Switching to other subtitle language randomly

Plex Players Desktop Players
1

A few months ago I started using Plex for Windows (used Plex Web until then), but some strange issues keep occurring since I’m using Plex for Windows.

Some shows that always have played smoothly on Plex Web, now all of a sudden, on some occasions won’t play on Plex Web anymore with, they do play well on Plex for Windows, and the issue seems to occur randomly. It says “There was an unexpected error during playback. Please visit our forums if you continue to experience problems”

A much more annoying issue is that when watching a show, sometimes it automatically turns on the subtitles, or it all of a sudden switches from English to Dutch, French or Spanish subtitles or vice versa.
When I turn off the subtitles or if I switch to another language again, most of the time within seconds the subs are turned back on or switched to another language again, and sometimes the video is playing for a few minutes with the settings I chose before automatically switching again.
This is extremely annoying and frustrating.
First I thought this had something to do with forced subtitle tracks or something, but the issues occurs with external subtitles as well, and it occurs with video files that don’t have any forced subtitle track.

I already gotten used to the fact that subtitles sometimes just disappear randomly even though they’re turned on (the chosen subtitle track isn’t changed or anything, Plex just doesn’t show any subtitles anymore, even though I’m sure the subtitle file isn’t missing any translation).
Most of the time when I rewind a video for 10 seconds the subtitles appear again, only to randomly disappear again after a few minutes. I was hoping the plex developers would’ve found a solution to that problem by now, since it has been a issue for over a few years now. But unfortunately nothing seems to have changed yet on this perspective.

The issue with Plex switching subtitle track out of no where or turning the subtitles on or off is a whole new issue.

Hope anyone has a solution to this because, like I said, it’s very frustrating.

Server Version#: 1.22.1.4200
Plex for Windows: 1.29.1.1974-a65b3ef3

2

Do those files switching subtitles have embedded .ass subtitles?

3

No there’s only an SRT with English subs in the MKV file.
I have set the preferred subtitle language in my server to English, however, this time it automatically switched to a Dutch subtitle again and again and again.
But this is not always the case, on other shows I have seen language I don’t even speak (French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese)

4

I have the same exact issues… on the windows app!

5

Does anyone have a solution to this problem?

6

Could you please post the first ~15 lines from the Plex XML info of an affected video?

7

This happens to me too. English subtitles “English (PGS) SDH” switch to the next one on the list “Deutsch (PGS” (no “SDH” in the one it switches to.

XML file first 25 lines or so:

<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="4" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" librarySectionUUID="da99f631-bfac-4763-99c4-45faebc10e1b" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1627505128">

<Video ratingKey="297138" key="/library/metadata/297138" parentRatingKey="297137" grandparentRatingKey="297136" guid="com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://338186/1/10?lang=en" parentGuid="com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://338186/1?lang=en" grandparentGuid="com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://338186?lang=en" type="episode" title="Nobody Is Ever Missing" grandparentKey="/library/metadata/297136" parentKey="/library/metadata/297137" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" librarySectionID="4" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/4" grandparentTitle="Succession" parentTitle="Season 1" contentRating="TV-MA" summary="Logan finds himself in crisis mode as news of a hostile takeover breaks; Kendall's siblings are not happy when they find out about the takeover. Kendall turns to drugs to help him escape, with tragic consequences." index="10" parentIndex="1" viewOffset="1680000" lastViewedAt="1628606291" year="2018" thumb="/library/metadata/297138/thumb/1598827610" art="/library/metadata/297136/art/1598827615" parentThumb="/library/metadata/297137/thumb/1598827615" grandparentThumb="/library/metadata/297136/thumb/1598827615" grandparentArt="/library/metadata/297136/art/1598827615" grandparentTheme="/library/metadata/297136/theme/1598827615" duration="3987444" originallyAvailableAt="2018-08-05" addedAt="1598818208" updatedAt="1598827610" chapterSource="media">

<Media id="287958" duration="3987444" bitrate="19088" width="1920" height="1080" aspectRatio="1.78" audioChannels="6" audioCodec="dca-ma" videoCodec="h264" videoResolution="1080" container="mkv" videoFrameRate="24p" audioProfile="ma" videoProfile="high">

<Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="288036" key="/library/parts/288036/1565349181/file.mkv" duration="3987444" file="/mnt/nfs/TV/Succession/S01/Succession.-.S01E10.-.Nobody.Is.Ever.Missing.Bluray-1080p.mkv" size="9515903953" audioProfile="ma" container="mkv" deepAnalysisVersion="4" requiredBandwidths="29558,28679,27942,27773,27773,27773,27773,27773" videoProfile="high">

<Stream id="227190" streamType="1" default="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="15827" language="English" languageCode="eng" bitDepth="8" chromaLocation="left" chromaSubsampling="4:2:0" codedHeight="1088" codedWidth="1920" frameRate="23.976" hasScalingMatrix="0" height="1080" level="41" profile="high" refFrames="4" requiredBandwidths="27194,26146,24992,24756,24756,24756,24756,24756" scanType="progressive" title="MPEG-4 AVC Video / 15994 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1" width="1920" displayTitle="1080p (H.264)" extendedDisplayTitle="MPEG-4 AVC Video / 15994 kbps / 1080p / 23.976 fps / 16:9 / High Profile 4.1"> </Stream>

