Turn on captions in three steps on any device
To turn on captions on Disney Plus, open any show or movie, tap or click the speech bubble icon in the bottom right corner of the video player, and select your preferred caption language or style. The icon looks like a small rectangle with lines inside it. Captions will stay on for that video; if you want them on by default for all content, you can change your account settings instead.
The exact location of the caption button varies slightly between devices—on phones and tablets it appears when you tap the screen during playback, while on computers and smart TVs it is always visible in the player controls. The process takes less than five seconds once you know where to look.
Key Takeaways
- The caption button is a speech bubble icon in the bottom right of the video player and works the same way on phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs.
- Turning on captions for one video does not automatically turn them on for the next one you watch unless you change your account default settings.
- Disney Plus offers captions in multiple languages, and you can switch between them without pausing the video.
- If the caption button does not appear, try refreshing the page or restarting the app, as this fixes most display issues.
How to turn on captions on phones and tablets
On iPhones, iPads, and Android devices, captions are hidden until you tap the screen during playback. Tap anywhere on the video to reveal the player controls, then look for the speech bubble icon in the bottom right corner. Tap it once to turn captions on.
A menu will appear showing available caption languages and styles. Disney Plus typically offers captions in English, Spanish, French, and other languages depending on the content and your account region. Select the language you want, and captions will appear when ready. If you want to turn captions off again, tap the speech bubble icon a second time.
How to turn on captions on computers and web browsers
On a desktop or laptop, the video player controls are visible at the bottom of the screen whenever you are watching. Look for the speech bubble icon in the bottom right corner, next to the volume and fullscreen buttons. Click it once to turn captions on.
A dropdown menu will show all available caption options. Click the language or style you prefer. Unlike phones, you do not need to tap the screen first—the controls are always there. If captions do not appear after you click, wait a few seconds for them to load, or try refreshing the page.
How to turn on captions on smart TVs and streaming devices
On Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, and other smart TV platforms, use your remote to navigate the video player. The speech bubble icon is in the bottom right corner of the player controls. Press the button or directional pad on your remote to highlight it, then press select or enter.
A menu will appear with caption language options. Use your remote to scroll through the list and select your preferred language. The captions will turn on when ready. Some smart TV remotes have a dedicated caption button—if yours does, pressing it will toggle captions on and off without opening the menu.
Set captions to turn on automatically for all videos
If you want captions on by default every time you watch, you can change this in your account settings instead of turning them on for each video. On any device, go to your account menu (usually in the top right corner) and select "Account" or "Settings."
Look for a section called "Playback Settings" or "Accessibility." You should see an option for "Captions" or "Subtitles." Choose your preferred language or style, and captions will now turn on automatically for all content you watch on that account. This setting applies across all devices you use with that account, though individual devices may override it if you manually turn captions off during a video.
Troubleshooting when captions do not appear
If you tap or click the speech bubble icon and nothing happens, the most common fix is to refresh the page or restart the app. Close Disney Plus completely and open it again, then start the video over. This solves most cases where the caption button is unresponsive or the menu does not open.
If captions still do not appear after refreshing, check that your internet connection is stable—a slow or interrupted connection can prevent captions from loading. You can also try a different video to see if the problem is specific to one title or affects all content. If captions work on one device but not another, the issue is usually device-specific and restarting that device usually fixes it.
On older smart TVs or streaming devices, the caption button may not be visible at all. In this case, check your device's own accessibility settings—some TVs have a system-wide caption setting that overrides the app. Consult your TV remote's manual or settings menu for "Captions," "Subtitles," or "Accessibility."
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the size or color of captions?
Disney Plus does not offer custom caption styling within the app itself. However, many devices have system-level caption settings that let you adjust size, color, and background. On iPhones and iPads, go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning. On Android, go to Settings > Accessibility > Captions. On computers, check your browser's accessibility settings.
Why do some shows have captions but others do not?
Not all Disney Plus content has captions available. Older titles, some international films, and certain live events may not have been captioned. If a title has no captions, the speech bubble icon will be grayed out or absent. Disney continues to add captions to older content, so a title without captions today may have them in the future.
Do captions work in all languages on Disney Plus?
Captions are available in multiple languages, but which languages are offered depends on the specific title and your account region. Most popular shows and movies have English, Spanish, and French captions. To see what languages are available for a particular video, turn on captions and check the language menu.
Will captions stay on if I pause and resume the video?
Yes. Once you turn captions on for a video, they will remain on when you pause, resume, or rewind. They will also stay on if you watch the next episode of a series. However, if you exit the app and come back later, captions will be off unless you have set them to turn on automatically in your account settings.
Can I use captions on Disney Plus while sharing my account?
Yes, but each profile on the account can have its own caption settings. If you create a separate profile for another person, they can turn captions on or off independently without affecting your settings. This is useful if some household members prefer captions and others do not.