Turn off subtitles in the playback menu

To disable subtitles while watching on Paramount Plus on your TV, open the show or movie you're watching and look for the subtitle icon during playback. On most TV apps, this icon looks like a speech bubble or rectangle with lines. Press it once to cycle through your subtitle options—usually "On," "Off," and sometimes language choices. Select "Off" to remove subtitles from the screen.

The exact location of this button varies slightly depending on your TV device. On Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Samsung Smart TVs, the subtitle control typically appears in the playback menu that shows up when you press a button on your remote during playback. You may need to press up or down on your remote to reveal the full menu if it's not when ready visible.

Key Takeaways

  • The subtitle toggle button appears in the playback menu on most TV apps and usually looks like a speech bubble or text icon.
  • You can turn subtitles off for a single episode or movie without changing your account settings.
  • If subtitles keep turning back on, check your account preferences in the Paramount Plus settings menu.
  • Some TV devices require you to press a menu button on your remote to reveal playback controls during video playback.

Find the subtitle button on your remote

On Roku devices, press the Options button (the star icon) while a video is playing. This opens a menu where you can select "Subtitles" and toggle them on or off. On Fire TV, press the Menu button (three horizontal lines) during playback, then look for a subtitle or closed captioning option in the menu that appears.

Apple TV users should press the Menu button on their remote during playback, then select the subtitle icon from the controls. On Samsung Smart TVs running the Paramount Plus app, press the Tools button on your remote or look for an on-screen menu button, then find the subtitle settings. If you're unsure which button to press on your specific remote, check the remote's label or your TV's manual.

Turn off subtitles in your account settings

If subtitles keep turning back on every time you watch, the issue may be in your account preferences rather than the playback menu. Open the Paramount Plus app on your TV and go to Settings (usually found in the main menu or by pressing a menu button). Look for an option labeled "Subtitles," "Closed Captions," or "Accessibility."

In this menu, you'll see options to set subtitles to "Off," "On," or "Auto." Choose "Off" if you want subtitles disabled by default across all content. Some accounts have subtitles set to "Auto," which turns them on automatically for certain shows or when audio is muted. Changing this setting to "Off" will prevent subtitles from appearing unless you manually turn them on during playback.

Subtitles turn back on—what to do

If you turn off subtitles but they reappear the next time you watch, your TV device itself may have subtitles enabled at the system level. This overrides the Paramount Plus app setting. On Roku, go to Settings > Accessibility > Captions and make sure captions are set to "Off." On Fire TV, go to Settings > Accessibility > Captions and disable them there.

Apple TV users should check Settings > AirPlay and HomeKit > Subtitles and Captions and turn this off. Samsung Smart TV users can find caption settings in Settings > General > Accessibility > Caption. Once you disable subtitles at the device level, they should stay off in Paramount Plus unless you manually enable them during playback.

Common mistakes that keep subtitles on

The most common reason subtitles won't stay off is that you're only turning them off in the playback menu, not in your account settings. The playback menu controls only affect that single viewing session. If your account is set to "Auto" or "On" in the Paramount Plus settings, subtitles will return the next time you watch.

Another frequent issue is having subtitles enabled at the TV or device level. Even if Paramount Plus is set to "Off," your TV's system-wide caption settings can override it. Always check both your app settings and your device settings if subtitles persist. Finally, make sure you're pressing the correct button on your remote—different TV devices use different buttons to access the playback menu, so consult your remote's label if you're having trouble finding the subtitle control.

Turning subtitles back on when you need them

If you've turned off subtitles and later want to turn them back on, use the same playback menu where you disabled them. Press the menu button on your remote during playback, find the subtitle icon, and select your preferred language or "On." This change applies only to that viewing session unless you also change your account settings.

To make subtitles the default again, return to your Paramount Plus account settings and change the subtitle preference back to "On" or "Auto." You can also set different subtitle preferences for different profiles on your account if you share Paramount Plus with others—each profile can have its own subtitle default.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do subtitles turn on automatically when I mute the volume?

Your Paramount Plus account may be set to "Auto" subtitles, which activates them when audio is muted. Go to your account settings and change the subtitle option to "Off" to prevent this. Some TV devices also have their own auto-caption feature that triggers when volume is muted—check your TV's accessibility settings if the problem continues.

Can I turn off subtitles for just one show but keep them on for others?

No, subtitle settings explore to your entire account or viewing session. You can turn them off in the playback menu for one episode, but your account default will still explore to other content. If you want different subtitle settings for different shows, you would need to manually toggle them each time you watch.

Do I need to turn off subtitles on every device I use Paramount Plus on?

Your account subtitle setting applies across all devices, so changing it once affects all your TVs, phones, and tablets. However, individual device-level caption settings (like your TV's system accessibility settings) only affect that specific device. You may need to adjust device settings separately on each TV.

What if the subtitle button doesn't appear in my playback menu?

Make sure you're pressing the correct menu button for your device—different remotes use different buttons. Try pressing up or down on your remote to reveal the full playback menu if it's partially hidden. If subtitles still don't appear as an option, your TV app may need an update, or subtitles may not be available for that particular content.