How to Turn On Closed Captions on Netflix

Closed captions on Netflix show dialogue plus sound cues such as music, sound effects and speaker names. Standard subtitles usually show dialogue only. You turn captions on during playback, and the steps are similar on browsers, TVs, streaming devices and phones. Labels and icon positions can differ between apps and versions, so use the steps below as a guide rather than an exact map of your screen.

Before you start

• Captions are handled by the Netflix service and app, not by a local file on your device. You need an active Netflix account and a signed-in profile.
• Availability depends on the title. Not every show or film has closed captions, and the caption languages offered can vary by title and region.
• Caption tracks are usually labeled with "(CC)" after the language name, for example "English (CC)". A track without that label is normally a standard subtitle track.
• Some TVs and streaming devices have their own system-wide caption setting. On those devices, the system setting can affect whether Netflix captions appear and how they look.
• If the Netflix app has not been updated for a long time, update it first. Older versions may show the menus differently.

Step-by-step instructions

In a web browser

• Start playing the title you want to watch.
• Move the mouse over the video to show the playback controls.
• Select the speech bubble icon, which opens the audio and subtitle options.
• Under Subtitles, choose a language marked "(CC)" if one is listed.
• Close the menu. Your choice applies right away.

On a smart TV, streaming stick or game console

• Start playing the title.
• Press up or down on the remote, or pause playback, to show the on-screen controls.
• Select the Audio & Subtitles option, usually shown as a speech bubble or as text.
• Choose a subtitle language marked "(CC)".
• Press Back or resume playback to close the menu.

On a phone or tablet

• Start playing the title in the Netflix app.
• Tap the screen to show the controls.
• Tap Audio & Subtitles.
• Select a subtitle language marked "(CC)", then tap Apply or close the panel, depending on your app version.

Turning captions off or changing their appearance

To turn captions off, open the same menu during playback and choose Off under Subtitles. Netflix generally remembers your last caption choice for the profile, so you may need to change it back for the next title. You can adjust the font, size and background of captions in your profile settings on the Netflix website, under the subtitle appearance option. Not every device applies these custom styles. On some TVs and streaming devices, caption styling is controlled only by the device's own accessibility settings.

Check the output

• Play a scene with background sound or music. Closed captions should show cues such as [music playing] or [door slams], not only dialogue.
• If only dialogue appears, open the menu again and confirm that the selected track carries the "(CC)" label rather than a plain language name.
• Check that captions follow the speech. A short delay can occur after you switch tracks, but captions should settle in line with the audio.
• If you changed caption appearance, play a title on the device you plan to use. Some devices ignore profile styling, and style changes can take effect only after you restart the app.
• Open a second title in the same profile to confirm that your caption choice carries over as expected.

Common problems and next steps

• No CC option in the menu: the title may not offer closed captions in that language. Check other languages in the list, or use a standard subtitle track if that is enough.
• The menu or icon is missing: update the Netflix app, then restart it. On a TV, also check for a device software update.
• Captions appear even when set to Off: a system-wide caption setting on the TV or streaming device may be turned on. Check its accessibility settings and switch that option off.
• Captions are out of sync: stop playback, then start the title again. If the problem happens on only one title, it is likely specific to that title's caption file. Report it through Netflix's help options.
• Caption style changes are not applied: confirm that you edited the correct profile, then sign out and back in, or restart the app. If the device controls caption styling itself, change the style there instead.
• Captions missing in downloaded titles: downloads may include only certain subtitle languages. Delete the download and download it again while online, then check the caption options before going offline.