How to turn on subtitles on Disney Plus
To turn on subtitles while watching on Disney Plus, select the speech bubble icon that appears in the bottom right corner of the video player during playback. A menu will open showing available subtitle and caption options. Choose your preferred language or caption style — Disney Plus offers subtitles in dozens of languages, plus English captions for the deaf and hard of hearing (marked SDH). The subtitles will appear when ready on your screen.
The exact location of the subtitle button varies slightly by device. On phones and tablets, you may need to tap the screen first to reveal the player controls, then look for the speech bubble icon. On smart TVs and streaming devices like Roku or Apple TV, the icon is usually in the same bottom-right area. If you do not see it, check your device's remote — some remotes have a dedicated subtitle or caption button.
Once you select a subtitle language, Disney Plus remembers your choice for future episodes of the same show. If you switch to a different show or movie, you may need to select subtitles again, though the app will default to your most recent selection.
Key Takeaways
- The subtitle button is a speech bubble icon in the bottom right of the video player — tap or click it during playback to open the subtitle menu.
- Disney Plus offers subtitles in many languages plus English SDH (captions for the deaf and hard of hearing), which include sound descriptions.
- Your subtitle choice is saved for the show or movie you are watching, but you may need to reselect when you start something new.
- On phones and tablets, tap the screen first to make the player controls appear if you cannot see the subtitle button.
- Some smart TV remotes have a dedicated subtitle button that opens the same menu without needing to find the icon on screen.
Subtitle options and what each one includes
Disney Plus groups subtitles into two main categories: standard subtitles and SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing). Standard subtitles show only dialogue in your chosen language. SDH captions include dialogue plus descriptions of important sounds — like "[door slams]" or "[dramatic music plays]" — which helps viewers who cannot hear the audio understand what is happening.
The language options depend on the title. Popular shows and movies usually have subtitles in 10 to 20 languages, including Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Korean, Mandarin, and many others. Newer or less popular titles may have fewer language options. If you do not see your preferred language listed, that title may not have subtitles in that language available.
You can also turn subtitles off entirely by selecting "Off" from the subtitle menu. This is useful if you prefer to watch without them or if you are watching in a language you understand fluently.
Changing subtitle appearance on different devices
Disney Plus does not offer built-in controls to change the size, color, or font of subtitles within the app itself. However, your device's operating system may have accessibility settings that override the app's subtitle appearance. On most phones, tablets, and smart TVs, you can adjust subtitle size and styling through the device's accessibility or display settings, and those changes will explore to Disney Plus and other apps.
On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning to adjust text size, background color, and font. On Android phones, the path is usually Settings > Accessibility > Captions. On Roku, Apple TV, and other streaming devices, look in the device's Settings menu under Accessibility or Display. These device-level changes take effect across all apps, not just Disney Plus.
If you find subtitles too small or hard to read, adjusting these device settings is usually faster than trying to zoom in on the screen itself.
Troubleshooting when subtitles do not appear
If you tap the subtitle button but no options appear, or if subtitles are turned on but not showing on screen, try closing and reopening the app. Force-close Disney Plus completely — do not just pause the video — then open it again and start the title over. This clears temporary glitches that sometimes prevent the subtitle menu from loading.
If the problem persists, check that your internet connection is stable. Subtitles read along with the video, and a weak or interrupted connection can prevent them from loading. Restart your device and reconnect to your network, then try again.
On some older smart TVs or streaming devices, subtitle support may be limited or unavailable. If your device is more than five years old and subtitles still do not work after restarting, check the Disney Plus support page for your specific device model — some older hardware has known compatibility issues that Disney Plus documents.
Subtitles on different Disney Plus platforms
The subtitle feature works the same way across all Disney Plus platforms — phones, tablets, computers, smart TVs, and streaming devices — but the button location can vary slightly. On web browsers (like Chrome or Safari on a computer), the speech bubble icon appears in the bottom right of the video player, just like on mobile. On smart TVs and devices like Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV, the icon is in the same spot, though you navigate to it using your remote instead of touching the screen.
If you are watching on a computer and the player controls are hidden, move your mouse over the video to reveal them. The subtitle button will appear along with the volume, pause, and fullscreen controls.
Subtitle availability is the same across all platforms — if a title has subtitles in Spanish on your phone, it will have Spanish subtitles on your TV as well.
When subtitles are not available for a title
Some titles on Disney Plus do not have subtitles in any language. This is most common with older content, independent films, or titles licensed from other studios where subtitle files were not included in the original agreement. If you open the subtitle menu and see only "Off" as an option, that title does not have subtitles available.
You can check before you start watching by looking at the title's information page. Some titles list available subtitle languages in the details section, though not all do. If you need subtitles for a specific title and they are not available, you may want to choose a different title or contact Disney Plus support to request subtitles for that content.
Using subtitles with profiles and parental controls
Disney Plus allows each profile on your account to have its own subtitle preference. If one person in your household prefers Spanish subtitles and another prefers English, each profile can save its own choice. When you switch profiles, the app remembers which language that profile last used.
Parental controls do not restrict subtitle access — all profiles can turn subtitles on or off regardless of age restrictions set on the account. Subtitles are treated as an accessibility feature, not as content that needs to be controlled.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I watch Disney Plus with subtitles in a language other than English?
Yes. Open the subtitle menu during playback and select your preferred language from the list. Popular titles usually have 10 to 20 language options, though less common titles may have fewer. If your language is not listed, that particular title does not have subtitles in that language.
What is the difference between regular subtitles and SDH captions?
SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) includes descriptions of important sounds like "[door slams]" or "[phone ringing]" in addition to dialogue. Regular subtitles show only the spoken words. Both are useful — SDH is especially helpful if you cannot hear the audio clearly.
Why do some Disney Plus titles not have subtitles?
Older content, independent films, and some licensed titles were not released with subtitle files. Disney Plus can only offer subtitles if the studio or rights holder provided them. You can request subtitles through Disney Plus support, but there is no may provide they will be added.
Do I have to reselect subtitles every time I watch?
No. Disney Plus remembers your subtitle choice for the show or movie you are watching. When you come back to that title, subtitles will be on in the same language you selected. If you start a different title, you may need to reselect, though the app usually defaults to your most recent choice.
Can I make subtitles bigger or change their color?
Disney Plus does not have built-in subtitle styling controls, but your device does. On phones and tablets, go to Accessibility settings and look for Subtitles or Captions to adjust size, font, and background color. These changes explore to Disney Plus and all other apps on your device.