How to Use Hulu Subtitles

If you're hard of hearing—or just in a noisy environment without headphones handy—you can turn on closed captions or subtitles while you watch movies and TV shows on Hulu. Here's how to do it on the web, in the mobile app, and on other streaming devices.

How Do You Get Subtitles on Hulu's Website?

No matter which device you use to watch Hulu, the subtitle controls will be in a menu called either Captions & Subtitles or Subtitles. How you access that menu, however, will depend on both the platform and app you use to access Hulu.

On the Hulu website, follow these steps:

1. Start playing a movie or TV show on Hulu.
   

2. Select the Settings gear in the lower-right corner of the window.
   

3. Click the arrow on the right side of the menu.
   

4. Under the Subtitles menu, click the language you want.
   

5. Click the Settings link in this menu to set the size, color, and font of the subtitles.
   

How Do You Get Subtitles in the Hulu App?

If you're watching Hulu using the app for iOS or Android, follow these instructions to turn on captions. They're similar to the directions for the website, but some items are in different places.

1. While watching a program in the Hulu app, tap the screen to bring up the playback controls.
   

2. Select the Settings gear.
   

3. Tap the switch next to Subtitles to turn it on.
   

4. Choose a language below the switch if multiple options are available.
   

How Do You Get Subtitles for Hulu on Streaming Devices?

Some devices, like the 4th-generation Apple TV and later, have a specific, system-wide process to turn on closed captions regardless of the app. Otherwise, you'll follow these steps to turn on Hulu on gaming consoles, Chromecasts, Amazon Echos, and others.

1. Press Up on your remote (or swipe down, if your remote has a touchpad).
   

2. Press/swipe again to reach the Settings menu.
   

3. Navigate to Captions & Subtitles.
   

   This menu may be called Subtitles on some devices.

4. Select On to turn on subtitles, and select a language if multiple options are available.
   

How Do You Get Subtitles for Hulu on Older Devices?

Some older devices don't use the most recent version of Hulu. You can tell which version of Hulu you have by checking the options available to you from the home screen. If you're using the new one, the shows and movies you identify to watch later will appear on a tab called My Stuff. In the "classic" version, you'll see a Watchlist heading.

Most newer devices, like the 4th-generation Apple TV and later, will use the more recent version (see above), and you'll follow the directions above. Follow these instructions to turn on subtitles in the classic Hulu app:

1. Press Up on your remote to show the playback controls.
   

2. Press Up again to reveal more settings.
   

3. Select Captions.
   

4. Choose an available language.
   

How Do You Turn Subtitles Off on Hulu?

To turn off subtitles once you've switched them on, access the Captions & Subtitles or Subtitles menu depending on which device you're using:

• On the website or in the app: Select the Settings gear.
• In other devices: Either swipe down or press Up on your remote or controller to reach the Settings menu. Then, select Captions & Subtitles or Subtitles.

Once you've reached the menu, choose Off.

Are Subtitles Available on Hulu in Other Languages?

Currently, your only options for subtitles on Hulu are English and Spanish, and not every TV show or movie will have both options. The available languages will appear in the Subtitles menu when you open it using the instructions above.