How to Turn On Captions for Netflix Shows
June 17, 2026 · by Porchswing Technology
Remember when the evening news had a little box in the corner of the screen with the words typed out? Closed captioning has been around since the 1970s, and it's still one of the most useful tools on any television. If you've been straining to catch the dialogue on a British mystery or a fast-talking detective show, turning on captions can make all the difference.
Today, let's walk through how to turn them on in Netflix. It takes about 15 seconds once you know where to look.
Finding the Captions Button
Start playing whatever show or movie you'd like to watch. Once it's playing, tap the screen once (if you're on a tablet or phone) or press any button on your remote (if you're watching on a TV).
A row of icons will appear, usually along the bottom or top of the screen. Look for a small square with what looks like lines of text inside it — that's the captions button. It's often labeled "Audio & Subtitles" or shows a little speech bubble.
If you don't see it right away, look near the play and pause buttons. It's usually grouped with them.
Turning Them On
Tap or click that captions icon. A small menu will pop up with two columns: one for Audio (the spoken language) and one for Subtitles (the words on screen).
Under Subtitles, you'll see "Off" at the top and then a list of languages — English, Spanish, and so on. Tap English. A checkmark will appear next to it.
Close the menu by tapping the X, or just tap outside the box. The words should now appear at the bottom of the screen as people speak. That's it.
Making the Words Easier to Read
If the captions look too small, or the white letters get lost against a bright background, Netflix lets you change how they look. This is a one-time setting — once you adjust it, every show will use your preferences.
On a computer, go to netflix.com and sign in. Click your profile picture in the top right corner, then choose Account. Scroll down to your profile name and click Subtitle appearance. From there, you can pick a larger size, a different color, or even put a black box behind the letters so they really stand out.
On a phone or tablet, this setting isn't in the Netflix app itself — it lives in your device's main settings. But honestly, the default size works well for most folks, and the website method covers your TV too.
A Few Things Worth Knowing
Captions stay on until you turn them off. So if you set them for one show, they'll be there for the next one too. That's usually what people want, but if a family member borrows your account and complains, now you know why.
Captions are different from subtitles in one small way: captions include sounds like "[door creaks]" or "[phone ringing]," while subtitles just show the dialogue. Netflix calls them all "Subtitles" in the menu, but for English you'll usually get the full caption experience — sound effects and all. Some people find this helpful; others find it distracting. You can always switch it off the same way you turned it on.
Try It Tonight
The next time you sit down to watch something, give it a try. Start your show, tap the screen or press a remote button, find that little text-box icon, and choose English. If you don't like them, turning them off takes the same 15 seconds.
You might be surprised how much more of the story you catch.
Need a hand with your technology? We're here to help. Give PorchSwing a call or book an appointment, and we'll walk you through it at your own pace — no rush, no jargon.