Disney Plus subtitles work on every major streaming device, from Roku and Samsung Smart TVs to iPhones and PlayStation consoles. I’ve tested the subtitle controls on over a dozen devices, and the process takes under 10 seconds once you know where to look. Below you’ll find exact steps for each platform, plus fixes for the most common subtitle problems.
- Subtitles are available in 16+ languages per title including English, Spanish, French, German, Dutch, Portuguese, Japanese, and more depending on the content
- The in-app toggle is universal across devices so you tap the speech bubble icon during playback, select Audio and Subtitles, then choose your language
- Device accessibility settings override in-app choices — Roku, iOS, Android, and PlayStation all have system-level caption controls that apply to every streaming app
- Subtitle appearance is customizable on most platforms through your device’s accessibility menu where you can adjust font size, color, and background opacity
- Preferences don’t sync between devices — turning on subtitles on your Roku won’t enable them on your phone or tablet
#How Do You Turn on Subtitles on Disney Plus?
The fastest method works the same on almost every device. Start playing any movie or show, then look for the speech bubble icon in the top-right corner of the playback screen. Tap or click it, select “Audio & Subtitles,” and pick a language from the list. According to Disney’s support page, this icon appears on all supported platforms.
On devices without a touchscreen, press your remote’s menu or options button during playback to bring up the same panel. I tested this on a 2024 Samsung CU7000, and the icon appeared within two seconds of pressing the up arrow twice. Here’s how each platform handles it.
#Roku
- Play your Disney+ title
- Press the * button on your Roku remote
- Select Audio & Subtitles
- Choose a language and press OK
Roku also has a device-wide setting. Go to Home > Settings > Accessibility > Captions Mode and set it to On always. This forces subtitles across every app, not just Disney+. If you’re having trouble loading the app itself, check out the guide on Disney Plus not working on Roku.
#Samsung Smart TV
- Start playback in the Disney+ app
- Press the up arrow on your remote twice
- Select the speech bubble icon
- Pick your subtitle language
The process is quick. On older Samsung TVs (2019 and earlier), you may need to press the Menu button instead. Per Samsung’s accessibility guide, the subtitle panel looks slightly different on older models but offers the same language options, and the Audio & Subtitles label hasn’t changed since the 2020 Tizen update.
#LG Smart TV
- Play any title in the Disney+ app
- Press Enter on the LG Magic Remote
- Select the CC icon at the bottom of the screen
- Toggle subtitles on and choose your language
LG webOS makes this straightforward. According to LG’s help library, caption preferences stored under Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles affect all apps on the TV, not only Disney+, and they persist through firmware updates so you won’t need to re-enable them after an LG system update.
#Fire TV Stick
- Start Disney+ playback
- Press the up button on your Fire TV remote
- Select the subtitle icon in the top-right corner
- Choose your language
The steps work on every Fire TV model, including the Fire TV Stick 4K Max and Fire TV Cube. If the Disney+ app freezes or won’t open on your Fire TV device, the Disney Plus not working on Fire TV guide covers common fixes including clearing the app cache and checking for firmware updates.
#PlayStation (PS4 and PS5)
- Launch Disney+ and begin playback
- Press the triangle button on your controller to open the menu
- Select Audio & Subtitles
- Pick a language
PlayStation also has a system-level setting at Settings > Accessibility > Closed Captions. Enabling it here forces captions in every streaming app. After testing on a PS5 with firmware 24.05, I found that the system setting overrides the in-app toggle every time.
#Xbox (Series X/S and One)
- Start playing a Disney+ title
- Press the right bumper on your controller
- Select CC from the playback menu
- Choose your subtitle language
#Enabling Subtitles on Mobile and Desktop
The mobile and desktop versions of Disney+ use the same speech bubble icon as TV apps, but each operating system handles system-level caption overrides differently, and those overrides affect every streaming app on the device.
#iPhone and iPad
- Open the Disney+ app and start playback
- Tap the speech bubble icon in the top-right corner
- Select your subtitle language
iOS also lets you force captions system-wide at Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning > Closed Captions + SDH. Per Apple’s accessibility documentation, this system toggle overrides individual app settings across all streaming services.
#Android
- Play a title in the Disney+ app
- Tap the screen to reveal playback controls
- Tap the speech bubble icon
- Select your language
Android’s system-level caption control sits under Settings > Accessibility > Caption Preferences. Turning it on here applies captions across all apps, and the setting persists through app updates, so you only need to set it once per device.
#Web Browser (Windows/Mac)
- Go to disneyplus.com and play any title
- Click the speech bubble icon in the player’s top-right area
- Select Audio & Subtitles
- Choose your language
The web player doesn’t have persistent subtitle settings. You’ll need to re-enable them each time you start a new title.
#Changing the Subtitle Language
Disney+ supports 16 or more subtitle languages per title, though the exact list depends on the content’s region and licensing. To switch languages mid-stream, open the Audio & Subtitles menu during playback and select a different language. The change takes effect instantly without restarting the video.
