Turn on closed captions in your Paramount Plus account settings
Closed captions on Paramount Plus are controlled through your account settings, not through individual video playback. Once you turn them on, they will appear by default on all shows and movies you watch — though you can still turn them off for a single video if you need to. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are using the web browser, a phone app, a tablet, or a streaming device.
The fastest route is usually through your account profile on the Paramount Plus website. Log in, go to your profile menu, find the accessibility or playback settings section, and toggle closed captions on. On mobile apps and streaming devices, the same toggle lives in your account settings, though the exact menu path varies by device.
Key Takeaways
- Closed captions on Paramount Plus are turned on through your account settings, not through the video player itself.
- Once enabled, captions will appear on all content by default, but you can disable them for individual videos during playback.
- The settings menu location differs between web, mobile apps, and streaming devices, but the toggle is always labeled "Captions" or "Closed Captions."
- If captions do not appear after you enable them, clear your app cache or refresh your browser, then log out and back in.
Enable captions on Paramount Plus through a web browser
On a computer or tablet browser, log into your Paramount Plus account and select your profile icon in the top right corner. Click "Account" or "Settings" from the dropdown menu. Look for a section labeled "Playback," "Accessibility," or "Video Preferences" — the exact name varies depending on when your account was created.
In that section, find the toggle or checkbox for "Closed Captions" or "Captions" and turn it on. Some accounts show this as a straightforward on/off switch; others show it as a dropdown with options like "On," "Off," or "Auto." Select "On" and save your changes. You may need to refresh the page or log out and back in for the change to take effect on videos you are currently watching.
Turn on captions in the Paramount Plus mobile app
Open the Paramount Plus app on your phone or tablet and tap the profile icon, usually in the bottom right corner of the screen. Select "Account Settings" or "Settings." Scroll down to find "Playback," "Accessibility," or "Video Settings."
Tap the toggle next to "Closed Captions" to turn it on. On some Android devices, this option may be labeled "Subtitles" instead. After you enable it, close the settings menu and start playing a video — captions should appear within a few seconds. If they do not, force-close the app completely, then reopen it and try again.
Enable captions on streaming devices and smart TVs
On Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or Google TV, open the Paramount Plus app and navigate to your profile or account menu. This is usually accessible from the home screen or from within the app itself — look for a gear icon or a profile picture in the top corner.
Select "Settings" or "Account Settings," then look for "Playback," "Accessibility," or "Video Preferences." Toggle "Closed Captions" or "Captions" to the on position. The exact menu structure varies by device and by which version of the Paramount Plus app you have installed, so if you cannot find the setting in the first menu you check, try looking under "Video Settings" or "Display Settings" instead.
Turn captions on or off during playback
Even after you enable captions in your account settings, you can turn them off for a single video without changing your account preferences. While a video is playing, look for a settings or options icon — usually three dots, a gear, or a speech bubble — in the corner of the video player.
Tap or click that icon and select "Captions," "Subtitles," or "CC." You will see options to turn captions on, off, or to choose a language if multiple options are available. Your choice applies only to that video; the next time you watch something, your account default will take over again.
What to do if captions are not showing up
If you have turned on closed captions in your settings but they still do not appear, the most common fix is to clear your app cache or refresh your browser. On mobile, go to your device settings, find the Paramount Plus app, and select "Clear Cache" or "Storage." On a computer, refresh the page with F5 or Ctrl+R (Windows) or Command+R (Mac).
Log out of your Paramount Plus account completely, then log back in. This forces the app or browser to reload your account settings. If captions still do not appear, check whether the video itself has captions available — not all content on Paramount Plus includes closed captions, particularly older films or some licensed content. You can usually see a "CC" icon next to a title if captions are available for that specific show or movie.
Captions may not be available on all content
Paramount Plus does not include closed captions on every title in its library. Older films, some licensed movies, and certain international content may not have captions, even if your account setting is turned on. When you are browsing the Paramount Plus catalog, look for a small "CC" icon next to titles that have captions available.
If a show or movie you want to watch does not have captions, there is no setting that will add them — the captions straightforward were not created for that content. You can report missing captions to Paramount Plus through the app or website feedback option, but there is no way to turn them on for content that was not captioned during production.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are captions not showing even though I turned them on?
The most common reason is that you need to refresh your browser or clear the app cache. Log out completely, clear your cache or refresh the page, then log back in. If captions still do not appear, check whether that specific video has captions available — not all Paramount Plus content includes them. Look for a "CC" icon next to the title.
Can I change the size or style of the captions?
Paramount Plus does not offer built-in caption customization through its own settings. However, many devices allow you to control caption appearance through the device itself — on Apple TV, Roku, and Fire TV, you can adjust caption size, font, and background color in your device's accessibility settings, and Paramount Plus will respect those choices.
Do I need to turn on captions separately for each profile on my account?
Yes. If you share a Paramount Plus account with family members, each profile has its own settings. Each person needs to turn on captions in their own profile settings if they want them enabled by default. This prevents one person's preference from affecting what others see.
Will turning on captions slow down my streaming or use more data?
No. Captions are already included in the video file and do not require additional data to read. Turning them on or off has no effect on streaming speed or data usage.