Netflix subtitles can make movies and TV shows easier to follow, especially when you’re watching content in another language or dealing with unclear dialogue. However, subtitles are not always necessary. You may prefer to watch without text on the screen, or you might want to change the subtitle language, font size, style, or appearance.
Fortunately, Netflix makes it relatively easy to remove or change subtitles. The exact steps can vary slightly depending on whether you’re watching Netflix on a computer, smartphone, smart TV, streaming device, or game console.
In this guide, we’ll explain how to remove or change subtitles on Netflix across different devices, along with solutions for situations where subtitles won’t disappear or keep turning back on.
How to Remove Subtitles on Netflix
The quickest way to turn subtitles off is to open the playback controls while a movie or TV show is playing.
Start playing the content you want to watch and bring up the playback controls. Depending on your device, you may need to move the mouse, tap the screen, press a button on your remote, or press a controller button.
Look for the Audio & Subtitles icon. On many devices, it looks like a speech bubble.
Select it and look for the Subtitles section. Choose Off to remove subtitles.
The change normally takes effect immediately, so you can return to the video and continue watching without subtitles.
Keep in mind that Netflix remembers some playback preferences, but subtitle behavior can also depend on the title, profile, language settings, and device you’re using.
How to Turn Off Netflix Subtitles on a Computer
If you’re watching Netflix in a web browser on a Windows PC, Mac, or Chromebook, you can remove subtitles in just a few steps.
- Open Netflix and start playing a movie or TV show.
- Move your mouse over the video to display the playback controls.
- Select the Audio & Subtitles icon.
- Under Subtitles, select Off.
- Click outside the menu to return to the video.
The subtitles should disappear immediately.
This method works in common desktop browsers, although the exact appearance of Netflix’s playback controls can change as the service updates its interface.
How to Remove Subtitles on Netflix on a Phone or Tablet
Netflix is also available on Android phones, iPhones, iPads, and other compatible mobile devices.
To turn subtitles off:
- Open the Netflix app.
- Start playing the movie or TV show.
- Tap the screen to display the playback controls.
- Tap Audio & Subtitles.
- Find the Subtitles section.
- Select Off.
- Tap Apply or close the menu, depending on the version of the app.
The subtitles should disappear from the video.
If you’re watching with headphones or in a noisy environment, you may want to keep subtitles enabled. Otherwise, turning them off gives you a cleaner viewing experience without text covering part of the picture.
How to Change Subtitle Language on Netflix
You don’t necessarily have to disable subtitles completely. Netflix supports multiple subtitle languages for many movies and TV shows.
If you want to switch to another language, open the Audio & Subtitles menu while the video is playing.
Under Subtitles, select the language you want to use.
For example, depending on the title and your region, you might see options such as English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, or other languages.
Not every title has the same selection of languages. Available subtitle and audio languages can depend on the title, your location, licensing agreements, and other factors.
If the language you want isn’t listed, Netflix may simply not offer that subtitle track for the particular movie or show.
How to Change Subtitle fonts or text size on Netflix
Netflix also provides options for changing how subtitles look. This can be particularly useful if the default text is too small, too large, or difficult to read against bright scenes.
On supported Netflix settings, you can adjust aspects of subtitle appearance such as:
- Font
- Text size
- Style
- Color
- Shadow
- Background
- Window or text appearance
To change subtitle appearance, open Netflix’s account or profile settings and look for the subtitle appearance option.
The exact menu location can change over time as Netflix updates its website and account interface.
After changing the appearance, start or resume a movie or TV show to check the result.
If the new appearance isn’t immediately visible, close and reopen the Netflix app or refresh the browser.
Why Can’t I Turn Off Netflix Subtitles?
Sometimes subtitles continue appearing even after you select Off. Several things can cause this.
The subtitle setting wasn’t saved
The first thing to try is opening the Audio & Subtitles menu again and selecting Off. Continue playing the video for a few seconds to see whether the change takes effect.
Your profile settings may affect playback
Netflix uses individual profiles, and different profiles can have different viewing preferences. Make sure you’re using the profile where you changed your subtitle settings.
If several people use the same Netflix account, another profile may have different language or subtitle preferences.
The Netflix app needs to be restarted
If subtitles remain on despite being disabled, completely close the Netflix app and reopen it.
On a phone or tablet, remove the app from your recent applications before opening it again. On a smart TV or streaming device, you may need to exit Netflix and launch it again.
