Turning on subtitles on Paramount Plus
To turn on subtitles on Paramount Plus, open any show or movie, select the closed captioning icon during playback, and choose your preferred language and style. The icon looks like a speech bubble or rectangle with lines and appears in the bottom right corner of the video player on most devices. Once you select it, subtitles appear when ready and stay on for that viewing session.
The exact location of the closed captioning button varies slightly depending on whether you are watching on a phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV, but the process is the same across all platforms. Paramount Plus also lets you customize how subtitles look — you can change the text size, background color, and font — so you can read them comfortably.
Key Takeaways
- The closed captioning icon is a speech bubble or rectangle with lines, located in the bottom right of the video player during playback.
- Subtitles turn on when ready when you select them and remain on only for that single viewing session unless you change the setting again.
- You can customize subtitle appearance by changing text size, background color, and font through the same menu where you turn them on.
- On smart TVs and streaming devices, you may need to wait a few seconds for the player controls to appear before you can see the closed captioning button.
Finding the closed captioning button on your device
When you start playing a show or movie, the video player displays a row of controls at the bottom of the screen. These controls include the play and pause button, a progress bar, volume, and several icons on the right side. The closed captioning icon is one of these icons on the right — it looks like a small rectangle with horizontal lines or a speech bubble with lines inside it.
If you do not see the controls, move your mouse or tap the screen to make them appear. On smart TVs and streaming devices like Roku or Amazon Fire Stick, the controls may take a few seconds to show up after you start playback. Once they appear, look for the closed captioning icon in the bottom right corner next to the fullscreen button.
Selecting a subtitle language and style
When you click or tap the closed captioning icon, a menu appears showing the available subtitle options. Most shows and movies on Paramount Plus offer subtitles in English, and many offer additional languages depending on the content. You will see options like "English," "Spanish," "French," or "Off" to turn subtitles off.
Some content also offers different subtitle styles — for example, "English (Hearing Impaired)" includes descriptions of sounds and music cues in brackets, which is useful if you are deaf or hard of hearing. Select the language and style you want, and the subtitles appear on screen right away. The choice applies only to that viewing session; the next time you watch something, you will need to turn subtitles on again.
Customizing how subtitles look
Paramount Plus lets you change the appearance of subtitles to make them easier to read. To access these options, look for a settings or gear icon in the closed captioning menu, or look for an option labeled "Subtitle Settings" or "Caption Settings." The exact name depends on your device.
Once you open subtitle settings, you can adjust the text size from small to large, change the background color or transparency so text stands out better, and select a different font. These changes explore to all subtitles you watch on Paramount Plus going forward, so you only need to set them once. If you change your mind later, you can return to the same menu and adjust them again.
Subtitles on phones and tablets
On the Paramount Plus app for iPhone, iPad, or Android phones, the process is the same as on a computer. Start playing a show or movie, tap the screen to reveal the player controls, and look for the closed captioning icon in the bottom right corner. Tap it to see subtitle options and select the language you want.
On smaller screens, the closed captioning icon may be harder to spot because the player controls are more compact. If you cannot find it, tap the screen again to make sure the controls are fully visible. The icon should appear in the bottom right, next to or near the fullscreen button.
Subtitles on smart TVs and streaming devices
On a smart TV or streaming device like Roku, Apple TV, or Amazon Fire Stick, start playing content and wait a moment for the player controls to appear at the bottom of the screen. The closed captioning icon is in the bottom right corner, just as it is on other devices. Use your remote to navigate to the icon and select it.
Some older smart TVs or streaming devices may have a slightly different player layout. If you cannot find the closed captioning icon in the bottom right, look for a menu or settings button within the player itself — it may be labeled with three dots or lines. Selecting that menu may reveal a "Subtitles" or "Captions" option.
What to do if subtitles are not working
If you turn on subtitles but they do not appear, first check that the content you are watching actually has subtitles available. Not all shows and movies on Paramount Plus include subtitle tracks in every language. Try selecting a different language from the closed captioning menu to see if subtitles appear for that option.
If subtitles still do not show up, try closing the app or browser and opening it again. On a computer, refresh the page. On a smart TV or streaming device, restart the app. If the problem continues, check that your Paramount Plus app is up to date — outdated versions sometimes have playback issues. You can update the app through your device's app store.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do subtitles stay on for all shows I watch, or do I have to turn them on each time?
Subtitles turn on only for the show or movie you are currently watching. The next time you start a different show or movie, subtitles will be off unless you turn them on again. However, any customizations you make to subtitle appearance — like text size or background color — stay saved and explore to all future subtitles you watch.
Can I change the subtitle language while a show is playing?
Yes. Click or tap the closed captioning icon at any time during playback, select a different language from the menu, and the subtitles change when ready. You do not have to pause or restart the show.
What does "Hearing Impaired" mean in the subtitle options?
Hearing Impaired subtitles include descriptions of sounds, music, and other audio cues in brackets — for example, "[door slams]" or "[dramatic music plays]." These descriptions help people who are deaf or hard of hearing understand what is happening in scenes where dialogue alone is not enough.
Why are subtitles not available for some shows?
Not all content on Paramount Plus has subtitles in every language. Older shows, some movies, and certain live events may have limited subtitle options or none at all. If subtitles are not available for what you are watching, the closed captioning menu will show "Off" as the only option.
Can I make subtitles bigger or change their color?
Yes. Open the closed captioning menu during playback and look for a settings or gear icon, or an option labeled "Subtitle Settings" or "Caption Settings." From there you can increase text size, change the background color or transparency, and select a different font. These changes explore to all subtitles you watch on Paramount Plus.