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

[Neminem 1518]

Ok I will give this one to erb

Now we have all learned something  

Edited August 17, 2025 by Neminem

[pwhodges 2012]

Actually, it's been long known by those who use them that the Roku gets messed up by these flags - this is why I remove all forced flags from all my media.

Actually, MPV on my desktop has similar issues.

Paul

Edited August 17, 2025 by pwhodges

[Soundchasr 19]

3 minutes ago, pwhodges said:

Actually, it's been long known by those who use them that the Roku gets messed up by these flags - this is why I remove all forced flags from all my media.

Actually, MPV on my desktop has similar issues.

Paul

Do you always use MKVToolNix for this?  Does the program remove any quality when redoing the file without the subs?

 

Thanks!!
 

[ebr 16169]

Yeah the Roku player appears to take "Forced" literally - meaning I have to play this track.  But then it also takes "default" to mean I have to play this track as well.

Then it just gets confused and does nothing.  Same thing will happen if you mark two sub tracks as default.

[pwhodges 2012]

13 hours ago, Soundchasr said:

Do you always use MKVToolNix for this?  Does the program remove any quality when redoing the file without the subs?

MKVToolNix only copies the streams - there are not altered in any way, only the packaging and metadata,

But you can avoid even the unnecessary copying (if the file is already MKV) by using JMKVpropedit, which can also be used for batch changes.

Paul

[Soundchasr 19]

Sorry to revive this thread but I have a follow up question: 

So, we thought this was a Roku issue and we used the MKVToolsNix to make the subs work.  I've got another file with the same issue (on the Roku) and it won't play any of the subs (like before) in Emby.  But.....it will play all the subs in Plex.   What could be the difference b/w Plex and Emby on the Roku that would allow one to work and not the other?  

Let me know what files you'd like to see, if any.  

 

 

[Luke 42077]

5 hours ago, Soundchasr said:

Sorry to revive this thread but I have a follow up question: 

So, we thought this was a Roku issue and we used the MKVToolsNix to make the subs work.  I've got another file with the same issue (on the Roku) and it won't play any of the subs (like before) in Emby.  But.....it will play all the subs in Plex.   What could be the difference b/w Plex and Emby on the Roku that would allow one to work and not the other?  

Let me know what files you'd like to see, if any.  

 

 

@Soundchasr

 

Hi there, let's look at an example. Please attach the information requested in how to report a media playback issue. Thanks!

 

[Soundchasr 19]

Thanks, @Luke

As an update:  I downloaded a couple more SRTs anffmpeg-remux-fe3e0513-fad6-47ba-a593-82df8a2a08f0_1.txtembyserver.txtd was able to get one working.  The rest still don't work.  Not sure why one does and the others don't.  Anyway, here are the logs, maybe (hopefully) something will jump out.  Thanks for your time!  

 

 

[Luke 42077]

3 hours ago, Soundchasr said:

Thanks, @Luke

As an update:  I downloaded a couple more SRTs anffmpeg-remux-fe3e0513-fad6-47ba-a593-82df8a2a08f0_1.txtembyserver.txtd was able to get one working.  The rest still don't work.  Not sure why one does and the others don't.  Anyway, here are the logs, maybe (hopefully) something will jump out.  Thanks for your time!  

 

 

Hi, we'll take a look at it. Thanks.

[Soundchasr 19]

@Luke

Just following up on this post.  I'm still having issues with Emby showing subtitles.

I just tried a video file with 3 English subtitles.  None of them showed on screen.  When I pull up the same file in Plex, they showed.  

 I'm attaching my log files again.  I was wondering if you could take a looembyserver.txt k.  

Thanks.  

hardware_detection-63898292384.txt

[Luke 42077]

On 11/9/2025 at 1:57 PM, Soundchasr said:

@Luke

Just following up on this post.  I'm still having issues with Emby showing subtitles.

I just tried a video file with 3 English subtitles.  None of them showed on screen.  When I pull up the same file in Plex, they showed.  

 I'm attaching my log files again.  I was wondering if you could take a looembyserver.txt k.  

Thanks.  

hardware_detection-63898292384.txt 194.35 kB · 0 downloads

hi @Soundchasrhave you updated to Emby Server 4.9.1.90? has that helped?

[Soundchasr 19]

@Luke

Yes. I am using that version, and it still doesn't work.  

[Luke 42077]

49 minutes ago, Soundchasr said:

@Luke

Yes. I am using that version, and it still doesn't work.  

Hi, can you please see a new log example from that version? Thanks !

[Soundchasr 19]

Of course! Attached.  

embyserver.txt

[Soundchasr 19]

@Luke

I just tried my videos on a Fire TV Stick 4K and the subs show.  And I mentioned earlier that Plex subs plays find on Emby.  So, this looks like a Roku/Emby problem.   I understand that using MKVToolNix to remove forced flag would probably fix the issue but I don't want to have to do this to my entire library.  Is there any type of workaround you can think of?

 

 

Edited November 18, 2025 by Soundchasr

[ebr 16169]

1 hour ago, Soundchasr said:

@Luke

I just tried my videos on a Fire TV Stick 4K and the subs show.  And I mentioned earlier that Plex subs plays find on Emby.  So, this looks like a Roku/Emby problem.   I understand that using MKVToolNix to remove forced flag would probably fix the issue but I don't want to have to do this to my entire library.  Is there any type of workaround you can think of?

 

 

Forcing transcoding with playback correction will probably make it work for you.  There is nothing we can do about the way the Roku player interprets those flags.  It is very restrictive.

[Soundchasr 19]

@LukeOk, Thanks.  What settings do I need to change to do that?

[Soundchasr 19]

3 hours ago, ebr said:

Forcing transcoding with playback correction will probably make it work for you.  There is nothing we can do about the way the Roku player interprets those flags.  It is very restrictive.

Ok.  When I click "attempt playback correction," they will show.  What's happening there? 

[Soundchasr 19]

4 hours ago, ebr said:

Forcing transcoding with playback correction will probably make it work for you.  There is nothing we can do about the way the Roku player interprets those flags.  It is very restrictive.

@Luke@ebr

Any idea why the problem doesn't occur with Plex (on Roku).  If they have it working, maybe Emby could do whatever it is they did.  

BTW - I much rather use Emby, but when the subtitles don't show, I have to move over to Plex. 

Thanks

[Luke 42077]

21 hours ago, Soundchasr said:

Of course! Attached.  

embyserver.txt 65.81 kB · 0 downloads

Hi there, I don't see any playback activity in this log file. Are you sure this is the right one?

[Soundchasr 19]

Just now, Luke said:

Hi there, I don't see any playback activity in this log file. Are you sure this is the right one?

I'll go play the video and create a new one right now.  

 

[Soundchasr 19]

8 minutes ago, Luke said:

Hi there, I don't see any playback activity in this log file. Are you sure this is the right one?

Ok I played a video.  The subs didn't show so I hit playback correct and the subs came back.  

embyserver.txt

[ebr 16169]

20 hours ago, Soundchasr said:

Any idea why the problem doesn't occur with Plex (on Roku)

They may already be transcoding?

[ebr 16169]

21 hours ago, Soundchasr said:

Ok.  When I click "attempt playback correction," they will show.  What's happening there? 

It will force the server to transcode which will re-package the item and deliver the proper subs so the Roku isn't confused by the flags.

[Soundchasr 19]

26 minutes ago, ebr said:

They may already be transcoding?

It appears to be direct.  

Did my log show anything interesting?

Thanks for the help. 

Edited November 19, 2025 by Soundchasr