Captions are turned on through the player settings during playback, and the steps differ slightly between devices

To turn on captions while watching on Paramount Plus, open any show or movie and look for the settings icon in the video player — usually a gear symbol or three dots in the bottom right corner. Select "Captions" or "Subtitles" from the menu that appears, then choose your preferred language or caption style. The captions will display when ready and stay on for that viewing session.

The exact location of the captions button varies depending on whether you are watching on a phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV, but the process is the same: play content, find the player menu, and toggle captions on. Once you turn them on, they remain active until you turn them off again — Paramount Plus does not save your caption preference across sessions on most devices.

Key Takeaways

  • Captions are found in the video player menu during playback, accessed through a settings or menu icon in the bottom right corner of the player.
  • You can choose from multiple caption languages and styles, depending on what the show or movie offers.
  • Captions turn on when ready and stay on only for that viewing session unless you change the setting again.
  • The steps are the same across phones, tablets, computers, and smart TVs, though the menu icons may look slightly different.

Captions on phones and tablets

On an iPhone, iPad, or Android device, start playing any show or movie. Tap the screen once to reveal the player controls if they are hidden. Look for the settings icon — on most devices this appears as a gear symbol or three horizontal lines (a menu icon) in the bottom right corner of the player.

Tap that icon and select "Captions," "Subtitles," or "CC" from the options that appear. A list of available languages will show up. Choose the language you want — English is usually the default option. The captions will appear on screen when ready. If you do not see a captions option in the menu, the content you are watching may not have captions available.

Captions on a computer or web browser

Open Paramount Plus in your web browser and start playing content. Move your mouse over the video player to reveal the controls at the bottom. On the right side of the player, you will see a settings icon that looks like a gear or a row of three dots. Click it to open the menu.

Look for an option labeled "Captions," "Subtitles," or "CC." Click it and select your preferred language from the list. The captions will display when ready on the video. If you close the browser or stop watching, you will need to turn captions back on the next time you watch — the setting does not carry over between sessions on most browsers.

Captions on smart TVs and streaming devices

On a smart TV, Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, or other streaming device, launch the Paramount Plus app and start playing a show or movie. Use your remote to navigate to the player controls. Press the button that opens the menu — this is often labeled as "Options," "Menu," or represented by three dots or lines on your remote.

Select "Captions" or "Subtitles" from the menu. Choose your language from the available options. The captions will appear on your screen right away. Some smart TVs also allow you to adjust the size and style of captions through your TV's own accessibility settings, separate from the Paramount Plus player menu — check your TV manual if you want to make those changes.

Caption languages and styles available

Paramount Plus offers captions in English by default, and many shows and movies also include Spanish, French, and other languages depending on the content. Not every title has captions in every language — availability depends on what the studio provided to Paramount Plus.

You cannot customize the appearance of captions (font size, color, or background) through the Paramount Plus player itself on most devices. If you need larger or different-looking captions, check whether your device has its own accessibility settings for captions — most phones, tablets, and smart TVs let you adjust caption appearance at the system level, which will affect how captions look across all apps, including Paramount Plus.

What to do if captions are not showing up

If you turn on captions and nothing appears, the content you are watching may not have captions available. Not every show or movie on Paramount Plus includes captions — older content and some licensed material often lack them. Try playing a different title to see if captions work on that one.

If captions work on some content but not others, the problem is with that specific title, not your device or account. If captions do not work on any content, try closing and reopening the Paramount Plus app, or sign out and sign back in. If the problem continues across multiple titles and devices, contact Paramount Plus support through the app or website to report the issue.

Turning captions off

To turn captions off, open the player menu the same way you turned them on — tap or click the settings icon during playback. Select "Captions" or "Subtitles" and choose "Off" or "None" from the list. The captions will disappear when ready.

Remember that Paramount Plus does not save your caption preference, so if you turn captions off and then watch something else later, you may need to turn them off again if you had previously turned them on. Each viewing session starts fresh.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make captions bigger or change their color on Paramount Plus?

The Paramount Plus player does not have built-in options to change caption size or color. However, your device may have accessibility settings that control how captions look across all apps. On iPhones and iPads, go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning. On Android, check Settings > Accessibility > Captions. On smart TVs, look in the TV's own accessibility or display settings.

Why do some shows have captions and others don't?

Paramount Plus can only offer captions for content that the studio or network provided with captions included. Older shows, independent films, and some licensed content may not have captions available. If a title lacks captions, there is no way to turn them on for that specific show or movie.

Do captions work on all Paramount Plus plans?

Yes, captions are available on all Paramount Plus subscription tiers, including the ad-supported plan. The feature does not depend on which plan you have.

Will my captions stay on if I pause and come back later?

Captions will stay on while you are watching the same episode or movie in the same session. If you close the app or stop watching and come back later, you will need to turn captions back on.

Can I use captions in a language other than English?

Yes, if the show or movie offers captions in another language. When you open the captions menu, you will see all available languages listed. Select the one you want. Not every title has captions in every language — it depends on what was provided to Paramount Plus.