# external subtitles not being registered

**URL:** <https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183>\
**Category:** General Discussions\
**Created:** [October 22, 2017, 1:28pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183 "2017-10-22T13:28:47Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 15\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![stevencas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@stevencas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/stevencas)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 1:28pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/1 "2017-10-22T13:28:47Z")

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Lately, it has been an issue that for some files, the external subtitles (which are named correctly and placed in the same folder) does not register, and therefore I can not choose subtitles when playing media.  
I remember there was an option to rescan library for specific shows back in the days, but I can’t seem to find that function now.

This also often occurs to content where I add the subtitles on a later time than the video itself.  
Any way to force plex to pick up the subtitles?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![eglinski](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/eglinski/32/24711_2.png) [@eglinski](https://forums.plex.tv/u/eglinski)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 5:25pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/2 "2017-10-22T17:25:53Z")

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Seconded. I am having the same issue and have tried various formats but Plex is not registering any subtitles.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 5:52pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/3 "2017-10-22T17:52:07Z")

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The ‘Local Media Assets’ must be active under  
Settings - Server - Agents - Movies - Plex Movie + TheMoviedatabase  
and  
Settings - Server - Agents - Shows - TheTVDB + TheMoviedatabase

It does **not** need to be in the top position though.

If it still doesn’t work, try to ‘Refresh Metadata’ om the item.

Otherwise, please post the [Plex XML info](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201998867-Investigate-Media-Information-and-Formats "Plex XML info") of an affected item.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![neonser](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/e0b2c6/32.png) [@neonser](https://forums.plex.tv/u/neonser)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 6:33pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/4 "2017-10-22T18:33:59Z")

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> @OttoKerner said:  
> The ‘Local Media Assets’ must be active under  
> Settings - Server - Agents - Movies - Plex Movie + TheMoviedatabase  
> and  
> Settings - Server - Agents - Shows - TheTVDB + TheMoviedatabase
> 
> It does **not** need to be in the top position though.
> 
> If it still doesn’t work, try to ‘Refresh Metadata’ om the item.
> 
> Otherwise, please post the [Plex XML info](https://support.plex.tv/hc/en-us/articles/201998867-Investigate-Media-Information-and-Formats "Plex XML info") of an affected item.

Thank you very much.

In my case, the option “Local Media Assets” in Shows - The TVDB was deactivated.

But I do not know how it was disabled.

Sorry my bad english

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 6:44pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/5 "2017-10-22T18:44:08Z")

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> @neonser said:  
> In my case, the option “Local Media Assets” in Shows - The TVDB was deactivated.  
> But I do not know how it was disabled.

You probably disbled it because it also reads embedded ‘title’ tags, which override the downloaded meta data when the line ‘Local Media Assets’ is above of the line ‘TheTVDB’.  
But since you now have it below, all should be good anyway.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![stevencas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@stevencas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/stevencas)\
**Post date:** [October 22, 2017, 6:51pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/6 "2017-10-22T18:51:56Z")

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Thanks.  
Had to refresh metadata, but now it is working 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![stevencas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@stevencas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/stevencas)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 7:11am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/7 "2019-09-06T07:11:27Z")

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This problem has reoccured (with at least one show that I know of. there is probably others too…)

I’ve tried doing the plex dance with moving the folder out, scanning library, adding the folder and rescanning - without subs being added.  
The issue seems to be the same with this show for both my main server and my backup box.

I’ve tried refreshing metadata. I’ve tried analyzing items again. All without success.  
Filenames in same dir:  
Into.the.Badlands.S01E01.720p.WEB.h264-PLEXREADY.mp4  
Into.the.Badlands.S01E01.720p.WEB.h264-PLEXREADY.nor.srt

