Plex supports the ability to search for (and use) subtitles from either the pre-play screen or during playback, for items in “movie” and “TV” libraries. This does require that the player app support the ability to do so. Subtitle search results currently use OpenSubtitles.com as the source.

Requirements

You must be running Plex Media Server version 1.13.8.5395 or newer. The following client/player apps have support for subtitle searching:

• Amazon Fire TV
• Android (mobile)
• Android TV
• Apple TV
• iOS
• macOS (desktop)
• PlayStation 4
• Plex Media Player
• Plex Web App
• Roku
• Smart TVs (LG 4K/UHD [webOS 2.0+], Samsung 2016+ UHD)
• Windows (desktop)
• Xbox One

Searching for subtitles

1. On the pre-play screen of a TV show or movie in a supported app use the subtitle selector
2. At the bottom of subtitle choices hit More…,  a search window will open
3. If you want different language than your account’s preferred subtitle language, change the language in the window
4. Make a choice and that subtitle will be selected for use

Some notes about the subtitle searching:

• The search uses title, file hash, and language to find matches
• The star means that your video file has a hash match from OpenSubtitles (and that result is very likely to be valid)
• If, after selecting a subtitle from search, you later select None or a different existing subtitle, the subtitle that was downloaded from the search will be deleted
• The subtitle will be available to you in other apps and remain selected for that item unless you intentionally choose a different subtitle

Search Preferences

There are some search preference in Audio & Subtitle Settings section of your Account settings that can affect the results returned in your searches.

Related Page: Account Audio/Subtitle Language Settings

Hearing Impaired Subtitle (SDH) Searches

This preference will determine how “hearing impaired” (HI) or “SDH” (subtitles for the deaf or hard-of-hearing) subtitle results are included in the searches.

1. Prefer non-hearing-impaired subtitles (non-HI at top of list) – default
2. Prefer hearing-impaired subtitles (HI at top of list)
3. Only show hearing-impaired subtitles
4. Only show non-hearing-impaired subtitles

Forced Subtitle Searches

This affects how “Forced” subtitles are included in searches. (A “Forced” subtitle is for when there’s dialog in the movie that’s a different language from the main dialog. e.g. When aliens speak in a Star Wars movie.)

1. Prefer non-forced subtitles – default
2. Prefer forced subtitles (forced subs at top of list)
3. Only show forced subtitles
4. Only show non-forced subtitles

Frequently Asked Questions

Where are subtitles saved?

Subtitles are temporarily saved in a blob database. Downloaded subtitles are not intended to be user-accessible.

Do my options selected in the OpenSubtitles metadata agent affect the search?

No, the subtitle search is not linked with the OpenSubtitles metadata agent.

Why can’t shared users see the subtitle I selected?

Subtitles searches are saved for each user separately. If a friend of yours needs a subtitle in different language than you, it will not show in your list.

The subtitles I got show a lot of descriptive text of sounds going on and not just speaking parts

That would be a “SDH” (subtitle for the deaf or hard-of-hearing) or “HI” (hearing-impaired) subtitle. Those subtitles intentionally have descriptions of sounds that occur. Such subtitles will commonly have HI or SDH text in the filename to help differentiate them.