Turning on closed captions in Paramount Plus

Closed captions on Paramount Plus turn on through the video player controls during playback. When you start watching a show or movie, look for the CC icon in the bottom right corner of the player — it looks like a rectangle with lines inside it. Click or tap that icon once, and captions will appear at the bottom of the screen. Click it again to turn them off.

The exact location of the CC button depends on which device you're using, but the process is the same across all platforms: start playing content, find the CC icon in the player controls, and toggle it on. If you don't see the icon when ready, move your cursor or tap the screen to reveal the full control bar.

Paramount Plus does not offer a global setting that keeps captions on for every video you watch. You'll need to turn them on each time you start a new show or movie. However, the platform remembers your choice within a single episode — if you turn captions on and pause, they'll still be on when you resume.

Key Takeaways

  • The CC button appears in the bottom right corner of the video player during playback on all devices.
  • You must turn captions on separately for each new show or movie you watch; there is no permanent "always on" setting.
  • Captions remain on if you pause and resume the same episode, but switching to a different title will require you to turn them on again.
  • If the CC button is not visible, move your cursor or tap the screen to bring up the full player controls.
  • Caption appearance — size, color, and background — cannot be customized within Paramount Plus itself, but your device's accessibility settings may offer options.

Finding the CC button on different devices

On a web browser or computer, the CC icon sits in the bottom right corner of the player, next to the volume control and the fullscreen button. Hover your mouse over the video to reveal all the controls if they're hidden. The icon is small but clearly marked with "CC" or a caption symbol.

On mobile phones and tablets — whether you're using the Paramount Plus app or a mobile browser — the CC button is also in the bottom right corner. Tap anywhere on the video to make the controls appear, then tap the CC icon. On some phones, you may need to tap the three-dot menu icon first to see additional options, though the CC button usually appears directly on the main control bar.

On streaming devices like Roku, Apple TV, Fire Stick, or Google TV, the CC button appears in the same spot when you navigate the player controls using your remote. Press the button or key that reveals the control bar, then select the CC option. The exact button name varies by device, but the Paramount Plus player works the same way across all of them.

What to do if captions aren't showing up

If you click the CC button and no text appears on screen, the content you're watching may not have captions available. Not all shows and movies on Paramount Plus include closed captions — availability depends on the title and when it was added to the platform. Try switching to a different show to confirm whether the issue is with that specific title or with your player settings.

If captions are available but still not appearing, try these steps: first, make sure you're clicking the actual CC icon and not another button. Second, refresh the page or close and reopen the app. Third, check that your device's volume is not muted — sometimes muting audio also hides captions. If none of these work, try logging out of Paramount Plus and logging back in.

On some devices, your system-level accessibility settings may override the app's caption display. On Windows or Mac, check your display settings. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning and make sure captions are enabled there. On Android, check Settings > Accessibility > Captions. These system settings can prevent captions from showing even when the app is set to display them.

Adjusting caption size and appearance

Paramount Plus does not offer built-in controls to change caption size, color, font, or background within the app itself. The captions appear in a standard white text on a dark background format that cannot be customized through the Paramount Plus player.

If you need larger captions or different colors, you can adjust these through your device's accessibility settings, which will affect captions across all apps and websites. On Windows, go to Settings > Ease of Access > Captions. On Mac, open System Preferences > Accessibility > Captions. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning. On Android, navigate to Settings > Accessibility > Captions. These system-level adjustments will change how captions look in Paramount Plus and other streaming services.

Captions versus subtitles on Paramount Plus

Paramount Plus uses the term "closed captions" (CC) for what includes both dialogue and sound descriptions. When you turn on captions through the CC button, you're getting text that represents all audio — spoken words, music cues, and sound effects like "[door slams]" or "[phone ringing]." This is different from subtitles, which typically show only dialogue.

The Paramount Plus player does not offer a separate subtitles-only option. The CC button is your only caption control, and it provides the full closed caption experience. If you're looking for dialogue-only text, the system-level caption settings on your device may offer that choice, though most streaming services, including Paramount Plus, treat captions and subtitles as the same feature.

Captions on live events and sports

Live events and sports broadcasts on Paramount Plus may have captions available, but they work differently than pre-recorded content. Live captions are generated in real time and may have slight delays or occasional errors. The CC button still appears in the same location during live streams, and you turn them on the same way.

If you're watching a live event and captions don't appear even after clicking the CC button, the broadcast may not have live captioning enabled for that particular event. This varies by program and network. Some live sports and events include captions; others do not. Check the event description before it starts if captions are important to you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make captions stay on for all shows automatically?

No. Paramount Plus does not have a setting to keep captions on by default for every video. You must turn them on for each new show or movie. However, once you turn captions on for an episode, they remain on if you pause and resume that same episode.

Why are captions available for some shows but not others?

Caption availability depends on the content provider and when the title was added to Paramount Plus. Older titles and some licensed content may not have captions. If a show doesn't have captions, the CC button will either be grayed out or clicking it will have no effect.

Do captions work the same way on the Paramount Plus app and the website?

Yes. The CC button is in the same location and works identically whether you're using the app on a phone, tablet, or streaming device, or watching through a web browser. The process is consistent across all platforms.

What if the CC button is missing from the player?

Move your cursor over the video or tap the screen to reveal the full control bar. The CC button should appear in the bottom right corner. If it still doesn't show, the content may not have captions available, or there may be a technical issue with that specific title.

Can I change the color or size of the captions?

Paramount Plus does not offer caption customization within the app. You can adjust caption appearance through your device's accessibility settings — on Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, or Android — and those changes will explore to Paramount Plus and other services.