How to Fix It When Subtitles Aren't Working on Hulu

This guide will walk you through all of the proven fixes for Hulu caption and subtitle issues to help get the correct language showing again and solve any display and audio/video sync issues.

Why Won’t My Subtitles Work on Hulu?

A movie or TV episode’s subtitles not showing correctly or at all in the Hulu app can be caused by many issues. These problems can range from a simple streaming or download glitch to an out-of-date app or operating system. A lack of free space on the streaming device can also be a cause.

Hulu subtitles or captions displaying the incorrect language are typically due to incorrect settings within the Hulu app or inaccurate language preferences on an account or smart device.

How Do I Fix Subtitles on Hulu?

You can often fix Hulu subtitle bugs by trying one or two of the following proven solutions. We recommend working through this list of Hulu subtitle fixes in the order shown below, from easiest and quickest to more advanced and time-consuming.

1. Manually select the correct subtitles. If the subtitles aren’t showing or are bringing up the wrong language, you can manually change the defaults at any time.

2. Turn subtitles off, then on again. Quickly disabling and then enabling captions can fix content sync problems.

3. Restart the Hulu movie or episode. If your subtitles are out of sync with the scene or aren’t appearing at all, returning to the Hulu app menu and restarting the stream could fix it.

   If you're experiencing other playback issues, there are some additional Hulu playback fixes you may want to try.

4. Change the Hulu app language settings. From the Settings screen in the Hulu app, check to make sure the correct language and region, if available, is selected.

5. Change your device’s language and country settings. Your language or region settings may be overriding the Hulu app subtitle preferences. You can change language settings on most devices, including iPhones, Android devices, and Windows PCs.

6. Check your device’s accessibility settings. Some of these options relating to media, text, and languages could be overriding the Hulu app’s preferences.

7. Update your Google account language settings. Google accounts can override language preferences based on the account's origin country or even where a user has traveled. To help remedy this, go to the Google Language page, and choose your preferred language and your language region.

8. Delete unwanted languages from your Google account. While on your Google account Language settings screen, delete any languages you don’t want to use in connected apps and services.

9. Restart the Hulu app. Closing the Hulu app fully and then reopening it can fix a lot of streaming issues. If you’re watching Hulu on an iPhone or iPad, make sure that you quit the iPhone/iPad app and don’t just minimize it. The same goes for quitting Android apps and video game consoles such as the Xbox Series X and PlayStation 5.

10. Switch Hulu profiles. Select the profile icon in the Hulu app and switch to another user profile. You can even create an entirely new user profile if you wish.

11. Try another film or series. The subtitles could be programmed incorrectly for the show or movie that you’re watching. Try watching something else to see if this is the case.

12. Update the Hulu app. Performing a quick app update could fix the subtitle issue.

13. Update your streaming device. Your smartphone, tablet, video game console, streaming stick or box, and even your smart TV may need an operating system update.

14. Free up disk space. Apps can run slowly and experience other issues if there’s not enough free space on the device you're using. Try deleting some video and audio files. 

15. Let Hulu know. Think the problem’s on Hulu’s end? You can report subtitle errors or glitches directly to Hulu by sending an email to captions-feedback@hulu.com. Include as much information as possible such as the show name, the time the subtitle or caption errors occur, your language settings, and the device you’re using.