Subs not showing - although they are there....

[Soundchasr 19]

I've got an mkv file that shows all of the subs (Eng, Ger, etc.) but when I pick one they just don't show on screen.  I tried the file on my computer using VLC and they work there.  Any thoughts on why they won't show on my TV?  

Thanks all.  

 

 

[Neminem 1518]

Need a lot more info that that

 

[Soundchasr 19]

18 minutes ago, Neminem said:

Need a lot more info that that

 

Ok, sorry.  I'm attaching the log file and a couple pics.  I just tried watching two movies, Happy Gilmore and Greedy People.  Happy is the problem file.  When I go to CC I see the whole list of all the subs including multiple English.  No matter what one I choose the subs do not show up on screen.  I'm using a Roku. I don't see how to send logs from that. . 

When I play the file through the Emby web page the subs work....

 

 

 

embyserver.txt

Edited August 17, 2025 by Soundchasr

[Neminem 1518]

What's wrong with your E drive

Your logs are full of errors about it.

System.IO.IOException: System.IO.IOException: Access to the path '\\?\E:\_Settings_Backup\EMBY\Emby Server Databases - 2024-03-16 00.10.0' is denied.

[Soundchasr 19]

1 minute ago, Neminem said:

What's wrong with your E drive

Your logs are full of errors about it.

System.IO.IOException: System.IO.IOException: Access to the path '\\?\E:\_Settings_Backup\EMBY\Emby Server Databases - 2024-03-16 00.10.0' is denied.

Huh.  Not sure what that's about.  The folder was read only.  Just changed that and gave full permissions to everyone.  

 

 

[Neminem 1518]

How many subs are in the file ?

In your case I would use MKVToolnix to remove all the subs you don't need and try again.

 

[Soundchasr 19]

10 minutes ago, Neminem said:

How many subs are in the file ?

In your case I would use MKVToolnix to remove all the subs you don't need and try again.

 

There were about 50 subs listed.  I dl'd MKVToolnix and removed all but 3 English subs.  I replayed the file on the Roku but the subs still don't appear.  I'm attaching the new log file.

 

embyserver (1).txt

[Neminem 1518]

Did you rescan the movie library after that, and are there any transcoding logs ?

[ebr 16169]

10 minutes ago, Soundchasr said:

but the subs still don't appear

I noticed the subs you selected were "forced".   Are you sure you are looking in the right place for them?  They wouldn't be throughout the movie.

Also, for the Roku, make sure that you don't have any other sub streams marked as "default" as the Roku player will be confused if multiples are default.

[Soundchasr 19]

7 minutes ago, ebr said:

I noticed the subs you selected were "forced".   Are you sure you are looking in the right place for them?  They wouldn't be throughout the movie.

Also, for the Roku, make sure that you don't have any other sub streams marked as "default" as the Roku player will be confused if multiples are default.

I tried all of them (forced and not).  

I'm not sure what you mean about the Roku.  Should I go out to main Roku settings to find that "default" setting?

 

[Neminem 1518]

You should see something like this in MKVToolnix

Make sure that there is only 1 set to Forces.

Edited August 17, 2025 by Neminem

[Soundchasr 19]

Here are all my log files.  

ffmpeg-transcode-d9c51687-5c29-4f49-b1de-66c52b0cff21_1.txt embyserver-63891024513.txt hardware_detection-63891024533.txt embyserver.txt

[Soundchasr 19]

2 minutes ago, Neminem said:

You should see something like this in MKVToolnix

Make sure that there is only 1 set to Forces.

Yes. Just one forced. 

[ebr 16169]

For kicks try unchecking that forced flag and see if that makes a difference on your Roku.

[Neminem 1518]

This is odd F:\A.DOWNLOADS\Movies\Happy Gilmore 2 (2025)\Happy Gilmore 2 (2025).mkv: No such file or directory

Did you rescan that library after using MVKtoolnix ?

[Soundchasr 19]

4 minutes ago, Neminem said:

This is odd F:\A.DOWNLOADS\Movies\Happy Gilmore 2 (2025)\Happy Gilmore 2 (2025).mkv: No such file or directory

Did you rescan that library after using MVKtoolnix ?

Good catch.  I tried to play it and it was looking for the old file.  I rescanned and then it played the new file.  

[Soundchasr 19]

10 minutes ago, ebr said:

For kicks try unchecking that forced flag and see if that makes a difference on your Roku.

What the heck! That worked! Not sure why...... Thanks!

[Neminem 1518]

So you are good now ?

[Soundchasr 19]

Just now, Neminem said:

So you are good now ?

Yes.  Thank you all.  I'm not real sure why it happened but  it's working now.  

[Neminem 1518]

Too many subs and the lack of a rescan after altering the movie file

[ebr 16169]

The Roku is very finicky about those subtitle flags and it gets confused when there is both a "default" and a "forced" one.  It thinks it should show both and just throws up its hands and does nothing.

[ebr 16169]

Just now, Neminem said:

Too many subs and the lack of a rescan after altering the movie file

Perhaps this as well... would be interesting to test if putting that default sub flag back and refreshing still allowed it to work.

[Soundchasr 19]

1 minute ago, ebr said:

The Roku is very finicky about those subtitle flags and it gets confused when there is both a "default" and a "forced" one.  It thinks it should show both and just throws up its hands and does nothing.

Lol.  Thanks. 

[Soundchasr 19]

1 minute ago, ebr said:

Perhaps this as well... would be interesting to test if putting that default sub flag back and refreshing still allowed it to work.

Will do now.  Hold one. 

[Soundchasr 19]

6 minutes ago, ebr said:

Perhaps this as well... would be interesting to test if putting that default sub flag back and refreshing still allowed it to work.

Ok, as soon as I put the forced back in (and refreshed) it won't show any of the subs.