Enable Subtitles During Playback on Your TV Remote
To turn on subtitles while a show or movie is playing on Disney Plus, press the Menu or Options button on your TV remote during playback. The exact button name depends on your TV brand — Samsung calls it Menu, LG calls it Settings, and some older remotes label it as Options or Guide.
Once you press that button, look for a Subtitles, Captions, or CC option in the menu that appears on screen. Select it, then choose your preferred language or turn subtitles off. The menu usually closes automatically after you make your choice, and subtitles will appear on the next line of dialogue.
If you do not see a subtitles option in the menu, your TV remote may not support this feature through Disney Plus. In that case, check whether your TV has a built-in closed captioning button — some Samsung and LG remotes have a dedicated CC button that works across all apps.
Key Takeaways
- Press Menu or Options on your remote during playback to find the subtitles menu on Disney Plus.
- Subtitle language options vary by title — some shows offer Spanish, French, and other languages, while others may only have English.
- Subtitles turn on for that single viewing session only; you will need to turn them on again the next time you watch.
- If your remote does not show a subtitles option, your TV model may not support in-app subtitle controls through Disney Plus.
What Happens When You Select a Subtitle Language
When you choose a subtitle language from the menu, Disney Plus displays that language for the rest of the episode or movie. If you pause and resume later in the same session, subtitles stay on in the language you selected. If you stop watching and come back to the same title the next day, subtitles will be off again — you have to turn them back on.
Some titles offer multiple subtitle languages. Disney Plus typically shows English, Spanish, French, and sometimes Portuguese or other languages depending on the content. If a language is not available for a particular title, that option will not appear in the menu.
Subtitle Options on Different TV Brands
The steps are nearly identical across TV brands, but the button names and menu layouts differ slightly. On Samsung Smart TVs, press Menu and look for Subtitles in the playback controls. On LG Smart TVs, press the Settings button (usually marked with a gear icon) and find Subtitles or Captions. On Roku TVs, press the Options button (star icon) on the remote and select Captions.
On Amazon Fire TV devices, press the Menu button and look for Subtitles or Closed Captions in the playback menu. On Apple TV, press Menu and select Subtitles and Audio. On Google TV and Android TV devices, press the Menu button and find Subtitles in the playback options. If your TV is an older model without a smart platform, you cannot turn on subtitles through Disney Plus — you would need to use a streaming device plugged into the HDMI port instead.
When Subtitles Do Not Appear After You Turn Them On
If you selected a subtitle language but no text appears on screen, the most common cause is that the title does not include subtitles in that language. Try selecting a different language from the menu — if English subtitles are available, they will appear when ready. If no language option produces subtitles, that particular episode or movie may not have subtitles available at all.
A second possibility is that your TV's brightness or contrast settings are making the subtitles invisible. Subtitles on Disney Plus appear in white text at the bottom of the screen by default, so if your picture is very bright or washed out, they may be hard to see. Adjust your TV's picture settings or move closer to the screen to check whether subtitles are actually there.
If you have turned on subtitles but the menu closed before you could confirm the selection, press Menu again to verify that a subtitle language is now checked or highlighted. Some TV remotes require you to press a confirmation button after selecting an option.
Subtitle Languages Available on Disney Plus
Disney Plus offers subtitles in multiple languages, but the exact list depends on the title and your region. In the United States, most Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars titles include English subtitles. Many also include Spanish and French subtitles. Newer releases and popular series are more likely to have multiple language options than older catalog titles.
If you are looking for subtitles in a language other than English, Spanish, or French, check the subtitle menu while the title is playing — the available languages will be listed there. Some international content on Disney Plus may include subtitles in Portuguese, German, Italian, or other languages, but this varies by title.
Turning Subtitles Off and Resetting Your Preference
To turn subtitles off, press Menu or Options during playback, select Subtitles, and choose Off or None. The subtitles will disappear when ready. This setting applies only to your current viewing session — the next time you watch any title on Disney Plus, subtitles will be off by default.
Disney Plus does not have a master setting to keep subtitles on or off across all titles. Each time you start a new show or movie, you will need to manually turn subtitles on if you want them. If you watch multiple titles in a row and want subtitles for all of them, you will need to turn them on for each one separately.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the size or color of subtitles on Disney Plus?
Disney Plus does not offer subtitle customization options like size, color, or font style through the app itself. The subtitles appear in white text at the bottom of the screen, and that cannot be changed. If you need larger or colored subtitles for accessibility, check whether your TV has a built-in closed captioning feature in its system settings that may override the app's default display.
Why do some Disney Plus titles not have subtitles?
Older titles, some international content, and certain live-action films may not have subtitles available. Disney Plus adds subtitles to titles over time, so a title without subtitles today may have them in the future. If a title is important to you and lacks subtitles, you can check back in a few months to see if they have been added.
Do subtitles work on Disney Plus with a streaming stick or external device?
Yes. If you are using a Roku stick, Fire TV stick, Apple TV box, or Chromecast plugged into your TV, the subtitle process is the same — press the remote's Menu or Options button during playback and select Subtitles. The steps are identical whether you are using a smart TV or an external streaming device.
Will subtitles stay on if I pause and come back later?
Subtitles will stay on if you pause and resume within the same viewing session — meaning you are still watching the same episode or movie without closing the app. If you close Disney Plus completely and come back to the title the next day, subtitles will be off and you will need to turn them on again.