How to enable subtitles on Peacock
Subtitles and captions on Peacock appear through a button in the video player itself. When you start playing any 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 subtitles turn on. Click it again to turn them off. The CC button works the same way on phones, tablets, computers, and streaming devices.
If you do not see the CC button, move your mouse or tap the video player to make the controls appear. On some devices the controls hide after a few seconds of watching, so you may need to move your cursor or tap the screen again to find the button.
Peacock remembers your choice. If you turn subtitles on for one show, they stay on for the next show you watch in the same session. If you close the app and come back later, Peacock keeps your subtitle setting, so you will not have to turn them on again each time.
Key Takeaways
- The CC button in the bottom right corner of the video player turns subtitles on and off with a single click or tap.
- Subtitles work on all devices where Peacock plays — phones, tablets, computers, and streaming devices like Roku and Fire TV.
- Peacock saves your subtitle preference, so you do not have to turn them on for every single show.
- If the player controls are hidden, move your mouse or tap the screen to make them appear so you can find the CC button.
- Not all content on Peacock has subtitles available, though most movies and shows do.
Where the CC button is on different devices
On a computer or phone, the CC button sits in the bottom right corner of the video player, next to the volume control and the fullscreen button. The exact position may shift slightly depending on your screen size, but it is always in that corner area.
On a TV streaming device like Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV, the button is in the same spot — bottom right — but you navigate to it using your remote. Press the up or down arrow on your remote to highlight the CC button, then press select or OK to toggle subtitles on.
If you use Peacock on a smart TV app, the layout is similar. The controls appear when you press a button on your remote, and the CC option is in the player controls at the bottom of the screen.
What to do if subtitles are not showing up
If you clicked the CC button but no text appears on the screen, the show or movie you are watching may not have subtitles available. Peacock does not provide subtitles for all content — some older titles, live sports, and certain licensed shows do not include them. Check a different show to see whether subtitles work in general on your account.
If subtitles work on some shows but not others, that is normal. The availability depends on what the content provider included when they sent the show to Peacock. There is no way to add subtitles to content that does not have them.
If the CC button itself is missing from the player, try closing the app and opening it again. On a computer, try a different web browser. If you are using an older streaming device, check whether Peacock has released an app update — older app versions sometimes have missing features.
Changing subtitle appearance and language
Peacock does not offer built-in controls to change the size, color, or font of subtitles the way some other streaming services do. Your subtitle appearance is controlled by your device's accessibility settings instead. On most phones and computers, you can adjust subtitle size and style through the system settings, and Peacock will use those choices.
For language, Peacock shows subtitles in the language of your device's system settings by default. If a show has subtitles in multiple languages, you may see an option to choose which language when you click the CC button — this depends on the specific show. Some content has only English subtitles, while other shows offer Spanish, French, or other languages.
Subtitles versus closed captions on Peacock
Peacock uses the term "CC" for its subtitle button, but the content behind it can be either subtitles or closed captions depending on the show. Subtitles show dialogue only — what people are saying. Closed captions include dialogue plus sound descriptions like "[door slams]" or "[music playing]" so that deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers know what is happening in scenes with no dialogue.
You cannot choose between the two on Peacock — you get whatever the content provider included. Most shows have closed captions, which means you will see both dialogue and sound descriptions when you turn on the CC button. Some older content may have subtitles only.
Using subtitles on Peacock with a live TV subscription
If you have a Peacock Premium or Premium Plus plan that includes live TV, subtitles work the same way for live channels as they do for on-demand shows. Click the CC button during a live broadcast, and captions appear if the channel is providing them. Live sports and breaking news sometimes have a delay in captions because they are being typed in real time.
Not all live channels provide captions at all times. Local news and major sports events usually have them, but smaller channels or specialty programming may not. If captions are not appearing during a live broadcast, the channel itself may not be sending them to Peacock at that moment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make subtitles bigger on Peacock?
Peacock does not have its own subtitle size control, but you can adjust subtitle size through your device's accessibility settings. On iPhone and iPad, go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning and choose a larger text size. On Android, the setting is in Settings > Accessibility > Captions. On a computer, the option is usually in your operating system's accessibility menu. Peacock will use whatever size you set there.
Why do some shows have subtitles and others do not?
Peacock does not create subtitles itself — it uses whatever the content provider included. If a show or movie does not have subtitles, Peacock cannot add them. Older titles, independent films, and some licensed content may not have been captioned when they were made. Most newer shows and major movies do have subtitles available.
Do I need a paid Peacock plan to use subtitles?
No. Subtitles work on all Peacock plans, including the free tier. The CC button is available to every user regardless of which plan you have.
Can I read shows with subtitles on Peacock?
Peacock does not allow you to read shows or movies to watch offline. You can only watch content while streaming, and subtitles appear only during streaming playback.
What languages have subtitles on Peacock?
Language availability depends on the specific show or movie. Most content has English subtitles. Some shows offer Spanish, French, or other languages, but you have to check each title individually. When multiple languages are available, you usually see a language option when you click the CC button.