# Plex not activating subs per Language Preferences **URL:** \ **Category:** Plex Media Server\ **Tags:** server-docker\ **Created:** [April 3, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-activating-subs-per-language-preferences/937700 "2026-04-03T23:30:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![harpera68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@harpera68](https://forums.plex.tv/u/harpera68)\ **Post date:** [April 3, 2026, 11:30pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-activating-subs-per-language-preferences/937700/1 "2026-04-03T23:30:23Z")
Server Version#: 1.43.0.10492 Player Version#: 4.159.0 This is a brand-new server install, but the Plex Account itself has been configured for some time with very normal English speaker prefs: ![Screenshot 2026-04-03 at 18-25-53 Plex](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/b/8/7/b87e4ac93da8a5cdb14efec8bbd8632a8a801f1e.png) But these don’t seem to be working at all. I’ve only made a single test library at this point, but the subs are not being activated at all without me manually turning them on. ![Screenshot 2026-04-03 at 18-28-23 Plex](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/d/a/2/da285ff6d34a7608bd79aa1a39685ae643edfcb5.png) The audio/sub tracks are flagged correctly for languages. ![Screenshot 2026-04-03 at 18-28-39 Plex](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/9/6/8/968f80f754a9af4392846e43d6c11b5ec4c45f19.png) So why aren’t the English subs being turned on here? ---
**Author:** ![shark2k](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/shark2k/32/305908_2.png) [@shark2k](https://forums.plex.tv/u/shark2k)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 1:38am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-activating-subs-per-language-preferences/937700/2 "2026-04-04T01:38:24Z")
Do you have the checkbox selected shown in the below screenshot? ![image](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/b/0/5/b05f2c1e3e40dae6a57d79568858da58afb2d1f7.png) -Shark2k ---
**Author:** ![tom80H](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/tom80h/32/19753_2.png) [@tom80H](https://forums.plex.tv/u/tom80H)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 2:00am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-activating-subs-per-language-preferences/937700/3 "2026-04-04T02:00:59Z")
One additional note: Your screenshot shows you’ve selected to display English forced subtitles. However, the file only lists the regular subtitles (no forced track). ---
**Author:** ![shark2k](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/shark2k/32/305908_2.png) [@shark2k](https://forums.plex.tv/u/shark2k)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 2:21am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-activating-subs-per-language-preferences/937700/4 "2026-04-04T02:21:28Z")
Not correct. I have the same setting and my full English subtitles are selected either when the media only has a foreign audio track or if I select the foreign audio track when there is an English track available. Also, forced subtitles are selected when the audio track and subtitle track (labeled forced) match. That would not apply in this case. -Shark2k ---
**Author:** ![harpera68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@harpera68](https://forums.plex.tv/u/harpera68)\ **Post date:** [April 4, 2026, 2:46am UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-activating-subs-per-language-preferences/937700/5 "2026-04-04T02:46:14Z")
> [@shark2k](#): > > Do you have the checkbox selected shown in the below screenshot? Yup, I do. Also, I will note this is the official Plex Docker image (not [linuxserver.io](http://linuxserver.io)). Edit: I hadn’t checked programs that have forced subs, so I just now added additional content to the test library. It doesn’t appear forced subs are being selected either. ![forced](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/4X/3/f/0/3f040bee2cf4c09062cedb8adbf35a602e926894.png) ---
**Author:** ![harpera68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/5e9695/32.png) [@harpera68](https://forums.plex.tv/u/harpera68)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 9:01pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-activating-subs-per-language-preferences/937700/6 "2026-04-07T21:01:03Z")
Checking back in on this issue on the server, the problem seems to have self-resolved. 🎉 🤷 After looking at multiple shows just now: - Foreign-language shows are _now_ showing the English subs as selected. - Shows that are English language with a forced subtitle track also have the Forced subs already activated when first opening an episode’s page. - Shows that have multiple audio tracks are changing the subtitle track between Forced or Full subs when I select either English audio or a foreign audio track. ---
**Author:** ![shark2k](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/plex/user_avatar/forums.plex.tv/shark2k/32/305908_2.png) [@shark2k](https://forums.plex.tv/u/shark2k)\ **Post date:** [April 7, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-activating-subs-per-language-preferences/937700/7 "2026-04-07T21:34:29Z")
Glad you were able to “figure” it out (aka, it started working out of nowhere). Sorry I did not respond back. I was not quite sure where to go next and just had not had time to come back to this also. -Shark2k ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/plex/original/3X/2/a/2acb9765406f63293d357b4ec509ec39aa28f2ad.png) [@system](https://forums.plex.tv/u/system)\ **Post date:** [July 6, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://forums.plex.tv/t/plex-not-activating-subs-per-language-preferences/937700/8 "2026-07-06T21:34:56Z")
This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.