XML for affected item:

```auto
<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="1" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" librarySectionUUID="93e92a19-291c-4b2e-a54a-0b37bbda15de" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1559730899">
<Video ratingKey="80599" key="/library/metadata/80599" parentRatingKey="80598" grandparentRatingKey="80577" guid="com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://289079/1/1?lang=en" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" librarySectionID="1" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/1" type="episode" title="The Fort" titleSort="Fort" grandparentKey="/library/metadata/80577" parentKey="/library/metadata/80598" grandparentTitle="Into the Badlands" parentTitle="Season 1" contentRating="TV-14" summary="The Badlands' deadliest Clipper rescues a mysterious boy with a dark secret, but who may know the way out." index="1" parentIndex="1" rating="7.3" year="2015" thumb="/library/metadata/80599/thumb/1567753642" art="/library/metadata/80577/art/1567753643" parentThumb="/library/metadata/80598/thumb/1567753643" grandparentThumb="/library/metadata/80577/thumb/1567753643" grandparentArt="/library/metadata/80577/art/1567753643" duration="2530230" originallyAvailableAt="2015-11-15" addedAt="1567753166" updatedAt="1567753642">
<Media id="83148" duration="2530230" bitrate="2808" width="1280" height="720" aspectRatio="1.78" audioChannels="6" audioCodec="ac3" videoCodec="h264" videoResolution="720" container="mp4" videoFrameRate="PAL" optimizedForStreaming="1" has64bitOffsets="0" videoProfile="main">
<Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="84187" key="/library/parts/84187/1560536174/file.mp4" duration="2530230" file="/media/TV/TV-2/Into the Badlands/Into.The.Badlands.S01.NORDiC.720p.WEB.h264-PLEXREADY/Into.the.Badlands.S01E01.720p.WEB.h264-PLEXREADY.mp4" size="888017564" container="mp4" has64bitOffsets="0" optimizedForStreaming="1" videoProfile="main">
<Stream id="243322" streamType="1" default="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="2165" bitDepth="8" chromaLocation="left" chromaSubsampling="4:2:0" frameRate="25.000" hasScalingMatrix="0" height="720" level="31" profile="main" refFrames="4" streamIdentifier="1" width="1280" displayTitle="720p (H.264)"/>
<Stream id="243323" streamType="2" selected="1" default="1" codec="aac" index="1" channels="2" bitrate="258" language="English" languageCode="eng" audioChannelLayout="stereo" profile="lc" samplingRate="48000" streamIdentifier="2" displayTitle="English (AAC Stereo)"/>
<Stream id="243324" streamType="2" codec="ac3" index="2" channels="6" bitrate="384" language="English" languageCode="eng" audioChannelLayout="5.1(side)" samplingRate="48000" streamIdentifier="3" displayTitle="English (AC3 5.1)"/>
</Part>
</Media>
<Director id="10004" filter="director=10004" tag="David Dobkin"/>
<Writer id="7381" filter="writer=7381" tag="Alfred Gough"/>
<Writer id="7382" filter="writer=7382" tag="Miles Millar"/>
<Extras size="0"> </Extras>
</Video>
</MediaContainer>

```

The problem is the same for all episodes of this show

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 8:28am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/8 "2019-09-06T08:28:10Z")

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Verify that you tv show library is looking exactly at the folder  
`/media/TV/TV-2`  
Not one level above, nor below.

Check access permissions for the srt files. Plex needs to have ‘read’ permission.  
Try renaming the season folder to simply `Season 01`.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![stevencas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@stevencas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/stevencas)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 9:01am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/9 "2019-09-06T09:01:03Z")

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-rw-r–r-- 1 root root 888017564 Jun 14 20:16 Into.the.Badlands.S01E01.720p.WEB.h264-PLEXREADY.mp4  
-rw-r–r-- 1 root root 17724 Jun 14 10:07 Into.The.Badlands.S01E01.720p.WEB.h264-PLEXREADY.nor.srt

Show on same drive, where subtitles are found:

-rw-r–r-- 1 root root 576635364 Jun 12 11:14 Insecure.S01E01.720p.WEB.h264-PLEXREADY.mp4  
-rw-r–r-- 1 root root 30404 Jun 4 08:59 Insecure.S01E01.720p.WEB.h264-PLEXREADY.nor.srt

I renamed directory from Into.The.Badlands.S01.NORDiC.720p.WEB.h264-PLEXREADY to “Season01” and rescanned without any changes to subtitle issue.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 9:45am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/10 "2019-09-06T09:45:16Z")

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What happens if you Refresh Metadata/ Analyse on a show which previously had working external subtitles?  
Do they vanish from there?

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![stevencas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@stevencas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/stevencas)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 10:59am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/12 "2019-09-06T10:59:52Z")

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No changes when I do it to the other show.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 11:08am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/13 "2019-09-06T11:08:34Z")

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Crazy idea: change the language codes from `.nor` to `.no`

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![stevencas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@stevencas](https://forums.plex.tv/u/stevencas)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 11:20am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/14 "2019-09-06T11:20:42Z")

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Had no faith in that changing anything, but when tab-ing to complete filename, I noticed what caused this…  
“Into.The.Badlands…mp4” and “Into.the.Badlands…nor.srt”  
The, the…

God damn case sensitive linux 😛 Not the first time that has taken hours off my life 😛

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![OttoKerner](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/ottokerner/32/10079_2.png) [@OttoKerner](https://forums.plex.tv/u/OttoKerner)\
**Post date:** [September 6, 2019, 11:24am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/15 "2019-09-06T11:24:32Z")

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Don’t worry, it is case-sensitive on Windows as well. 🙂

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\
**Post date:** [January 8, 2020, 12:02am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/external-subtitles-not-being-registered/211183/16 "2020-01-08T00:02:04Z")

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