I have a TCL Roku 43S423 and currently use Roku Media Player to watch videos from a portable hard drive. The videos play correctly, but Roku only recognizes some subtitle formats; others show "no captions available" even though they work on my computer. I'm looking for an inexpensive solution, ideally under $50, that doesn't require casting from another device. Would a third-party Roku app, a small HDMI media player, or a home media server such as Plex or Jellyfin work better? I've also considered automatically hard-encoding subtitles, but I'd prefer something easier. My gaming PC is the only current server option, but it gets hot in the room where the TV is located, so I'm also wondering whether a low-power device such as a Raspberry Pi could run the server from the hard drive.
5 Answers
The most convenient setup is usually to install Plex, Emby, or Jellyfin on a computer and then use the matching app on the Roku. You don’t cast from your phone or computer—the Roku streams directly from the server. Plex and Emby tend to be smoother on Roku, while Jellyfin is free and open source but can be a little less polished depending on the app.
There probably isn’t a Roku app that will make every subtitle format work from a directly attached hard drive. VLC and similar players are useful on computers and some other streaming platforms, but Roku has more limited support. If you want the least technical route, batch-convert the subtitles to .srt with a subtitle utility; if you want the smoothest long-term setup, use a small server with Plex or Jellyfin.
A Raspberry Pi can run a basic Plex or Jellyfin server, especially if the videos are in formats the client can play directly. The Pi itself won’t necessarily solve subtitle compatibility if the server has to transcode video, so it’s best to use compatible video files and standard .srt subtitles. It also requires some setup, including connecting the drive, installing the server software, and organizing the media library.
A small Android TV box or streaming device may be a better fit than relying on the Roku’s USB playback. You could connect the hard drive to a low-power computer or server and use Plex or Jellyfin on the Android TV device. These boxes use very little power and produce almost no heat, though you should check that the model supports USB storage and the subtitle formats you need.
Roku Media Player is fairly picky about subtitle formats. Plex, Emby, or Jellyfin can handle common subtitle files such as .srt much more reliably, but they require a computer or other device on your network to act as the media server. If you want to keep using the hard drive directly through the TV, converting the subtitles to .srt is probably the simplest option.
That makes sense. I was hoping to avoid setting up a server, but converting the subtitle files may be easier than replacing everything else.
My concern is that the gaming PC is in the same room and already runs hot, especially during part of the year. I’m considering a small, low-power device connected to the hard drive instead.