[RAHRL]

I use Kodi primary to play MKV files, ripped from my own DVD’s using MakeMKV.

I use Kodi on Android TV (NVidia Shield) and occasionally on Windows (for testing purposes).

I have a number of ripped MKV files from a Scandinavian DVD-box. Each of them is consisting of 1 video-track, 1 audio-track (English) and 4 subtitle tracks (Swedish, Danish, Finnish and Norwegian). No Dutch or English subtitles are available for these videos.

When I look with MKVMerge -J, it shows that all subtitle tracks are enabled, with default-flag = off and forced-flag = off.

I never hard-burn my subtitles into my video-files.

My preferred subtitle settings in Kodi/Android are Dutch, English and that worked well for 100s of other MKV files.
Apart from these global settings, which are what I want in 99% of the cases, I was always able to turn off subtitling completely for a particular movie by toggling the enable subtitles switch while playing the movie.
This has always worked well till now and therefore I seek to keep the global settings as they are.

My subtitle settings in Kodi/Windows are default. I have never changed them.

With the pertained MKV files, it is impossible to turn off subtitles while playing the video with Kodi. This is true for both versions, both  Android TV as Windows. When I toggle the enable subtitles switch, it goes from on to off and back, but without any visible effect.
It just keeps on displaying the Swedish subtitles. I am able to change to one of the other available subtitles, but whatever I do, I can not completely disable subtitles.

When I try with VLC Player on Windows, the problem does not occur.
Apart from selecting the 4 different subtitle languages which are listed in the VLC menu, there is also the usual option to completely disable subtitles and that works.

So why the heck is my Kodi Player persisting in showing Swedish subtitles, and why is Kodi not listening to the enable subtitles = off setting?

[izprtxqkft]

are the swedish subs Closed Captions by chance?
- https://kodi.wiki/view/Settings/Player/S..._subtitles

a mediainfo output might be revealing

[RAHRL]

Need a day to install MediaInfo and check out Closed Captions. I'll get back.

[RAHRL]

OK, I have the results, a bit sooner than expected

1. I looked at my subtitle settings in Kodi.

On Kodi (Android TV) Closed Captions were enabled. Setting it off made no difference whatsoever. Same behaviour.
On Kodi (Windows) Closed Captions were already disabled.

2. I also looked at the subtitle download settings.

Both on Kodi (Windows) as Kodi (Android TV), they were set on Dutch, English. I left it like that.

3. Here is the output of Mediainfo. The subtitles are VOBSUB's, not Closed Captions.

You can find the screen print at: https://imgur.com/a/fc945Xy (sorry, putting it inline is a pain in the bum)

