# Forced subtitles question **URL:** \ **Category:** General Discussions\ **Created:** [November 21, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/forced-subtitles-question/214839 "2017-11-21T03:14:32Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SteveG144](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b5e925/32.png) [@SteveG144](https://forums.plex.tv/u/SteveG144)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 3:14am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/forced-subtitles-question/214839/1 "2017-11-21T03:14:32Z")
I am still trying to figure this whole ‘forced subtitles’ out. When I pull up a MKV file, why am I seeing English listed more than once for subtitles? And do I need to mark every occurance of ‘English’ as forced? ---
**Author:** ![NewPlaza](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/newplaza/32/128634_2.png) [@NewPlaza](https://forums.plex.tv/u/NewPlaza)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 7:03pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/forced-subtitles-question/214839/2 "2017-11-21T19:03:23Z")
I believe this thread will help. [https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1556476/#Comment\_1556476](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/comment/1556476/#Comment_1556476) In a nutshell, you must know what each sub is before you can set it to forced. You can play the movie with VLC or something and switch between each English sub to find out. ---
**Author:** ![JuiceWSA](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/juicewsa/32/12253_2.png) [@JuiceWSA](https://forums.plex.tv/u/JuiceWSA)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 7:22pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/forced-subtitles-question/214839/3 "2017-11-21T19:22:33Z")
Here’s the start of that thread - which probably should be read in it’s entirety - due to the fact it didn’t really sink in the first time we went over it with @“144steve@gmail.com” . [https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/293088/its-not-subtitles-but](https://forums.plex.tv/discussion/293088/its-not-subtitles-but) ‘Forced Subs’ are the subs that only contain the foreign language bits. That’s what the world knows as a Forced Sub. I suppose you could ‘fiddle’ with standard subs if they’re not coming up automatically - due to some Language/Subtitle Setting gone awry (or missed entirely). For me, this works fine because the ONLY sub track or file I need is Forced - the foreign language bits. ALL others are stripped from the file before addition. If a sub file is present - the one I need will be - it’s displayed: ![](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/f/d/fd0155c9580eea9742cd6f61a24163003746df16.jpg) I don’t need Ukrainian Subs (etc) so while I’m stripping out those dastardly Global Tags Otto ruined my life over, I can strip out unwanted subs at the same time. ---
**Author:** ![NewPlaza](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/newplaza/32/128634_2.png) [@NewPlaza](https://forums.plex.tv/u/NewPlaza)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 8:32pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/forced-subtitles-question/214839/4 "2017-11-21T20:32:39Z")
> @JuiceWSA said: > I don’t need Ukrainian Subs (etc) so while I’m stripping out those dastardly Global Tags Otto ruined my life over, I can strip out unwanted subs at the same time. You could strip out those global tags with a batch file(minus the unwanted subs, although possible) ---
**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, 12:10am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/forced-subtitles-question/214839/5 "2020-01-08T00:10:06Z")