<Stream id="227191" streamType="2" selected="1" default="1" codec="dca" index="1" channels="6" bitrate="3183" language="English" languageCode="eng" audioChannelLayout="5.1(side)" bitDepth="24" profile="ma" requiredBandwidths="3652,3527,3305,3305,3305,3305,3305,3305" samplingRate="48000" title="DTS-HD Master Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3183 kbps / 24-bit" displayTitle="English (DTS-HD MA 5.1)" extendedDisplayTitle="DTS-HD Master Audio / 5.1 / 48 kHz / 3183 kbps / 24-bit (English)"> </Stream>

<Stream id="227192" streamType="3" selected="1" codec="pgs" index="2" bitrate="43" language="English" languageCode="eng" requiredBandwidths="59,59,59,59,59,59,59,59" title="SDH" displayTitle="English (PGS)" extendedDisplayTitle="SDH (English PGS)"> </Stream>

<Stream id="227193" streamType="3" codec="pgs" index="3" bitrate="36" language="Deutsch" languageCode="ger" requiredBandwidths="64,64,64,64,64,64,64,64" displayTitle="Deutsch (PGS)" extendedDisplayTitle="Deutsch (PGS)"> </Stream>

<Stream id="227194" key="/library/streams/227194" streamType="3" codec="srt" language="English" languageCode="eng" displayTitle="English (SRT External)" extendedDisplayTitle="English (SRT External)"> </Stream>

</Part>

</Media>
8 
<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="2" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" librarySectionUUID="43283f89-2022-4f76-95e8-86ea211fb982" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1620278650">
<Video ratingKey="79932" key="/library/metadata/79932" parentRatingKey="79931" grandparentRatingKey="79930" guid="com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://359579/1/1?lang=en" parentGuid="com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://359579/1?lang=en" grandparentGuid="com.plexapp.agents.thetvdb://359579?lang=en" type="episode" title="Part One" grandparentKey="/library/metadata/79930" parentKey="/library/metadata/79931" librarySectionTitle="TV Shows" librarySectionID="2" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/2" grandparentTitle="Your Honor (US)" parentTitle="Seizoen 1" contentRating="TV-MA" summary="When his teenage son Adam is involved in a tragic accident, New Orleans Judge Michael Desiato is faced with an impossible decision that will impact his family forever, test the bonds with his oldest friend Charlie and put a strain on Adam’s secret relationship with girlfriend Frannie. Dangerous crime lord Jimmy Baxter and his wife Gina Baxter’s birthday gift puts their son Rocco on a collision course with tragedy." index="1" parentIndex="1" viewOffset="2373000" viewCount="1" lastViewedAt="1628789712" year="2020" thumb="/library/metadata/79932/thumb/1618097796" art="/library/metadata/79930/art/1618097797" parentThumb="/library/metadata/79931/thumb/1615670374" grandparentThumb="/library/metadata/79930/thumb/1618097797" grandparentArt="/library/metadata/79930/art/1618097797" grandparentTheme="/library/metadata/79930/theme/1618097797" duration="3415136" originallyAvailableAt="2020-12-06" addedAt="1615670293" updatedAt="1618097796">
<Media id="127663" duration="3415136" bitrate="3784" width="1920" height="800" aspectRatio="2.35" audioChannels="6" audioCodec="eac3" videoCodec="hevc" videoResolution="1080" container="mkv" videoFrameRate="24p" videoProfile="main 10">
<Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="131252" key="/library/parts/131252/1615670677/file.mkv" duration="3415136" file="Y:\Series\Your Honor US\Your Honor US - Season 01\Your.Honor.US.S01E01.1080p.WEBRip.10Bit.DDP5.1.H265-d3g.mkv" size="1616206364" container="mkv" deepAnalysisVersion="4" requiredBandwidths="4275,4053,3902,3902,3902,3902,3902,3902" videoProfile="main 10">
<Stream id="384123" streamType="1" default="1" codec="hevc" index="0" bitrate="3139" bitDepth="10" chromaSubsampling="4:2:0" codedHeight="800" codedWidth="1920" colorPrimaries="bt709" colorRange="tv" colorSpace="bt709" colorTrc="bt709" frameRate="23.976" height="800" level="120" profile="main 10" refFrames="1" requiredBandwidths="3629,3407,3268,3268,3268,3268,3268,3268" width="1920" displayTitle="1080p (HEVC Main 10)" extendedDisplayTitle="1080p (HEVC Main 10)"> </Stream>
<Stream id="384124" streamType="2" selected="1" default="1" codec="eac3" index="1" channels="6" bitrate="640" language="English" languageCode="eng" audioChannelLayout="5.1(side)" requiredBandwidths="640,640,640,640,640,640,640,640" samplingRate="48000" displayTitle="English (EAC3 5.1)" extendedDisplayTitle="English (EAC3 5.1)"> </Stream>
<Stream id="384125" streamType="3" selected="1" default="1" codec="vobsub" index="2" bitrate="5" language="English" languageCode="eng" requiredBandwidths="7,7,7,7,7,7,7,7" displayTitle="English (VOBSUB)" extendedDisplayTitle="English (VOBSUB)"> </Stream>
<Stream id="384171" key="/library/streams/384171" streamType="3" codec="srt" language="Nederlands" languageCode="dut" displayTitle="Nederlands (SRT Extern)" extendedDisplayTitle="Nederlands (SRT Extern)"> </Stream>
<Stream id="384849" key="/library/streams/384849" streamType="3" codec="srt" language="Nederlands" languageCode="dut" displayTitle="Nederlands (SRT Extern)" extendedDisplayTitle="Nederlands (SRT Extern)"> </Stream>
<Stream id="384170" key="/library/streams/384170" streamType="3" codec="srt" language="English" languageCode="eng" displayTitle="English (SRT Extern)" extendedDisplayTitle="English (SRT Extern)"> </Stream>
</Part>
</Media>
9

