You’re sitting down with popcorn, ready to binge your favorite foreign drama or some classic kung fu flick. You fire up Plex, hit play… and realize the subtitles aren’t showing. Panic! Frustration! But don’t worry — we’ve got your back.
TLDR: Subtitles not showing in Plex? Here’s why and how to fix it:
Table of Contents
Plex subtitles might go missing due to settings, file compatibility, or network issues. Fix the problem by adjusting subtitle settings, ensuring the subtitle files are correct, and confirming they’re enabled in the video player. Sometimes, restarting the server solves it too. Let’s break it all down and get things working!
Why Subtitles Disappear Like Ninjas in Plex
There are many reasons why your subtitles aren’t making their big screen debut. Think of it like a detective story… only with less danger and more menus.
Here’s what’s possibly going wrong:
- Subtitle settings are off – You might need to manually enable them.
- Missing subtitle files – Plex can’t show what it doesn’t have!
- Plex isn’t picking the right subtitle track – Especially in multi-track files.
- Encoding problems – Some files just don’t speak the same tech language.
- Network issues or server glitches – Stuff just breaks sometimes.
Alright, Let’s Fix That!
Time to roll up those sleeves. Here’s how to coax your subtitles back into action.
1. Check Subtitle Settings in Plex
Plex doesn’t always guess right. It might think you don’t want subtitles. To change that:
- Start playing your movie or show.
- Click the speech bubble icon (subtitle menu).
- Select the right subtitle track — or download one if it’s missing.
Pro Tip: Configure your default subtitle behavior:
- Go to your Plex Dashboard → Settings → Languages.
- Under Subtitle Mode, choose “Always Enabled” or “Only with foreign audio.”
2. Subtitle Files MIA?
If your video doesn’t have embedded subtitles, Plex needs a separate subtitle file — usually ‘.srt’.
Make sure this file:
- Is in the same folder as your video file.
- Has the same name as your video (except the file extension).
Example:
AwesomeMovie.mp4 and AwesomeMovie.srt
If there’s no ‘.srt’ file… download one! Sites like OpenSubtitles.org or Subscene are great sources.
3. Look at the File Type
Some file types handle subtitles better than others. For example:
- MKV files often have embedded subs — handy!
- MP4 might not support some types of subtitles well.
If you’re using MP4 and the subtitles aren’t showing, try extracting the subs and using a separate ‘.srt’ file instead.
4. Check Subtitle Encoding
Subtitles use text encoding systems like UTF-8. If they don’t match what Plex expects, the subs can look like gobbledygook… or just fail completely.
To fix it:
- Open the ‘.srt’ file in a plain text editor (like Notepad).
- Go to “Save As” and choose UTF-8 as the encoding.
- Save and reload your video in Plex.
5. Check Transcoding
Plex may render subtitles differently depending on whether it’s streaming directly or transcoding the file (reformatting it on the fly).
To see if this is the problem:
- While playing a video, click the “info” icon.
- See if it’s playing in Direct Play or Transcoding.
If it’s not Direct Playing, the server might be struggling with rendering embedded subtitles. Try switching subtitle types or enabling external ‘.srt’ files.
6. Force Online Subtitle Download
Plex is smart, but a little lazy. You can make it grab subtitles for you if it hasn’t already.
- Go to your Plex Library.
- Select your movie or episode.
- Click the three dots → “Refresh Metadata.”
- Make sure you’ve configured Plex to download subtitles automatically from Settings → Agents.
7. Check Your Language Preferences
Plex decides what subs to show based on your language preferences. If it thinks you’re fluent in Mandarin… you may not get any subtitles.
Set your language here:
- Settings → Languages → Audio & Subtitle Language
Choose the language you want, and set subtitles to show up accordingly.
8. Update Plex and Client Apps
Sometimes it’s not you, it’s them — aka bugs. Make sure:
- Your Plex Media Server is up to date
- Your Plex apps on TV, PC, or phone are updated
Updates often fix subtitle bugs or playback glitches that keep you from enjoying that show with dialogue in Icelandic.
9. Restart. Yes, Really.
The classic “have you tried turning it off and back on again?” Yep, it works here too.
Restart your:
- Plex Media Server
- Plex app/device
Clears out weird memory bugs or stuck settings.
10. Check for Shared Library Permissions
Using Plex with friends or family? If they can’t see subtitles, the library owner may have restricted subtitle access. (It happens!)
The owner needs to:
- Go to Plex Web → Settings → Users & Sharing
- Select the user and edit permissions
- Ensure “Allow Subtitle Access” is enabled
What If You Still Can’t See Subtitles?
Some final wild-card moves:
- Try watching the video in a different Plex client (e.g., web instead of TV app)
- Manually add subtitles by dragging the ‘.srt’ file into Plex web while the video is playing
- Re-encode your video with another tool like HandBrake to embed subtitles correctly
Lights, Camera, Subtitles!
Now you know the tricks! Whether it’s a sneaky setting or a missing file, Plex subtitles don’t stand a chance against your skills now. Set them right, kick back, and enjoy the show — with every word beautifully captioned.
Need to help a friend? Share this guide and be their subtitle superhero!
Happy watching!