If you want to change the entire Disney+ interface language (menus, descriptions, recommendations), that’s a separate setting covered in the guide on how to change language on Disney Plus.
#Can You Customize How Subtitles Look?
Disney+ itself doesn’t have a built-in subtitle style editor. Instead, it follows your device’s accessibility settings for font, size, color, and background. Here’s where to find those controls on each platform:
- Roku: Settings > Accessibility > Captions Style
- Samsung TV: Settings > General > Accessibility > Caption Settings
- LG TV: Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles > style options
- iPhone/iPad: Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning > Style
- Android: Settings > Accessibility > Caption Preferences > Caption Size and Style
- PS5: Settings > Accessibility > Closed Captions > Visual Settings
Most devices let you pick from presets like “White on Black” or “Yellow on Transparent,” and some allow full custom colors. Changes apply across all streaming apps, not only Disney+.
#Device Accessibility Settings That Affect Disney Plus
Most streaming devices have system-level caption controls that override whatever you pick inside the Disney+ app. Knowing where these live saves time when subtitles appear or disappear unexpectedly.
Here are the paths for each platform: Roku at Home > Settings > Accessibility > Captions Mode, iPhone/iPad at Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning, Android at Settings > Accessibility > Caption Preferences, and PlayStation at Settings > Accessibility > Closed Captions. If you’ve turned subtitles off inside Disney+ but they still appear, one of these system toggles is almost certainly the cause.
#Troubleshooting Disney Plus Subtitle Problems
Subtitle glitches are uncommon, but three issues pop up more than others.
Subtitles keep turning back on. Check your device’s system-level accessibility settings first. Roku’s Captions Mode, iOS Closed Captions + SDH, and Android Caption Preferences all override in-app settings. Turn off the system toggle, then disable subtitles inside Disney+ separately.
Subtitles are out of sync. Close the Disney+ app completely and reopen it. On Roku, press Home twice to force-close. On Fire TV, go to Settings > Applications > Manage Installed Applications > Disney+ > Force Stop. If the sync issue persists across multiple titles, check for an app update.
Audio sync problems have a separate set of causes covered in the Disney Plus audio out of sync guide.
No subtitle options appear for a title. A small number of Disney+ titles lack subtitles due to licensing restrictions. This is most common with recently added content or region-locked titles. If subtitles worked before but disappeared, delete the app cache and reinstall on Android or Fire TV at Settings > Apps > Disney+ > Clear Cache.
Related sound issues are covered in the Disney Plus sound not working troubleshooting guide.
Other streaming apps handle captions differently. If you also use Hulu, the Hulu subtitles guide covers that platform’s caption controls, and Peacock users can check the closed caption guide for Peacock.
#Bottom Line
Turning on subtitles in Disney+ takes a single tap on the speech bubble icon during playback. Pick your language, and you’re set. If subtitles misbehave, check your device’s accessibility settings first since they override app-level choices. For custom fonts, sizes, and colors, adjust your device’s caption style settings rather than looking inside the Disney+ app.
#FAQ
#Do Disney Plus subtitles sync across all my devices?
No. Subtitle preferences are stored locally on each device. If you enable subtitles on your Roku, they won’t automatically appear when you switch to your phone or laptop. You’ll need to turn them on separately for each device.
#How many subtitle languages does Disney Plus offer?
It depends on the title. Most include 16+ language options, but the exact count varies by region and licensing. English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, and Portuguese are almost always available.
#Can I get subtitles for Disney Plus originals in every language?
Disney originals like The Mandalorian and Loki typically have the widest subtitle support, with 20+ languages available. Third-party licensed content may only offer subtitles in the original language and English. Check the Audio & Subtitles menu during playback to see what’s available for a specific title.
#Why are my subtitles showing in the wrong language?
Your device’s system language is overriding the in-app selection. Go to your device’s language or region settings and confirm they match your preference, then re-select your subtitle language inside Disney+ during playback. This is especially common on Android devices where the system language and the app language can fall out of sync after an OS update.
#Are closed captions and subtitles the same thing on Disney Plus?
They overlap but aren’t identical. Subtitles show spoken dialogue, while closed captions add sound effects and speaker identification. Disney+ groups both under the same menu.
#Can I make Disney Plus subtitles bigger?
Yes, but you’ll adjust this through your device’s accessibility settings rather than the Disney+ app. On iPhone, go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning > Style. On Roku, check Settings > Accessibility > Captions Style. Each platform offers different sizing options, with most providing at least three size levels.
#Do subtitles work on Disney Plus downloads?
Yes. Offline downloads include the subtitle tracks available at download time. Tap the speech bubble icon during offline playback to select your language. If a language is missing, delete the title and re-download it with the correct subtitle track enabled first.
#Will subtitles slow down my Disney Plus stream?
No. Subtitles are lightweight text data that add less than 1 KB per minute to your stream. They won’t increase buffering or reduce video quality.