player or play different video with embedded subtitles, do you observe the same behavior?
• music2myear: If you change the settings back does the issue "go away" or revert to its previous settings? Have you checked for and installed the latest drivers and firmware for your computer? What build of Windows are you running. Also, we strongly encourage editing your post as you learn more or have more info to add. So use the EDIT button and add this information to the question itself, along with the info about the video players you've tried and confirmed this issue using.
• BigSpell3611: @music2myear - like my post says: "I changed the setting back, but the issue still persists."

Answer 1

From the image you've added, the fonts are not bold but rather have a shadow (outline). Various media players have settings to control fonts. As an example, VLC has settings for subtitle appearance that includes font, size, outline color, outline opacity and other attributes.

VLC Subtitle Rendering

Adjust those settings on your media player to get the desired appearance.

• BigSpell3611: Hi, Could you remove this comment? The issue is not caused by the VLC player but by Windows settings. This problem occurs in all media playback applications, so the fix needs to be made in the operating system rather than in the media player itself.
• music2myear: Not every solution may come in the form you want, AND you don't have to accept a given solution. Not ever Windows setting is known or adjustable. My best guess is this is a bug in the Finland settings for Windows, and it may or may not be identified and resolved. There may never be documentation or proof. If a Windows setting it identified, someone else may come along and suggest that and you can mark that as the answer. If no one does, having a player that allows modifying these settings will end up being an answer.
• BigSpell3611: This can’t be answer because the main question, or the problem stated here, has nothing to do with VLC Player. I don’t even have VLC installed on my computer, so how could I adjust VLC settings if I don’t have it?
• music2myear: You commented on your original post that you did install VLC. So it is relevant and a good suggestion.
• music2myear: You know we can see edit history, right? And that I know there were comments you made replying to my own in which you said you'd installed and tested with VLC? Look, I know you want a fix based on whatever bad code Microsoft put into the Finnish localization data, and frankly, I want that too. But, that's a big, black, hole. If Microsoft admits there's a problem, awesome! The fix will be in some update and suddenly the problem will disappear. There isn't a setting. Until then use a flexible player like VLC which you said you tried when I asked if you had, and make this a non-issue.