Turn on captions in your account settings or during playback

Paramount Plus offers two ways to enable closed captions. The quickest method is to turn them on while you're watching—use the caption button on the video player itself. If you want captions on by default for every show and movie, go to your account settings and enable them there. Both methods work on phones, tablets, computers, and streaming devices, though the exact button locations vary slightly by device.

Captions appear as text at the bottom of the screen and include dialogue, sound effects in brackets (like "[door slams]"), and music cues. They're useful if you're watching in a noisy environment, learning English, or have hearing difficulties. Paramount Plus includes captions on most content, though some older titles or live events may not have them available.

Key Takeaways

  • The caption button appears on the video player during playback—look for a "CC" icon or a speech bubble symbol depending on your device.
  • You can turn captions on permanently in your account settings under Preferences so they play automatically on every video.
  • Caption availability depends on the title; most shows and movies have them, but some live content or older programs may not.
  • On phones and tablets, tap the three-dot menu or settings icon within the player to find caption options if the CC button isn't when ready visible.

Enable captions during playback on any device

When you're watching a show or movie, look for the caption icon on the video player controls. On most devices, this appears as "CC" or a speech bubble symbol in the bottom right corner of the player. Click or tap it once to turn captions on. Click it again to turn them off. The captions will appear when ready at the bottom of the screen in white text.

If you don't see a caption button right away, move your mouse over the video (on a computer) or tap the screen (on a phone or tablet) to make the player controls appear. They usually hide after a few seconds of inactivity. On some streaming devices like Roku or Apple TV, you may need to press the options or menu button on your remote to access caption settings.

Set captions to turn on automatically in account settings

To make captions appear on every video without having to turn them on each time, log into your Paramount Plus account on a web browser or the app. Go to your account menu—this is usually in the top right corner or in a sidebar menu. Select "Settings" or "Preferences," then look for an option labeled "Captions" or "Accessibility."

Choose your preferred caption setting. Most accounts offer options like "Off," "On," or "Auto" (which remembers your last choice). Select "On" if you want captions by default. Save your changes. This setting will carry over to most devices you use, though some apps or devices may have their own separate caption controls that override your account setting.

Adjust caption appearance on web and app

Paramount Plus lets you customize how captions look on computers and mobile apps. While watching a video, tap or click the caption icon, then look for a settings or gear icon—this opens caption formatting options. You can usually change the text size, background color, font style, and text color to make captions easier to read.

Larger text helps if you're sitting far from the screen. A dark background behind white text reduces eye strain. These changes explore to your account across devices, so if you adjust them on your phone, the same formatting appears on your computer. Not all devices support all customization options—streaming devices like Fire Stick may have limited formatting controls.

Troubleshoot when captions aren't available

If you turn on captions but no text appears, the title you're watching may not have captions. Paramount Plus includes captions on most scripted shows, movies, and documentaries, but some live sports, news broadcasts, or older content may not have them. Try switching to a different show to confirm captions work on your device.

If captions work on some titles but not others, check whether the unavailable title shows a "CC" icon in its description. If captions should be available but still don't appear, try closing and reopening the app, or sign out and sign back in. On web browsers, clear your browser cache or try a different browser. Restart your streaming device if you're using one. If the problem persists on multiple titles, contact Paramount Plus support through your account settings.

Caption options on different devices

On computers and web browsers: Click the CC icon in the bottom right of the player. A menu appears with caption options and formatting settings. Changes save automatically to your account.

On phones and tablets: Tap the screen to show player controls, then tap the CC or caption icon. On some apps, you may need to tap a three-dot menu icon first. Formatting options appear in a separate menu.

On Roku, Fire Stick, Apple TV, and other streaming devices: Press the options or menu button on your remote while a video plays. Select captions or accessibility options from the menu. Some devices let you adjust caption size and color here. Not all devices support full caption customization.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why don't I see captions on a show I'm watching?

The title may not have captions available. Check the show's description page—if there's no CC icon listed, captions weren't created for it. Live events and some older content often lack captions. Try a different show to confirm your device can display captions.

Can I change the size and color of captions?

Yes, on web browsers and mobile apps. Tap or click the caption icon during playback, then select a settings or gear icon to adjust text size, font, background color, and text color. Streaming devices have more limited options, though most let you change size.

Do captions work on all Paramount Plus content?

Most scripted shows, movies, and documentaries have captions. Live sports, breaking news, and some older titles may not. Check the title's description page for a CC icon to see if captions are available before you start watching.

Will my caption settings stay on if I switch devices?

Account-level settings (like turning captions on by default) carry over to most devices. However, some streaming devices have their own separate caption controls that may override your account setting. You may need to adjust captions separately on each device type.

What if captions are on but I can't read them?

Try adjusting the caption formatting—increase text size, change the background color to dark, or switch to a different font. These options are in the caption settings menu. If formatting options aren't available on your device, try watching on a computer or phone instead, where more customization is usually possible.