The title may have forced subtitles
Some movies and shows include subtitles that are part of the content itself.
For example, a scene may contain dialogue in another language that the filmmakers expect viewers to understand through subtitles. These subtitles can be embedded directly into the video rather than being part of Netflix’s selectable subtitle track.
In such cases, selecting Off won’t necessarily remove the text.
How to Remove Subtitles on a Smart TV
The procedure on a smart TV is similar, although the controls depend on the television and Netflix app.
Start playing your movie or show and press a button on the remote to bring up Netflix’s playback controls.
Select Audio & Subtitles, then choose Off under subtitles.
On some TVs, you may need to press the up, down, or directional buttons on the remote before the playback menu appears.
If you cannot find the subtitle option, check that you’re using the Netflix app rather than a television’s separate accessibility or closed-captioning system.
Some TVs have their own caption settings, which can sometimes affect how subtitles or captions are displayed.
How to Turn Off Subtitles on Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, and Other Devices
Netflix can be used on many streaming devices, including Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, Chromecast-compatible devices, and various media players.
The basic process remains the same:
- Start playing a Netflix title.
- Open the playback controls.
- Select Audio & Subtitles.
- Go to Subtitles.
- Select Off.
Some devices may also have their own accessibility settings for captions. If subtitles continue appearing, check both Netflix’s subtitle menu and the device’s accessibility settings.
Why Do Netflix Subtitles Keep Turning On?
If Netflix repeatedly enables subtitles, check whether the issue happens with one particular title or everything you watch.
If it happens only with one movie or show, the title may have different subtitle behavior or forced subtitles.
If it happens across multiple titles, try switching to another Netflix profile and checking the subtitle settings again. You can also restart the app and make sure Netflix is updated.
Another useful troubleshooting step is signing out of Netflix and signing back in. This can refresh account and profile settings that may not have been applied correctly.
How to Change Netflix Audio and Subtitles Together
Netflix allows you to control both audio and subtitles from the same playback menu.
For example, you can watch a movie with:
Audio: English
Subtitles: English
Or you could choose:
Audio: Spanish
Subtitles: English
The available combinations depend on the title and your location.
This feature is particularly useful for people learning a language. Watching content in the language you’re studying while keeping subtitles in your native language can make dialogue easier to understand.
Alternatively, using the same language for both audio and subtitles can help you learn vocabulary and improve listening comprehension.
What If Subtitles Are Still Visible?
If subtitles remain visible after selecting Off, first determine whether they’re Netflix subtitles or part of the video itself.
Netflix subtitles that can be controlled through Audio & Subtitles should disappear when you select Off.
Text that is permanently included in the video cannot normally be removed because it is part of the original picture.
You should also check your TV, streaming device, or accessibility settings if captions continue to appear unexpectedly.
Restarting Netflix is another simple troubleshooting step and can resolve temporary playback or settings issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I permanently turn off Netflix subtitles?
You can select Off whenever subtitles are enabled, but Netflix’s behavior can vary depending on your profile, title, device, and language settings. If subtitles keep appearing, check your profile and playback settings.
Can I change Netflix subtitle size?
Yes. Netflix provides subtitle appearance controls on supported account settings, allowing you to adjust options such as text size and style.
Why doesn’t Netflix offer my language?
Netflix does not provide every subtitle language for every title. Available languages vary by title, region, licensing, and other factors.
Can I remove subtitles that are part of a movie?
Usually not. If the text is embedded directly into the video, it isn’t a selectable Netflix subtitle track and cannot be removed through Netflix’s subtitle controls.
Do Netflix subtitle settings apply to every profile?
Netflix profiles can have separate preferences, so check the profile you’re currently using if your subtitle settings don’t behave as expected.
Knowing how to remove or change subtitles on Netflix can make watching movies and TV shows much more comfortable. In most cases, you simply need to open the Audio & Subtitles menu during playback and select Off or choose another language.
If you’re watching Netflix on a computer or mobile device, the process is straightforward. Smart TVs, streaming players, and game consoles use a similar system, although the controls may look slightly different.
When subtitles refuse to disappear, check whether they’re forced or embedded into the video, restart Netflix, and review the settings for the profile you’re using.
Whether you prefer watching without subtitles, need them in another language, or simply want to make the text easier to read, Netflix provides several options for customizing your viewing experience.