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To control subtitles on Netflix, start playing a title, open its playback controls, and choose Audio & Subtitles. The exact gesture varies by device. You can also adjust subtitle appearance on supported devices, but the available language tracks depend on the title, your location, profile settings, and device.
How to turn Netflix subtitles on or off or change languages
Start the show or movie, open the playback controls, then select Audio & Subtitles. Choose an available subtitle or caption language, or select Off to turn subtitles off. You can also use this menu to change audio language. Netflix’s instructions may vary as device interfaces change; see its current subtitle, caption, and audio-language instructions.
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- Phones, tablets, and computers: Tap or click the screen or player to reveal controls.
- Most smart TVs, Blu-ray players, cable boxes, game systems, and streaming players: Press up or down on the remote to show controls. Some TVs display language options along the bottom of the screen without an Audio & Subtitles icon.
- Apple TV: Swipe up or press up to show the playback controls.
Choose a listed option or select Other, if it appears, to see additional choices. This changes the selection for the title you are watching; it does not guarantee the same track will be available for another title or device.
Netflix says subtitle and audio preferences are not saved for most Kids titles watched from an adult profile, but are saved when watched from a Kids profile. If your preferred audio language keeps resetting, Netflix recommends playing a title rated Teens or above for two to three minutes to set the preference.
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How to change subtitle appearance
Netflix offers appearance controls such as font, size, shadow, and background color, but the controls and their scope depend on the device. The detailed steps are in Netflix’s subtitle and closed-caption appearance guide.
On a browser or computer
- Open your Netflix Account page.
- Under Profiles, choose the profile you want to change.
- Select Subtitle appearance, adjust the available settings, and save.
- Open Netflix on the device where you watch. If the change does not appear on a TV or streaming device, use that device’s Netflix settings or help menu to reload the app.
On an Android phone or tablet
- In the Netflix app, open My Netflix.
- Select the profile name, then choose Manage Profiles.
- Choose a profile and open Subtitle Appearance.
- Change the settings; they save automatically. Choose Restore Default Settings to undo your custom appearance.
Changes made in the Android app apply only to titles played on that Android mobile device.
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On a TV or TV streaming device
Start a title, pause it, open the player controls, and select Settings if that option is available. Choose a size or style. Connected TV devices do not offer every appearance setting available in a browser. If the setting is absent, that device does not support changing appearance for the selected language.
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Netflix directs viewers to Apple’s platform instructions for subtitle appearance on these devices rather than providing a Netflix-specific workflow. Follow the instructions for your Apple device through the relevant Apple Support settings.
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- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
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Why a subtitle or audio language may be missing
Language options vary by title and device. Netflix identifies location, profile language preferences, licensing agreements, and device support as factors that can limit the available tracks. A missing language is not necessarily a broken playback control. See Netflix’s current explanation of why a subtitle or audio language may not be available.
- Check profile preferences: Set your preferred choices under the profile’s Audio and subtitle languages setting, then browse Netflix’s subtitle-language catalog. This can help surface available tracks, but it cannot create a track that is unavailable for a title or device.
- Check whether the title is downloaded: For a downloaded title, Netflix shows the two most relevant languages. If you are connected to Wi-Fi while viewing the download, delete it and try again to reveal more language choices.
- Consider device age and support: Netflix notes that older devices may not support subtitles in some languages. Its help page uses 2014 as a general guide, not a guarantee that every device from that year or earlier is affected.
- Check the season or episode: Track availability can differ even between episodes of the same show.
Subtitles, captions, and SDH: what is the difference?
Subtitles render dialogue as text. Closed captions include dialogue plus descriptions of sounds heard in a program. Netflix uses an SDH badge on a title’s details page to identify titles with subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing. SDH may not be available for every season or episode; if it is missing, the available subtitles may show dialogue without sound or music context.
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- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
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Other Netflix accessibility options are separate from subtitle controls. Audio descriptions narrate visual information such as actions, facial expressions, costumes, settings, and scene changes. Netflix also describes assistive listening systems, screen readers, mobile font-size controls, playback-speed controls, and voice commands on its accessibility page.
Fix common subtitle problems
Subtitles are too large
Netflix says subtitle size can be enlarged by Netflix settings and by the device itself. Change one setting source at a time so you can identify which one is affecting the result. Device-level changes may also affect other apps. See Netflix’s instructions for subtitles that are too large.
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- Unlimited movies, TV shows, and more. Watch anywhere. Cancel anytime.
- Give the gift of entertainment so your friends and family can stream unlimited films and Netflix original series. Whether your loved one already has a Netflix account or they will be creating a new account, they can use a Netflix gift card toward their membership.
- No credit card is required to redeem a gift code.
- Codes are applied to your account as a gift balance. Gift codes can be added to any plan, regardless of the amount.
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Appearance changes do not show on Android
Netflix recommends switching to another profile and then switching back. Its troubleshooting steps are on the subtitle and caption appearance troubleshooting page.
Appearance changes do not show on a smart TV
Use the TV’s Netflix app to open Get Help and choose Reload Netflix. The exact menu path can vary by interface. Netflix says viewers using other device types should contact support if appearance changes still do not take effect.
A language is missing or a selection will not stick
Check the title, profile language preferences, download status, location, and device support before treating the issue as a faulty control. For Kids titles played from an adult profile, the language selection may not be saved in most cases.
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