4. Below, I also have the output of mkvmerge -J

 {
  "attachments": [],
  "chapters": [
    {
      "num_entries": 17
    }
  ],
  "container": {
    "properties": {
      "container_type": 17,
      "date_local": "2024-11-29T18:55:24+01:00",
      "date_utc": "2024-11-29T17:55:24Z",
      "duration": 6573120000000,
      "is_providing_timestamps": true,
      "muxing_application": "libmakemkv v1.17.8 (1.3.10/1.5.2) win(x64-release)",
      "segment_uid": "de830b0148895929833a0acb7b05ed2f",
      "timestamp_scale": 1000000,
      "writing_application": "MakeMKV v1.17.8 win(x64-release)"
    },
    "recognized": true,
    "supported": true,
    "type": "Matroska"
  },
  "errors": [],
  "file_name": "B1_t00.mkv",
  "global_tags": [],
  "identification_format_version": 19,
  "track_tags": [],
  "tracks": [
    {
      "codec": "MPEG-1/2",
      "id": 0,
      "properties": {
        "codec_id": "V_MPEG2",
        "codec_private_data": "000001b32d0240330f616380000001b5148a00010000",
        "codec_private_length": 22,
        "default_duration": 40000000,
        "default_track": false,
        "display_dimensions": "1024x576",
        "display_unit": 0,
        "enabled_track": true,
        "forced_track": false,
        "language": "eng",
        "minimum_timestamp": 0,
        "num_index_entries": 13694,
        "number": 1,
        "pixel_dimensions": "720x576",
        "uid": 1
      },
      "type": "video"
    },
    {
      "codec": "AC-3",
      "id": 1,
      "properties": {
        "audio_channels": 2,
        "audio_sampling_frequency": 48000,
        "codec_id": "A_AC3",
        "codec_private_length": 0,
        "default_duration": 32000000,
        "default_track": false,
        "enabled_track": true,
        "forced_track": false,
        "language": "eng",
        "minimum_timestamp": 0,
        "num_index_entries": 0,
        "number": 2,
        "track_name": "Stereo",
        "uid": 2
      },
      "type": "audio"
    },
    {
      "codec": "VobSub",
      "id": 2,
      "properties": {
        "codec_id": "S_VOBSUB",
        "codec_private_data": "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",
        "codec_private_length": 509,
        "default_track": false,
        "enabled_track": true,
        "forced_track": false,
        "language": "swe",
        "num_index_entries": 0,
        "number": 3,
        "uid": 3
      },
      "type": "subtitles"
    },
    {
      "codec": "VobSub",
      "id": 3,
      "properties": {
        "codec_id": "S_VOBSUB",
        "codec_private_data": "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",
        "codec_private_length": 509,
        "default_track": false,
        "enabled_track": true,
        "forced_track": false,
        "language": "nor",
        "num_index_entries": 0,
        "number": 4,
        "uid": 4
      },
      "type": "subtitles"
    },
    {
      "codec": "VobSub",
      "id": 4,
      "properties": {
        "codec_id": "S_VOBSUB",
        "codec_private_data": "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",
        "codec_private_length": 509,
        "default_track": false,
        "enabled_track": true,
        "forced_track": false,
        "language": "dan",
        "num_index_entries": 0,
        "number": 5,
        "uid": 5
      },
      "type": "subtitles"
    },
    {
      "codec": "VobSub",
      "id": 5,
      "properties": {
        "codec_id": "S_VOBSUB",
        "codec_private_data": "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",
        "codec_private_length": 509,
        "default_track": false,
        "enabled_track": true,
        "forced_track": false,
        "language": "fin",
        "num_index_entries": 0,
        "number": 6,
        "uid": 6
      },
      "type": "subtitles"
    }
  ],
  "warnings": []
}

[RAHRL]

It could or could not be the same, but the problem looks a lot like:

Kodi erroneously shows not forced subtitles (and its not able to deactivate) · Issue #15314 · xbmc/xbmc · GitHub

as reported by https://github.com/JohnPlayerSpecial2018 in January, 2019.

As mentioned, VLC Player (Windows) handles the situation well, so it almost must be a particular Kodi setting or bug.

[izprtxqkft]

It could or could not be the same, but the problem looks a lot like:

Kodi erroneously shows not forced subtitles (and its not able to deactivate) · Issue #15314 · xbmc/xbmc · GitHub

as reported by https://github.com/JohnPlayerSpecial2018 in January, 2019.

As mentioned, VLC Player (Windows) handles the situation well, so it almost must be a particular Kodi setting or bug.

i just found the same report, unfortunate that there was never any follow-up to leave clues for the next person to follow
since my closed caption theory didn't pan out, the media is clearly not marked default or forced

next option would be to check over a debug log and see if there's anything that could indicate an issue

potentially trying alternate versions, on windows would be easiest i think while using a portable install to see if by chance it has been resolved already https://kodi.wiki/view/Portable_mode

-----

The instructions are here... Debug Log

If you are using the Basic Method, then ensure the following is applied...
1.Enable debugging in Settings>System Settings>Logging,
2.Restart Kodi
3.Replicate the problem.
4.Upload the log to Kodi Paste Site manually or use the Kodi Logfile Uploader. (wiki) With either method post the link to the log back here.

If you are using the Advanced Method ensure you have correctly created and applied the advancedsettings.xml file (wiki)

In both instances, you should see the word DEBUG throughout the log.

