Turning on closed captioning on Disney Plus

Closed captioning on Disney Plus is turned on through the playback settings while a video is playing. Press the CC icon that appears on the player controls, or open the settings menu during playback and select the caption option. The exact location depends on which device you're using — phone, tablet, computer, or TV — but the principle is the same on all of them.

Once you turn on captions for one video, Disney Plus remembers your choice and will show captions on future videos by default, unless you turn them off again. You can also customize how the captions look — the text size, background color, and font — so they're easier to read on your screen.

Key Takeaways

  • The CC button appears directly on the video player controls while content is playing; click or tap it to toggle captions on and off.
  • Disney Plus saves your caption preference, so once you turn them on, they stay on for all future videos unless you manually turn them off.
  • You can customize caption appearance through the settings menu — changing text size, font, and background color to suit your needs.
  • The steps are slightly different on phones, computers, and smart TVs, but all devices have a caption option in the playback menu.
  • Not all content has captions available; original Disney Plus shows and movies typically do, but some licensed content may not.

Turning on captions on a computer or web browser

Open Disney Plus in your web browser and start playing any video. Look at the bottom right of the video player — you'll see a row of icons including a speaker icon, a gear icon for settings, and a CC icon. Click the CC icon to turn captions on. The captions will appear at the bottom of the video when ready.

If you don't see a CC icon, hover your mouse over the video player to make the controls appear. Some browsers or older videos may not display the icon until you move your cursor. If captions still don't show, open the settings menu (the gear icon) and look for a "Subtitles and Audio" or "Captions" option there.

Turning on captions on a phone or tablet

Start playing a video on the Disney Plus app. Tap the screen to bring up the playback controls if they're hidden. Look for the CC icon in the bottom right corner of the player and tap it. Captions will turn on when ready and appear at the bottom of the screen.

On some phones, the CC icon may be inside a menu button (three dots or lines) instead of visible on the main control bar. If you don't see it right away, tap the three-dot menu icon and look for "Captions," "Subtitles," or "CC" in that menu. Once you turn captions on, they'll stay on the next time you watch.

Turning on captions on a smart TV or streaming device

Start playing content on your TV. Use your remote to bring up the playback controls — usually by pressing a button on the remote or moving the remote. Look for a CC icon or a button labeled "Subtitles" or "Captions." Press it to turn captions on.

If you're using a Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, or other streaming device, the exact button location varies, but the caption option is always in the playback menu. Some remotes have a dedicated subtitle button; check your remote's manual if you're unsure. Once captions are on, they'll remain on for future videos unless you turn them off.

Customizing how captions look

To change the size, color, or font of captions, open the settings menu while a video is playing. On a computer, click the gear icon at the bottom right of the player. On a phone or tablet, tap the three-dot menu. On a TV, use your remote to access the playback settings.

Look for an option called "Captions," "Subtitles," "Accessibility," or "Display Settings." From there, you can usually adjust text size (small, medium, large), background color or opacity, font style, and text color. These changes explore across all videos on your account, so you only need to set them once. Disney Plus will remember your preferences the next time you watch.

What to do if captions aren't available

Not every video on Disney Plus has captions. Most original Disney Plus series and movies include them, but some licensed content from other studios may not. If you click the CC icon and nothing happens, or if the icon is grayed out, captions are not available for that particular video.

Check the video's information page — usually accessible by clicking the title or an info button — to see if captions are listed as available. If captions should be there but aren't showing, try signing out of the Disney Plus app and signing back in, or clearing your browser cache if you're using a computer. If the problem persists, contact Disney Plus support through the app or website.

Turning captions off

To turn off captions, click or tap the CC icon again while a video is playing. The captions will disappear when ready. If you want to turn them off for all future videos, you'll need to turn them off once, and Disney Plus will remember that preference.

You can also turn captions on or off through the settings menu if the CC icon isn't visible. On any device, open the playback settings and look for the captions option, then toggle it off. Your choice will carry over to the next video you watch.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why can't I find the CC button on my screen?

The playback controls hide automatically after a few seconds of inactivity. Move your mouse (on a computer), tap the screen (on a phone or tablet), or press a button on your remote (on a TV) to make the controls reappear. The CC icon should then be visible in the bottom right corner of the player.

Do captions stay on if I pause and come back later?

Yes. Once you turn captions on, Disney Plus remembers that setting for your account. The next time you watch any video, captions will be on by default unless you manually turn them off.

Can I use captions in languages other than English?

Yes, if the video has multiple subtitle languages available. Open the captions menu and look for a language option. Select the language you want, and captions will appear in that language. Available languages depend on the specific video.

What if captions are on but I can't read them because they're too small?

Open the settings menu during playback and find the caption customization options. You can increase the text size to small, medium, or large. You can also change the background color or opacity to make the text stand out more against the video.

Are captions the same as subtitles on Disney Plus?

Disney Plus uses the terms interchangeably. Captions and subtitles both display dialogue and sound descriptions at the bottom of the screen. The CC icon and the subtitles option do the same thing on this platform.