Turn Off Subtitles in Your Playback Settings
To turn off subtitles on Paramount Plus, open any video and look for the closed captioning icon during playback—it usually looks like a speech bubble or the letters "CC" in a box. Click or tap that icon, then select Off from the menu that appears. The subtitles will disappear when ready, and Paramount Plus will remember your choice for future videos.
The exact location of this icon depends on what device you're using. On phones and tablets, the icon appears in the playback controls at the bottom of the screen. On computers and smart TVs, it's typically in the lower right corner of the video player, near the volume and fullscreen buttons. If you don't see it right away, move your mouse or tap the video to make the controls visible.
If subtitles keep turning back on after you've turned them off, check your account settings—Paramount Plus may have subtitles set as your default. This is a separate setting from the per-video toggle and overrides your playback choice.
Key Takeaways
- Click or tap the CC (closed captioning) icon during playback and select Off to disable subtitles for that video.
- Paramount Plus remembers your subtitle preference and applies it to most videos you watch going forward.
- If subtitles keep reappearing, your account default settings may be overriding your playback choice.
- The CC icon location varies by device but is always in the playback controls—look in the bottom right corner on most screens.
- Some live events and special content may not allow you to turn off subtitles, depending on broadcast requirements.
Change Your Account Default Settings
If you want subtitles off by default across your entire Paramount Plus account, go to your account settings rather than toggling them off video by video. On the web, click your profile icon in the top right corner, then select Account. On mobile apps, tap the menu icon (three horizontal lines) and look for Settings or Account Settings.
Once you're in your account settings, find the Playback or Video Playback section. This is where Paramount Plus stores your subtitle preference. Look for an option labeled Subtitles, Closed Captions, or Captions, and change it from On to Off. Save your changes, and new videos will start without subtitles unless you manually turn them on.
Keep in mind that changing your account default does not erase subtitles from videos you've already started watching. If you're in the middle of an episode, you'll still need to click the CC icon to turn them off for that specific video.
Subtitle Options Beyond On and Off
Paramount Plus offers more than just an on-off toggle. When you click the CC icon, you'll usually see options like Off, English, Spanish, and other languages depending on the content. You can also access subtitle style settings on some devices—these let you change the font size, background color, and text color to make subtitles easier to read.
To find subtitle styling options, go to your account settings and look for Accessibility or Captions. Not all devices support custom styling, so this option may not appear on phones or older smart TVs. If you're on a computer or newer streaming device and the option exists, you can adjust the appearance without affecting whether subtitles are on or off.
Troubleshooting: Subtitles Won't Stay Off
If subtitles keep turning back on even after you've disabled them, first check whether your account default is set to On. Go to your account settings, navigate to playback preferences, and confirm that subtitles are set to Off. If they are and subtitles still appear, try signing out of Paramount Plus completely and signing back in—this refreshes your settings on that device.
On smart TVs and streaming devices like Roku or Fire Stick, subtitles sometimes turn back on because the device itself has accessibility settings that override the app. Check your TV or device's built-in closed captioning settings and make sure they're not set to always display captions. The location of this setting varies by manufacturer, but it's usually in Accessibility or Display Settings.
If you're using a web browser, clear your browser cache and cookies, then log back into Paramount Plus. Cached data can sometimes cause settings to behave unexpectedly. If the problem persists after trying these steps, contact Paramount Plus support through the app or website—there may be a technical issue with your account.
Different Subtitle Behavior on Different Devices
Paramount Plus syncs your subtitle preference across devices, but not perfectly. If you turn off subtitles on your phone, they should be off the next time you watch on your computer—but there's usually a slight delay. If you switch devices when ready, you might see subtitles still on until Paramount Plus updates your settings, which typically happens within a few minutes.
Some devices have their own subtitle systems that can interfere. For example, if you're watching through a smart TV's Paramount Plus app, the TV's native closed captioning system might override the app's settings. In this case, you may need to turn off subtitles in both the app and the TV's accessibility menu to make sure they stay off.
When You Can't Turn Off Subtitles
Certain content on Paramount Plus does not allow you to disable subtitles. This usually applies to live events, sports broadcasts, and some international content where subtitles are part of the broadcast itself rather than an optional feature. If the CC icon is grayed out or missing entirely, subtitles are locked on for that particular video.
This is a limitation of the content itself, not a bug in the app. You cannot override it by changing your account settings. If subtitles are permanently on for a show or movie you want to watch without them, your only option is to watch different content or contact Paramount Plus support to ask whether an alternate version is available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off subtitles on one device turn them off everywhere?
Paramount Plus syncs your subtitle preference across all your devices, but the update takes a few minutes. If you turn off subtitles on your phone, they should be off the next time you watch on your TV or computer, though there may be a short delay before the change takes effect.
Can I turn off subtitles for just one show and keep them on for others?
No. Your subtitle setting applies to your entire account. If you turn off subtitles, they'll be off for all videos unless you manually turn them back on for a specific video. There's no way to set different subtitle preferences for different shows.
Why do subtitles turn back on after I turn them off?
Your account default setting may be overriding your choice. Go to your account settings, find the playback or captions section, and make sure subtitles are set to Off. If that doesn't work, try signing out and back in, or check whether your device's own accessibility settings are forcing subtitles on.
Are subtitles available in languages other than English?
Yes. When you click the CC icon, you'll see a list of available languages for that video. Not all content has subtitles in every language—it depends on what the studio provided. If a language isn't listed, subtitles in that language aren't available for that particular video.
Can I make subtitles bigger or change their color?
On computers and some newer smart TVs, yes. Go to your account settings and look for Accessibility or Captions to adjust font size, background color, and text color. This option is not available on all devices, particularly older phones and streaming devices.