How to Use Subtitles on Plex
How To Automatically Download Subtitles On Plex
Plex supports several subtitle solutions for your media. Here's how to enable them, plus more on how to use subtitles on Plex.
Subtitles can also be useful if you're trying to learn a foreign language. You might even want to add subtitles for content made in your own language if the content includes hard-to-understand accents or periods of quiet speech. Or if you have hearing problems.
Let's assume you don't have any locally-saved subtitles files, or at least, the majority of your content doesn't have accompanying subtitles. You need to source your subtitles from a third-party provider.
Using a media scraping agent, Plex can pull subtitles from OpenSubtitles.org for free. You just need to set the process in motion.
To begin,
- Go to Settings > Settings > Agents.
- Using the tabs at the top of the page, navigate to Movies > Plex Movie (Legacy).
- Find OpenSubtitles.org, make sure the check box is ticked, and drag it to the top of the list.
- Next, go back to the tabs at the top of the screen, but this time head to Shows > TheTVDB. (Shows is called Programmes in the UK edition). Again, mark the checkbox and drag OpenSubtitles.org to the top.
Making these changes ensures Plex prioritizes downloading subtitles when you add new content to your library.
To tell Plex which languages you desire, you need to edit the agent's settings. On the same screen, click the Gear icon next to OpenSubtitles.org. If you have an account on the site, you can enter your username and password, though it's not essential for the tool to work. You can specify up to three languages using the drop-down boxes.
How To Add Subtitles To Your Existing Shows On Plex
The changes you've just made to the media scraping agent will only work for any new content added to your library.
If you're just starting your media collection, that's fine, but in most cases, you'll probably want to retrospectively add subtitles to your existing TV shows and movies.
To do so, you need to refresh your library's metadata. Locate the library you want to refresh in the list on the left-hand side of the Plex home screen. Click the three horizontal dots to access the context menu, then go to Manage Library > Refresh All Metadata.
How To Add Local Subtitle Files
OpenSubtitles.org has a vast number of free subtitle files, but it doesn't have everything. If the subtitles file is missing for one of your favorite shows, you might have to locate it elsewhere.
Plex supports subtitles in five formats: SRT, SMI, SSA, ASS, and VTT. Formats such as VOBSUB and PGS will only work on some Plex players and should be avoided if possible.
Once you've downloaded the files you need, save them in the same directory as the media for which they are applicable.
To complete the process, scan your library (Context menu > Scan Library Files). Plex should find the subtitles files and link them to the associated videos.
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