How to Change the Language on Netflix

Language options for Netflix movies

By
Jennifer Karner
Jen Karner
Jennifer Karner
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Jen Karner is a former Lifewire writer and expert on VR and Android phones. Her work has appeared on AndroidCentral, iMore, WindowsCentral and others.
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Updated on December 4, 2020
Reviewed by
Jon Fisher
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Reviewed by Jon Fisher
  • Wichita Technical Institute
Jonathan Fisher is a CompTIA certified technologist with more than 6 years' experience writing for publications like TechNorms and Help Desk Geek.
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  • On Netflix.com, select Manage Profiles > choose the desired user profile > select your preferred language > Save > Done.
  • During a show, select Options (dialog box with writing inside) > choose a language > resume the program.

This article explains how to change the language on Netflix through Netflix's website. You can't change the Netflix language on mobile devices.

How to Change the Default Language in Netflix

If you open up Netflix only to find that everyone on the screen is speaking in a language you don’t understand, you’ll need to change the main language. To fix this problem, head over to the settings and fix them from your profile on Netflix's website.

While it is frustrating, fixing the language associated with your Netflix Profile requires signing into the website. If you attempt to do it from a phone or tablet, the option to choose a different language isn't displayed.

  1. Select Manage Profiles on Netflix.com. If you don't see that option, select your profile image at the top right of Netflix to find it in the menu.

  2. Select the user profile that you want to change.

  3. Select your preferred language from the drop-down menu.

    The Netflix language options are displayed against a black background.

  4. Select Save, then Done.

Change the Language or Add Subtitles By Show

Netflix is always adding new foreign movies and television shows, and you may find a program that looks amazing but isn’t in a language you understand. If this happens, you have two basic options available to you. You can check to see if it is available in your language or check for subtitles.

Many programs don’t include options for multiple languages, which depends on who produced and created it. Likewise, not every program has access to subtitles, and in some cases, the subtitles may not be fantastic. Typically, you’ll be able to find subtitles or multiple language options, but it's not a guarantee.

  1. Open the program you want to watch.

  2. Select options (represented as a dialog box with writing inside).

  3. Choose the alternative language or subtitles you want to listen to.

    The Options for audio and subtitles are superimposed over the Netflix logo.

  4. Resume your program.

How to Find Movies in Your Preferred Language

Not everyone wants to watch movies or television shows in a single language, and Netflix has pushed to include more non-English programming on their platform. If, for example, you're looking for programming in a specific language like Spanish, Korean, or Hindi, Netflix has a search function that allows you to find shows in your preferred language. This means you can find the foreign-language film you want to watch by performing the appropriate search.

Netflix's search function shows multiple movies and shows.

For instance, if you want to find the latest Korean drama, you can search for Korean language drama. The important part of the search is to use the phrase "X language." So "Spanish language," "Korean language," "German language," etc. If you perform a search without using "language," you won’t be limited to programming spoken in that language. By including a genre like Drama, Horror, or Action, you can further fine-tune your search results.

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