Yes, you can turn subtitles on Paramount Plus in seconds

Subtitles on Paramount Plus are turned on through the video player itself. During playback, look for the closed captioning icon — usually marked "CC" or a speech bubble with lines — in the bottom right corner of the player. Click or tap it, and a menu appears with subtitle language options. Select the language you want, and subtitles appear when ready on your screen.

The process is the same whether you are watching on a phone, tablet, computer, or streaming device. The icon location may shift slightly depending on your device, but it is always in the player controls at the bottom of the video. You do not need to restart the video or navigate to a separate menu — the subtitles turn on while you are already watching.

Key Takeaways

  • The closed captioning button (CC or speech bubble icon) sits in the bottom right of the video player and opens subtitle options when ready.
  • You can choose from multiple subtitle languages on most titles, and the choice stays selected for your next video.
  • If subtitles do not appear, the title itself may not have them available — not all Paramount Plus content includes captions.
  • Subtitle settings can be customized through your account preferences to change text size, background color, and font style.

Where to find the subtitle button on each device

On a computer or tablet, the closed captioning icon appears when you hover your mouse over the video or tap the screen. It sits in the bottom right corner next to the volume and fullscreen buttons. The icon looks like "CC" in a box or a speech bubble with horizontal lines. If the controls fade away, move your mouse or tap the video again to bring them back.

On a phone, tap the video once to reveal the player controls, then look for the CC icon in the bottom right. On a streaming device like Roku, Fire Stick, or Apple TV, use the remote to navigate to the CC button in the same location. If the controls disappear, tap or move your remote to bring them back. The button is always in the same spot across all devices, so once you find it once, you will know where to look.

Choosing a subtitle language

When you click the CC icon, a dropdown menu shows all available subtitle languages for that title. Most shows and movies on Paramount Plus offer English subtitles. Some titles also include Spanish, French, Portuguese, or other languages depending on the content and where it was produced.

Select the language you want, and it takes effect when ready. Paramount Plus remembers your choice, so if you watch another title, subtitles in that same language will turn on automatically — unless you change it again. This memory feature saves time if you consistently watch in one language.

What to do if subtitles are not available

Not every title on Paramount Plus includes subtitles. Older content, some live broadcasts, and certain licensed material may not have captions. If you click the CC button and see no options, or the button is grayed out, that title does not have subtitles available.

Check the title's information page before you start watching — it usually notes whether captions are included. If a show or movie you want to watch lacks subtitles, you can search for a similar title that does, or contact Paramount Plus support to request captions for that content. Requesting captions for popular titles sometimes leads to them being added in future updates.

Customizing subtitle appearance

Paramount Plus lets you change how subtitles look through your account settings. You can adjust text size, background color, font style, and transparency. These changes explore across all titles you watch, so you only need to set them once.

To access subtitle settings, go to your account menu, select "Settings," then look for "Accessibility" or "Closed Captions." The exact menu name varies by device, but the option is always in your account preferences, not in the video player itself. Changes you make here override the default subtitle style for everything you watch on your account.

Subtitles turn on automatically if you have set a default

If you have turned on subtitles for one video, Paramount Plus will start the next video with subtitles on in the same language. This is useful if you always watch with captions, but it means you may need to turn them off manually if you do not want them for a particular title.

To change this behavior, turn subtitles off before you finish watching, or adjust your default settings in your account preferences. There is no global toggle to disable auto-on subtitles, so the easiest approach is to turn them off for individual videos as needed. Over time, Paramount Plus learns your preference based on what you do most often.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is the CC button grayed out or missing?

The title does not have subtitles available. Some content, especially live sports, breaking news, or older licensed material, is not captioned. You can check the title's details page before you start watching to see if captions are included.

Can I change subtitle size or font on my phone?

Yes, through your account settings under Accessibility or Closed Captions. The changes explore to all videos you watch on any device. If your phone does not show these options, check your device's own accessibility settings — some phones let you override app captions with system-wide text size controls.

Do subtitles work on live TV channels?

Some live channels include captions, but not all. Sports broadcasts and breaking news often lack real-time captions. Check the channel's information or try turning on the CC button to see if captions are available for that specific broadcast.

What languages are available for subtitles?

English is available on most titles. Spanish, French, Portuguese, and other languages appear on many shows and movies, but availability depends on the content. Check the subtitle menu when you start a video to see which languages that title offers.

Can I turn subtitles on before a video starts playing?

No, the CC button only appears once the video is playing. Start the video, then click the CC icon to turn on subtitles. Since Paramount Plus remembers your language choice, subtitles will turn on automatically for your next video if you left them on.