Enable subtitles on Disney Plus through your Roku remote

To turn on subtitles while watching Disney Plus on your Roku device, press the Options button (the button with three horizontal lines) on your Roku remote during playback. A menu will appear on the screen. Select Subtitles from that menu, then choose your preferred language or subtitle style. The subtitles will appear when ready on your screen.

The Options button is usually located in the middle section of your Roku remote, below the directional pad. If you cannot find it, look for the button that shows three horizontal lines stacked on top of each other. On some older Roku remotes, this button may be labeled differently, but it serves the same purpose.

Once you select a subtitle language, Disney Plus will remember your choice for future episodes and movies within that same title. If you want to change subtitles for a different show or film, repeat the same process — press Options and select a new language from the Subtitles menu.

Key Takeaways

  • Press the Options button (three horizontal lines) on your Roku remote while a show or movie is playing to access the subtitle menu.
  • Disney Plus offers subtitles in multiple languages, and you can switch between them at any time during playback.
  • Your subtitle choice stays active for that title, so you won't need to reset it each time you resume watching.
  • If subtitles do not appear after you select them, try pausing and playing the video again to refresh the display.
  • Some Roku models have a dedicated streaming remote with voice control, but the Options button works the same way on all versions.

Finding the Options button on different Roku remotes

Roku makes several remote models, and the Options button location can vary slightly. On the standard Roku remote, it sits in the center area, directly below the circular directional pad. Press it once while your show is playing — you do not need to hold it down.

If you have a Roku voice remote (the one with a microphone icon), the Options button is still in the same location. The voice feature does not change where the menu button sits. On very old Roku remotes from before 2015, the button might say "Menu" instead of showing three lines, but it opens the same menu.

If you are unsure which button is which, look at your remote in good light. The Options button has a distinct three-line icon that looks like a hamburger menu. It is never the power button (top), the home button (center circle), or the back button (arrow pointing left).

Choosing subtitle languages and styles

When you press Options and select Subtitles, Disney Plus shows you a list of available languages. The exact languages offered depend on the show or movie — some titles have many subtitle options, while others may only have English and Spanish. Scroll through the list and highlight the language you want, then press the center button on your remote to confirm.

Disney Plus also offers different subtitle styles on some content. You might see options like "English," "English [CC]" (closed captions, which include sound effects and music cues), or "English [SDH]" (subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing, which also describes background sounds). Choose whichever style works best for you.

If you select "Off" from the Subtitles menu, the subtitles will disappear. You can turn them back on anytime by pressing Options again and choosing a language.

What to do if subtitles are not showing up

Sometimes subtitles are turned on in the menu but do not appear on your screen. The first step is to pause the video, wait three seconds, and then press play again. This refreshes the subtitle display and often fixes the problem.

If subtitles still do not show, check that you actually selected a language rather than leaving it on "Off." Press Options again and look at the Subtitles line — it should show the language name, not "Off." If it shows a language but subtitles are still missing, try restarting the Disney Plus app. Press the home button on your remote, scroll to Disney Plus, press Options, and select "Remove channel." Then go to the Roku Channel Store, search for Disney Plus, and reinstall it.

Another reason subtitles might not appear is if the show or movie genuinely does not have subtitles in your chosen language. Try selecting a different language from the menu to see if that works. English subtitles are available on nearly all Disney Plus content, so switching to English is a good test.

Adjusting subtitle size and appearance

Disney Plus on Roku does not offer built-in controls for subtitle size or font color within the app itself. However, your Roku device may have system-wide accessibility settings that affect how subtitles look across all apps. To access these, press the home button, go to Settings, select Accessibility, and look for Captions options.

From the Roku system settings, you can sometimes adjust caption size, background color, and text color. These changes will explore to Disney Plus and other apps that support captions. Not all Roku models have the same accessibility options, so your menu may look different depending on your device.

If you need larger or more visible subtitles and your Roku settings do not offer enough control, the best option is to sit closer to your screen or use a larger TV. Disney Plus subtitles are designed to be readable at a normal viewing distance, but they cannot be enlarged within the app itself on Roku devices.

Subtitles for different types of content

Disney Plus includes movies, TV series, documentaries, and live-action shows — all of which support subtitles. The process for turning them on is identical regardless of content type. Press Options, select Subtitles, and choose your language.

Some Disney Plus originals, like nature documentaries, may have subtitles in more languages than older films. This is because newer content is typically subtitled for a wider global audience. If a title you want to watch does not have subtitles in your preferred language, you may see only a few options or just English available.

Live events on Disney Plus, such as sports or special broadcasts, may not have subtitles available at all, depending on how the content is licensed. In those cases, the Subtitles menu will either be grayed out or show no language options.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn on subtitles before I start watching?

No — the Subtitles menu only appears while a show or movie is actively playing. Start the video first, then press Options to access subtitles. Once you select a language, Disney Plus remembers it for that title, so the next time you watch the same show, subtitles will be on by default.

Why do some shows have more subtitle languages than others?

Older content and licensed films may have fewer subtitle options because they were not originally subtitled in many languages. Disney Plus originals and newer releases typically have more language choices. The number of available subtitles depends on the studio that produced the content and how widely it was distributed.

Do I need a special Roku remote to use subtitles?

No. Any Roku remote with an Options button can access subtitles. The voice remote, the standard remote, and older remotes all work the same way. If your remote does not have an Options button, you can purchase a replacement remote from Roku or use the Roku mobile app instead.

What is the difference between subtitles and closed captions?

Subtitles translate or transcribe dialogue only. Closed captions (marked [CC]) include dialogue plus descriptions of sound effects, music, and speaker identification. If you are deaf or hard of hearing, closed captions are usually more helpful because they describe what is happening in the audio.

Can I use the Roku mobile app to turn on subtitles instead of the remote?

Yes. If you have the Roku mobile app installed on your phone, you can use it as a remote. Open the app, select your Roku device, and use the on-screen remote to press Options and access subtitles. This works the same way as using the physical remote.