Turn on subtitles in Disney Plus on Roku from the player controls
To turn on subtitles while a show or movie is playing, press the Options button (the star icon) on your Roku remote. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen with playback controls. Look for the Subtitles option — it usually appears as a speech bubble or CC icon. Select it, and a list of subtitle languages will show up. Choose your preferred language, and subtitles will appear when ready on the screen.
If you do not see the Subtitles option in the player menu, the title you are watching may not have subtitles available in your region. Some older titles or certain content have limited subtitle support. You can also press the Options button again to close the menu and continue watching with subtitles on.
The subtitle setting applies only to that single viewing session. If you stop the show and come back later, you will need to turn subtitles back on using the same method. Disney Plus does not currently save a default subtitle preference across all titles on Roku.
Key Takeaways
- Press the Options button (star icon) on your Roku remote while a show or movie is playing to open the player menu.
- Select the Subtitles option from the menu and choose your preferred language from the list that appears.
- Subtitles turn on when ready and stay on until you turn them off or stop watching that title.
- Not all titles have subtitles in every language, and subtitle availability depends on the content and your region.
- You will need to turn subtitles on again each time you start a new show or movie, as Disney Plus does not save a default subtitle setting on Roku.
What to do if the Subtitles option does not appear
If you press the Options button and do not see a Subtitles choice, first check that you are actually playing content. The player menu only appears when a video is actively running — it will not show up on the title's preview page or in the menu before you press Play.
If the menu does appear but Subtitles is missing, the title itself may not have subtitle tracks available. This is more common with older Disney Plus content or certain regional releases. Try a different show or movie to confirm whether subtitles work on other titles. If subtitles work elsewhere but not on a specific title, that particular show or movie does not have subtitle support in your language.
Make sure your Roku device is running the latest version of the Disney Plus app. Outdated app versions sometimes have missing features or display issues. Go to your Roku home screen, find the Disney Plus app in your list, press Options on the remote, and select Check for updates. If an update is available, install it and try again.
Changing subtitle language or turning subtitles off
To switch to a different subtitle language while watching, press the Options button again and select Subtitles. The menu will show all available languages for that title. Choose a new language, and the subtitles will change when ready. You can switch languages as many times as you want during a single viewing session.
To turn subtitles off completely, open the Subtitles menu the same way and select Off or None — the exact label depends on your Disney Plus app version. The subtitles will disappear from the screen right away. You can turn them back on at any point by repeating the same steps.
Subtitle availability by region and content type
Disney Plus offers subtitles in multiple languages, but which languages are available depends on the title and your region. Movies and shows produced by Disney, Pixar, Marvel, and Star Wars typically have broad subtitle support. Content from National Geographic or older catalog titles may have fewer language options.
If you are looking for subtitles in a specific language and cannot find them, the title may not have been translated into that language yet. Disney Plus gradually adds subtitle tracks to older content, so a title without subtitles today may have them in the future. Check back periodically if you are waiting for a particular language option.
Using Roku's built-in closed captioning as an alternative
If Disney Plus subtitles are not working or not available, your Roku device has a separate closed captioning system that sometimes works as a backup. Press the Home button on your Roku remote, go to Settings, then Accessibility, and look for Captions. You can turn on captions at the system level, which may display text for some content even if Disney Plus subtitles are unavailable.
System-level captions work differently than in-app subtitles and may not display correctly on all titles. They are most reliable for live or broadcast content. For Disney Plus movies and shows, the in-app Subtitles option (accessed through the Options button) is the better choice and usually offers more language options and better formatting.
Troubleshooting subtitle display problems
If subtitles are turned on but you cannot read them — because they are too small, the wrong color, or hard to see against the background — the Disney Plus app does not have built-in controls to adjust subtitle appearance on Roku. Unlike some streaming services, Disney Plus does not let you change font size, color, or background opacity from within the app.
Your only option is to adjust the text size at the Roku system level. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Captions and look for font size or display options. Changes made here may affect captions across all apps, not just Disney Plus. If system-level adjustments do not help, the subtitle display is limited by the Disney Plus app itself, and you may need to watch from a closer distance or use a different device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set subtitles to turn on automatically for every show I watch on Disney Plus?
No, Disney Plus on Roku does not have a default subtitle setting. You must turn subtitles on manually each time you start a new title. This is a limitation of the Roku version of the app — some other devices or platforms may offer this feature, but it is not available on Roku at this time.
Why do some Disney Plus titles not have subtitles?
Older content, regional releases, and some National Geographic titles may not have subtitle tracks available. Disney Plus adds subtitles to content over time, so a title without subtitles now may have them later. If a title is missing subtitles in your language, it has not been translated yet.
Do I need to pay extra for subtitles on Disney Plus?
No. Subtitles are included with your Disney Plus subscription at no additional cost. All subscription tiers have access to the same subtitle languages and options.
What languages are available for subtitles on Disney Plus?
Available languages vary by title and region. Most major titles offer English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and several Asian languages. Check the Subtitles menu while playing a specific title to see which languages are available for that content.
Will subtitles work if my Roku is connected to a TV without HDMI?
Subtitles are displayed on your TV screen by the Roku device, so they will work regardless of your connection type — HDMI, composite cables, or any other connection method. As long as your Roku can display video, it can display subtitles.