Embedded subtitles do not work...

[thelanranger 11]

I have several files where I thought the subtitles simply were broken but upon finding a specific show that absolutely REQUIRED me to use the subtitles I delved a bit deeper into it and it seems that essentially all of the embedded subtitles within the Roku App do not work. I have the same files in the web app and they work properly and also swapped between burn/no burn in the Roku app but that's about all the options. Anything else I can try?

[Luke 42077]

 

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

 

[ebr 16169]

Hi.  This is almost certainly going to come down to the flags that are on those subtitle tracks.  If you can use something like mkvtoolnix to look at the flags, I bet you are going to find either multiple tracks being marked as "Default" or one "Default" and one "Forced" in all the cases where you cannot make the subs show.

[thelanranger 11]

So, I opened one of the afflicted files in this app and it shows the audio file as default, one of the subtitle tracks as default (not the one that I would like to use, but this one works in roku) and about 10 others in various languages listed as not default. 

In the app on roku I can see all the subtitles and choose them but when I do it simply does not display subtitles at all anymore rather than changing to that subtitle track. This behavior is specific to the app on the Roku device. It does not have this behavior on the web app or the app on Android, or in VLC player on windows.

I'll have to get logs on the issue at a later date but it seems quite specific to the Roku App and also not file specific (many different files across different shows/movies have had this issue). 

[pwhodges 2012]

Did you also check whether any of the subtitle tracks were marked "forced" (you often have to scroll sideways in MKVToolNix to see it)?

Paul

 

[thelanranger 11]

The one subtitle track that will work is marked as forced in this case. The others are not. Again, not sure why this has any effect on the specific app? I can still choose the subtitle track in the roku app but when I choose it then it does not work. When I choose this subtitle track on the app on the shield or on the web (or in vlc media player) it works perfectly fine.

Also, I would understand that the 'forced' or 'default' tags would be some kind of issue if it was preventing me from selecting or seeing the track itself in the app but it's not. They all show up and can be chosen. They simply do not display once chosen.

[ebr 16169]

56 minutes ago, thelanranger said:

The one subtitle track that will work is marked as forced in this case.

Try removing that flag and I think you will find all the subs will then work.

56 minutes ago, thelanranger said:

not sure why this has any effect on the specific app?

Because of the way the internal Roku player interprets these flags which is not intuitive but it is what it is.

[speechles 2055]

It happens when the item is being direct played in the original container. You can also use the "Playback Correction" in the Roku app. If the container is being direct played using the playback button once will cause the item to change to HLS for the container. Then that will immediately solve the problem. But you will have to do this every time you have the problem. The reason it happens was stated above. It is a Roku quirk.

The Roku was built as a streaming device. It doesn't understand when the MKV header has things hidden behind it. Such as "tags" and other clutter in the MKV header. It will cause the Roku to only be able to play the default/forced track and no other subtitle will work. You can use MKVToolNix GUI and remove the tags/global tags if they are found. Deselect them. Leave all other subtitles selected. Uncheck the default or forced flags from any subtitles. Click start remux and it should be rather quick. Remuxing copies everything. The MKV header will be corrected and your embedded subtitles will then work.

Conversely, instead of fix anything or use playback correction, you can download SRT subtitles for that item and place them alongside the media using the Emby download subtitle feature. Then just chose those external SRT subtitles and they will work because they are not embedded. It is only embedded subtitles that will cause this issue.

Edited August 24, 2025 by speechles

[thelanranger 11]

Might just take this as the last straw for the Roku device. I hate this device as it is and really have been looking for an excuse to get rid of it. This might just be the nail in the coffin.

[Luke 42077]

On 8/23/2025 at 1:12 AM, Luke said:

 

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

 

@thelanranger?