Plex subtitle search never displays available forced subtitles

General Discussions
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Hi. When using Plex on my TV, I want to search and add subtitles through opensubtitles. I believe I have my settings correct, and prefer forced subtitles is checked. However, no matter the movie, whenever I search for subtitles it only shows full subtitles. Obviously there are forced subtitles available, for example for Star Wars, because I can easily use my web browser to see there are forced subtitles available on opensubtitles. Plex never shows these as an option though.

Even when set to “search only for forced subtitles” it doesn’t show any. It still just shows full subtitles only.

Of course I can download the forced subs on my desktop and add them manually, and (though annoying) this works, but it doesn’t make sense to me why this should be necessary when there is an in-app search function that even has settings to prefer forced subtitles using opensubtitles as its search domain.

How can I get Plex to actually show available forced subtitles when searching in the app on my TV?

I’ve searched all over for this topic, and most threads made about it seem to get zero replies, so I wonder if this is just some problem that has no fix, and Plex’s search function is broken?

Thanks a ton for any help!

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i’ve had limited success with subtitle search using Plex. And even then, I don’t see where you can specify FORCED subs vs regular.

But from what I’ve seen, there are VERY few forced subs out there. Seems everyone is deaf, there are so many different full sub versions out there.

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Under account you can specify to search for prefer forced subtitles, or even only forced subtitles. The problem seems to be not only does that setting not work, but that Plex doesn’t even visually show forced subtitles. If you search opensubtitles in a web browser for Star Wars IV forced subs (alien scenes), there are at least 10 listed. If you search through Plex though, they don’t show up. This seems like a major issue so I’m surprised I haven’t seen it anywhere. I’ve tried the subzero plugin and had the same results.

Forced subtitles just don’t seem to show up in Plex search at all.

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For anyone who reads this with the same problem, I’m not sure there’s an actual solution. I think Plex’s subtitle search is just buggy.

I ended up setting up Bazarr to mass search forced subs as my solution.

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EDIT: Well, ■■■■ me (EDIT EDIT: a non expletive version of the “F” word is also censored. funny). I just read the article I linked:

It seems that those last two settings on that account area do indeed relate to the search function for subtitles, as you claim. Huh. Well, this does appear extremely broken then.

The subscene/subzero download capability seems EXTREMELY tacked on and barely functional. I’m glad I am not relying on it for automatic collection of subtitles. I also suspect the search bar when you DO look for a subtitle doesn’t really submit your search, since I have also included the word FORCED in my search and it only retrieves 10 non forced subs.

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I’m having the same problem as well. Glad I don’t seem to be the only one

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