Subtitles, captions, and audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio and subtitle languages available. Closed captions are only available in English at this time. For help finding titles in other languages, see How do I change the language?

Which device are you using?

You can turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio track. Here's how:

Android phone or tablet

Subtitles or captions

To change subtitles or closed captions:

  1. Start watching something and then tap the screen.
  2. In the upper-right corner, tap the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Under Subtitles, tap a language.
    • Closed captions: Under Subtitle, tap English CC or Off.
  4. Tap X to save your changes.

To change the subtitle and caption styling:

  • Tap your profile (upper right), the Settings icon (cog, upper right), then tap or scroll to Captions and Subtitles and choose Manage Preferences (if available).

Closed captions are only available in English at this time.

Audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio tracks. To switch audio tracks:

  1. Start watching something and then tap the screen.
  2. In the upper-right corner, tap the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Under Audio, tap a language and then tap X to close.
iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

Subtitles or captions

To change subtitles or closed captions:

  1. Start watching something and then tap the screen.
  2. In the upper-right corner, tap the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Under Subtitle, tap a language.
    • Closed captions: Under Subtitles, tap English CC or Off.
  4. Tap X to save your changes.

To change the caption styling, go to the Home screen on your iOS device, then Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning > Style. For more info, see Subtitles and captioning on iOS.

Closed captions are only available in English at this time.

Audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio tracks. To switch audio tracks:

  1. Start watching something and then tap the screen.
  2. In the upper-right corner, tap the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Under Audio, tap a language and then tap X to close.

You can turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio track. Here's how:

Subtitles or captions

  1. Start watching something and then click the screen.
  2. In the lower-right corner, choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Under Subtitle, choose a language.
    • Closed captions: Under Subtitles, click English CC or Off.
  4. Click X to save your changes.

To change the subtitle and caption styling:

  • Choose your profile (upper right), then Settings, scroll down to Captions and Subtitles, and choose Manage Preferences.

Closed captions are only available in English at this time.

Audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio tracks. To switch audio tracks:

  1. Start watching something and then click the screen.
  2. In the lower-right corner, click the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Under Audio, choose a language and then click X to close.

Safari: Can't turn off captions

The Audio and Subtitles icon doesn't toggle closed captions that you've set in macOS System Preferences. To turn off closed captions set in your Mac System Preferences, do the following:

  1. Choose the Apple menu (upper-left corner) and select System Preferences.
  2. Choose Accessibility and then choose Captions.
  3. Clear the Prefer closed captions and SDH check box. If the check box is already cleared, select the check box, and then clear it again.

When you go back to HBO Max, click the Audio and Subtitles icon to turn closed captions on or off.

Choose the device you're using:

Android TV

You can turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio track.

Subtitles or captions

To change subtitles or closed captions:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Select button on your remote (center of the navigational ring).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

Change appearance of closed captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon (cog, lower left), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

Closed captions are only available in English at this time.

Audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio tracks. To switch audio tracks:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Select button on your remote (center of the navigational ring).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Under Audio, choose a language (if available).
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.
Apple TV

You can turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio track. Here's how:

Subtitles or captions

To change subtitles or closed captions:

  1. Start watching something, then press the Play/Pause button.
  2. Swipe up and choose Subtitles (speech bubble).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Select Subtitles, then choose English (US) SDH or Off.
  4. Press the Play/Pause button to save your changes.

Change appearance of closed captions

To change the caption styling, on your Apple TV go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning > Style. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

For more info, see Subtitles and captioning on Apple TV.

Closed captions are only available in English at this time.

Audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio tracks. To switch audio tracks:

  1. Start watching something, then press the Play/Pause button.
  2. Swipe up and choose Audio (next to Subtitles).
  3. Choose an alternate language (if available).
  4. Press the Play/Pause button to save your changes.
LG Smart TV

You can turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio track.

Subtitles or captions

To change subtitles or closed captions:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Select button on your remote (D-pad center button).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

Change appearance of closed captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon (cog, lower left), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

Closed captions are only available in English at this time.

Audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio tracks. To switch audio tracks:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Select button on your remote (D-pad center button).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Under Audio, choose a language (if available).
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.
PlayStation console

You can turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio track. Here's how:

Subtitles or captions

To change subtitles or closed captions:

  1. Start watching something, then press the X button on your PlayStation controller.
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language
    • Closed Captions: Choose English CC.
  4. Press the O button to save your changes.

Change appearance of closed captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon (cog, lower left), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

Closed captions are only available in English at this time.

Audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio tracks. To switch audio tracks:

  1. Start watching something and then press the X button on your PlayStation controller.
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Choose an audio language.
  4. Press the O button to save your changes.
Samsung TV

You can turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio track. Here's how:

Subtitles or captions

To change subtitles or closed captions:

  1. Start watching something, and then press the Down button on your remote.
  2. Choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Select one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

If the above closed caption steps don't work, change the closed caption setting on your Samsung TV. To do this, go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Caption settings or try pressing the CC button on your remote control (settings and remotes vary depending by TV model).

Change appearance of captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon (cog, lower left), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

Closed captions are only available in English at this time.

Audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio tracks. To switch audio tracks:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Down button on your remote.
  2. Choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Under Audio, choose a language (if available).
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.
Vodafone TV (Spain only)

You can turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio track. Here's how:

Subtitles or captions

To change subtitles or closed captions:

  1. Start watching something and then press the OK button on your remote (D-pad center button).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

Change appearance of closed captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon (cog, lower left), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

Note  Vodafone TV TiVo devices do not support closed caption styling.

Closed captions are only available in English at this time.

Audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio tracks. To switch audio tracks:

  1. Start watching something and then press the OK button on your remote (D-pad center button).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Under Audio, choose a language (if available).
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

Note  Vodafone TV Gen 1 and Gen 3 devices do not support alternative audio at this time.

Xbox console

You can turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio track. Here's how:

Subtitles or captions

To change subtitles or closed captions:

  1. Start watching something and then press the A button on your Xbox controller.
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
  4. Press the B button to save your changes.

Change appearance of closed captions

To find out how to change the caption styling, go to Xbox: Closed captioning settings.

Closed captions are only available in English at this time.

Audio tracks

Some shows and movies have multiple audio tracks. To switch audio tracks:

  1. Start watching something and then press the A button on your Xbox controller.
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon (speech bubble).
  3. Choose an audio language.
  4. Press the B button to save your changes.