Enable Closed Captions in Your Playback Settings
To turn on closed captions while watching Disney Plus, press the CC icon that appears in the bottom right corner of the video player during playback. The icon looks like a small rectangle with lines inside it. One click toggles captions on; click again to turn them off. This is the fastest way to add captions to whatever you are watching right now.
If you do not see the CC button, move your mouse or tap the screen to reveal the player controls — they disappear after a few seconds of inactivity. On mobile devices, the CC button may appear as text rather than an icon, depending on whether you are using the Disney Plus app or watching through a web browser.
Captions appear at the bottom of the screen in white text on a dark background by default. Disney Plus shows captions in the language of the content you are watching, unless you have manually selected a different language in the audio and subtitle menu.
Key Takeaways
- The CC button in the bottom right corner of the video player turns captions on and off when ready during playback.
- If player controls are hidden, move your mouse or tap the screen to make them visible.
- You can choose which language captions appear in by opening the audio and subtitle menu before or during playback.
- Caption appearance — size, color, and background — can be customized through your device's accessibility settings, not through Disney Plus itself.
- Captions are available on most titles, but some older content or live broadcasts may not have them.
Change the Language of Your Captions
To watch captions in a language different from the show or movie's original language, click the audio and subtitle icon during playback. This icon usually appears next to the CC button and looks like a speech bubble or a rectangle with lines. A menu will open showing available audio tracks and subtitle options.
Select the language you want from the subtitle list. Disney Plus will remember your choice for that title, but you may need to set it again for other shows or movies. If a language you expect is not listed, that title may not have captions in that language.
Customize Caption Size and Appearance on Your Device
Disney Plus itself does not have built-in caption styling options, but your device's accessibility settings control how captions look. On most devices, you can change the text size, font, color, and background opacity through the system settings rather than through the Disney Plus app.
On a Roku, Apple TV, or Fire Stick, go to your device's accessibility or display settings and look for caption or subtitle options. On a computer or phone, check your operating system's accessibility menu — Windows has a Captions settings panel, macOS has Accessibility preferences, and iOS and Android both have subtitle and caption controls in their main settings.
Changes you make in your device settings will explore to captions across all apps, including Disney Plus, so you only need to adjust them once.
Troubleshoot Missing or Incorrect Captions
If captions are not appearing even though you have turned them on, first check that the title actually has captions available. Older Disney content, some international films, and live broadcasts occasionally lack caption tracks. Try a different show or movie to confirm whether the problem is with that specific title or with your settings.
If captions are on but showing in the wrong language, open the audio and subtitle menu again and verify you selected the correct language. Sometimes Disney Plus defaults to the content's original language rather than your account language, so you may need to change it manually each time.
If captions still do not appear after checking both of these things, try signing out of Disney Plus and signing back in. On mobile apps, uninstall and reinstall the app. On streaming devices, restart the device. These steps clear temporary glitches that sometimes prevent captions from loading.
Use Captions on Different Devices
The CC button works the same way across all Disney Plus devices — web browsers, phones, tablets, smart TVs, and streaming devices like Roku and Apple TV. The button location and appearance may vary slightly depending on your device, but the function is identical.
On phones and tablets, the player controls may be smaller or positioned differently to fit the screen. On smart TVs and streaming devices, you may need to use your remote to navigate to the CC button rather than clicking with a mouse. If you are having trouble finding the button on your specific device, try pausing the video — the controls usually become more visible when playback is paused.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set captions to stay on automatically for every show I watch?
Disney Plus does not have a global "always on" setting for captions. You must turn them on for each viewing session using the CC button. However, if you turn captions on while watching a series, they will stay on for the next episode in that series unless you turn them off.
Why are captions available in some languages but not others?
Disney Plus only shows captions in languages that the content provider has created. Older titles and some international films may have captions in only one or two languages. Newer releases typically have captions in many languages, but this varies by title.
Do captions work on Disney Plus live events?
Some live events on Disney Plus have captions, but not all. Sports broadcasts and certain special events may not include them. If you are watching a live event and captions are not available, they will not appear in the subtitle menu.
Can I make captions bigger on my TV?
Yes, through your TV's accessibility settings. Most smart TVs have a captions or subtitles menu in the system settings where you can increase text size. Check your TV's manual or settings menu under Accessibility, Display, or Captions to find the option.
What if captions are covering important parts of the video?
Disney Plus places captions at the bottom of the screen by default and does not allow you to move them within the app. If they are blocking content, you can adjust the caption background opacity or text size through your device's accessibility settings to make them less intrusive.