Closed captions are built into Paramount Plus and turn on through your account settings or the player controls
Paramount Plus offers closed captions on most of its content, and you can enable them in two ways: through your account settings (which applies captions to everything you watch) or through the player itself (which lets you turn them on or off for individual shows). The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are watching on a web browser, phone, tablet, or streaming device.
Captions are available in English on the vast majority of Paramount Plus titles. Some international content and live sports may not have captions, and Paramount Plus does not currently offer captions in languages other than English.
Key Takeaways
- You can enable captions permanently in your account settings, or turn them on for a single show using the player controls.
- On web browsers and most devices, look for the CC icon or settings gear in the video player to access caption options.
- Captions are available in English on most on-demand shows and movies, but not all live content includes them.
- If captions are not appearing, check that your device supports them and that the title itself has captions available.
Turning on captions in your account settings
If you want captions on by default for all content you watch, change the setting in your Paramount Plus account. Log in to your account on a web browser, select your profile icon in the top right corner, and choose Account. Look for Accessibility or Closed Captions in the settings menu. Toggle the option to On or Always On, depending on how your account displays it.
This setting applies across all devices where you are signed in. Once you turn it on, captions will appear automatically when you start playing a show or movie, unless the title does not have captions available. You can still turn captions off for individual videos using the player controls if you prefer not to see them for a specific show.
Using the player controls to turn on captions
If you have not changed your account settings, you can turn on captions for a single show or movie through the video player. While a video is playing, look for the CC icon or a settings gear icon in the player controls at the bottom of the screen. On most devices, these controls appear when you move your mouse or tap the screen.
Click or tap the CC icon to toggle captions on or off. If you see a settings gear instead, select it and look for a Captions or Subtitles option in the menu. Choose English or On to enable them. The captions will remain on for that video until you turn them off or close the app.
Captions on phones and tablets
The Paramount Plus app on iOS and Android devices works the same way as the web player. Start playing a show or movie, then tap the screen to reveal the player controls. Look for the CC icon in the bottom right corner of the player and tap it to turn captions on or off.
If the CC icon does not appear, tap the three-dot menu icon (⋯) in the player controls and select Captions from the options. You can also enable captions by default through your account settings on the app: open the menu, go to Settings, select your profile, and toggle Closed Captions to On.
Captions on streaming devices and smart TVs
Paramount Plus works on Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Google TV, and other streaming platforms. The process for turning on captions is similar across all of them: start playing a video, then use your remote to bring up the player controls. Look for a CC button or a settings option in the controls menu.
On some devices, you may need to press a button on your remote (often labeled Options, Menu, or Settings) to access caption controls. If you cannot find a CC button, check the remote's accessibility features or consult the device manual for how to enable captions system-wide, which will explore to Paramount Plus and other apps.
When captions are not available or not showing
Not all content on Paramount Plus has captions. Most on-demand shows and movies include them, but live sports, live news, and some older titles may not. If you have turned on captions but they are not appearing, the title itself may not have them available.
If captions should be available but are not showing, try closing the app or refreshing the page, then turning captions back on. Make sure your device is fully updated, as older software versions sometimes have trouble displaying captions. If the problem continues, check Paramount Plus's support page to see if there is a known issue with that specific title or device.
Customizing caption appearance
Paramount Plus does not offer built-in options to change caption size, color, or font within the app itself. However, your device may have system-level caption settings that override the app's defaults. On most phones and tablets, go to Settings, select Accessibility, and look for Captions or Subtitles to adjust how they appear across all apps.
On smart TVs and streaming devices, similar accessibility settings are usually found in the main settings menu. Changing these system settings will affect captions in Paramount Plus and other apps that support them. If you want captions to look a certain way, adjusting your device's accessibility settings is the most reliable method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do all shows and movies on Paramount Plus have captions?
Most on-demand content has captions, but not all. Live sports, live news, and some older titles may not include them. If captions are available for a title, you will see a CC label on the show or movie's description page.
Can I get captions in languages other than English?
Paramount Plus currently offers captions in English only. The app does not support captions in other languages at this time, though some international content may have subtitles available as a separate feature.
Why are captions not showing up even though I turned them on?
The title may not have captions available. Try closing and reopening the app, or check that your device is updated to the latest version. If captions still do not appear, the specific show or movie may not include them.
Can I change the size or style of the captions?
Paramount Plus does not have caption customization built into the app. Use your device's accessibility settings instead: go to Settings > Accessibility > Captions to adjust size, color, and font across all apps.
Do captions work on all Paramount Plus devices?
Captions work on web browsers, phones, tablets, and most streaming devices including Roku, Fire TV, and Apple TV. If your device does not support captions, check its manual or contact the device manufacturer for accessibility options.