Note: Full logs only. No partial or redacted logs
Do NOT post your logs directly into the forum. Use the Kodi Paste Site. Post the link to your pasted log in the forum

[RAHRL]

OK, did it. After turning debug logging on, I followed about the following scenario:
1. Started Kodi and went to Movies to open the movie file.
2. Skipped to a point in the video where a conversation takes place. (= subtitles were in Swedish).
3. Tried to disable subtitles from the subtitle menu (right bottom and toggle switch) (= this did not work).
4. Changed the subtitles to Norwegian (= this did work).
5. Tried again to disable subtitles (= this dis not work).

 The log is available at: hastebin - yiwerehewi
Logfile

I noticed at line 807:
2024-12-02 16:50:03.894 T:14684   debug <general>: Created subtitles overlay codec: FFmpeg Subtitle Decoder

The only strange thing I noticed as a non-expert is around line 1041:
2024-12-02 16:49:17.298 T:5152    debug <CSettingsManager>: requested setting (subtitles.enable) was not found.
2024-12-02 16:49:17.298 T:5152    debug <CSettingsManager>: requested setting (subtitles.delay) was not found.
2024-12-02 16:49:17.298 T:5152    debug <CSettingsManager>: requested setting (subtitles.stream) was not found.
2024-12-02 16:49:17.298 T:5152    debug <CSettingsManager>: requested setting (subtitles.browser) was not found.
2024-12-02 16:49:17.298 T:5152    debug <CSettingsManager>: requested setting (subtitles.search) was not found.
2024-12-02 16:49:17.298 T:5152    debug <CSettingsManager>: requested setting (audio.makedefault) was not found.

I hope there will be some following-up on this thing. The only work-around I currently have is to remove all subtitle tracks.

[CrystalP]

Short sample needed (30 seconds would be plenty).

[RAHRL]

Sorry, previous timestamp near line 807 does not make any sense (copy paste error?), should be:

2024-12-02 16:49:10.652 T:14684 debug <general>: Created subtitles overlay codec: FFmpeg Subtitle Decoder

The logfile referred to, is unaltered!

See a lot of people complaining about Kodi not selecting the desired subtitles by default. But my issue is that I can’t disable the chosen subtitle. I would be hapoy if I could do that somehow in Kodi.

If VLC Player can do it on the same mkv file, Kodi must be able to do it too.

[izprtxqkft]

if I could do that somehow in Kodi.

CrystalP is asking for a ~30s sample video to test ^^

[RAHRL]

OK, give me 24 hours to replay the scenario. I will try the shortest scenario possible, that is the most I can do.

[RAHRL]

This is the shortest scenario I can provide, though the logfile is not much smaller:
1. Start Kodi, go to Movies en select video file.
2. Resume playing from the previous point (= Swedish subtitles present).
3. Go to right bottom menu Subtitles, try to toggle subtitles off (= Swedish subtitles still there)

Corresponding logfile:
hastebin - icikituboc
Logfile

I am prepared to cooperate to get this problem solved, but unfortunately I have no influence on the amount of data that is written into the logfile. If you want me to look myself and search for a specific log message, please let me know.

[RAHRL]

I played a little with MKVpropedit on a copy of the file (what you get is only based on the original rip by MakeMKV), and I noticed the following.

When I change the language setting of the Swedish subtitle track to eng, Kodi still persists in displaying the subtitle track, but it will select a different subtitle track. As already stated my preferred languages are Dutch, English, so I do understand why it won't select a subtitle track designated as eng, but why is it insisting on displaying a subitle track (in this case Danish) in a language that I never have chosen as preferred or default?

And if it does because of some kind of default behaviour, why can't I disable it?

[izprtxqkft]

you misunderstood the request, CrystalP would like a sample of the video in question so they can test it on their system

1. cut a chunk out of the video file, CrystalP said 30 seconds or so - https://www.simplehelp.net/2019/11/27/ho...-mkv-file/
2. verify it exhibits the behavior you're describing
3. upload somewhere for CrystalP - google drive, https://mega.nz something like that
4. paste a link here for them to test it on their system

[Karellen]

When I look with MKVMerge -J, it shows that all subtitle tracks are enabled, with default-flag = off and forced-flag = off.

That is not what the log shows.
Line 741... Stream #0:2(swe): Subtitle: dvd_subtitle, 720x576 (default)

Load your video file into mkvToolNix and edit the flag...