Having the same problem on multiple files. Last one was this one.
My default is Portuguese, but i change to english on playback, at random times they go back to portuguese, i have then to change to en again, sometimes the change doesn’t “stick” and it goes back to PT in a few seconds!

Plex for windows 1.33.0.2444-a220eae4
Plex server 1.24.0.4930

<MediaContainer size="1" allowSync="1" identifier="com.plexapp.plugins.library" librarySectionID="1" librarySectionTitle="Movies" librarySectionUUID="5e3013ae-da2a-47ea-a8be-78ce79d41fde" mediaTagPrefix="/system/bundle/media/flags/" mediaTagVersion="1628741429">
   <Video ratingKey="10778" key="/library/metadata/10778" guid="com.plexapp.agents.imdb://tt9203694?lang=en" studio="Stage 6 Films" type="movie" title="Stowaway" librarySectionTitle="Movies" librarySectionID="1" librarySectionKey="/library/sections/1" contentRating="NR" summary="A three-person crew on a mission to Mars faces an impossible choice when an unplanned passenger jeopardizes the lives of everyone on board." rating="5.9" viewOffset="574000" lastViewedAt="1628971322" year="2021" tagline="Millions of miles from home, survival comes with sacrifice." thumb="/library/metadata/10778/thumb/1628970617" art="/library/metadata/10778/art/1628970617" duration="6969568" originallyAvailableAt="2021-06-24" addedAt="1619087974" updatedAt="1628970617" primaryExtraKey="/library/metadata/10779">
      <Media id="11072" duration="6969568" bitrate="5796" width="1920" height="816" aspectRatio="2.35" audioChannels="6" audioCodec="eac3" videoCodec="h264" videoResolution="1080" container="mkv" videoFrameRate="24p" videoProfile="high">
         <Part accessible="1" exists="1" id="11181" key="/library/parts/11181/1619087888/file.mkv" duration="6969568" file="/movies/Stowaway.mkv" size="5051650352" container="mkv" deepAnalysisVersion="4" requiredBandwidths="9947,9270,8093,7158,6773,6614,6273,6273" videoProfile="high">
            <Stream id="39461" streamType="1" default="1" codec="h264" index="0" bitrate="5156" bitDepth="8" chromaLocation="left" chromaSubsampling="4:2:0" codedHeight="816" codedWidth="1920" colorPrimaries="bt709" colorRange="tv" colorSpace="bt709" colorTrc="bt709" frameRate="23.976" hasScalingMatrix="0" height="816" level="40" profile="high" refFrames="4" requiredBandwidths="9306,8630,7453,6518,6133,5973,5634,5634" scanType="progressive" width="1920" displayTitle="1080p (H.264)" extendedDisplayTitle="1080p (H.264)" />
            <Stream id="39462" streamType="2" selected="1" codec="eac3" index="1" channels="6" bitrate="640" language="Inglês" languageTag="en" languageCode="eng" audioChannelLayout="5.1(side)" requiredBandwidths="640,640,640,640,640,640,640,640" samplingRate="48000" title="English" displayTitle="Inglês (EAC3 5.1)" extendedDisplayTitle="English (EAC3 5.1)" />
            <Stream id="39463" streamType="3" codec="srt" index="2" bitrate="0" language="Inglês" languageTag="en" languageCode="eng" requiredBandwidths="1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1" title="English [SDH]" displayTitle="Inglês (SRT)" extendedDisplayTitle="English [SDH] (SRT)" />
            <Stream id="39464" streamType="3" selected="1" codec="srt" index="3" bitrate="0" language="Inglês" languageTag="en" languageCode="eng" requiredBandwidths="1,1,1,1,1,1,1,1" title="English" displayTitle="Inglês (SRT)" extendedDisplayTitle="English (SRT)" />
            <Stream id="39608" key="/library/streams/39608" streamType="3" codec="srt" language="Português" languageTag="pt" languageCode="por" format="srt" displayTitle="Português (SRT Ligação Externa)" extendedDisplayTitle="Português (SRT Ligação Externa)" />
         </Part>
      </Media>
   </Video>
</MediaContainer>
10

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