Netflix lets you change the language for subtitles, audio, and the interface itself, each in a different place

Netflix has three separate language settings: the language of the menu and buttons you see, the language of the audio track playing, and the language of the subtitles. You can change any of these without changing the others. The menu language lives in your account settings. The audio and subtitle languages are usually set when you start playing a show or movie, though you can also change them mid-watch.

The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are on a phone, tablet, computer, or TV. Netflix also remembers your choices — if you watch in Spanish one day, it will offer Spanish again the next time you open the app, though you can override it anytime.

Key Takeaways

  • The menu language, audio language, and subtitle language are three separate settings that you control independently.
  • To change the menu language, go to Account Settings, then Language, and pick from the list Netflix offers in your region.
  • To change the audio or subtitle language while watching, select the audio and subtitle icon (usually a speech bubble or rectangle with lines) during playback.
  • Netflix remembers your language choices and will offer them again next time you watch, but you can change them anytime without affecting other settings.
  • Not every show or movie is available in every language — if your chosen language is not listed, that title does not have an audio track or subtitle file in that language.

How to change the menu language on a phone or tablet

Open the Netflix app and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner (on Android) or top right corner (on iPhone). Tap Account. Scroll down and tap Language. You will see a list of languages Netflix supports in your country. Tap the one you want. The menu will switch when ready.

If you share a Netflix account with other people and each person has their own profile, each profile can have its own menu language. Only the person whose profile it is can change that profile's language setting.

How to change the menu language on a computer

Go to netflix.com and sign in. Click the profile icon in the top right corner, then Account. Under your profile name, click Language. Select the language you want from the dropdown menu. The site will refresh and the menu will appear in your new language.

If you use Netflix in a web browser and you have set your browser's language to something other than English, Netflix may default to that language the first time you sign in. You can override it anytime by following the steps above.

How to change the menu language on a TV or streaming device

On most TV apps (Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, Google TV, Samsung Smart TV), go to your profile, then Settings, then Language. The exact path varies by device, but Language is always in the settings menu. Select your language and confirm. The menu will switch right away.

If you cannot find Language in the settings menu, check whether your TV's system language is set to what you want. Some TV apps use the device's system language as the default and do not offer a separate Netflix language setting. You can change the system language in your TV's main settings, outside the Netflix app.

How to change the audio language while watching

Start playing a show or movie. Look for an icon that looks like a speech bubble, a rectangle with horizontal lines, or a gear symbol — the exact icon depends on your device. On a phone or tablet, this is usually in the top right corner of the screen. On a computer, it is usually in the bottom right. On a TV remote, look for a button labeled Audio or Subtitles.

Tap or click that icon. You will see a menu showing all available audio languages for that title. Select the one you want. The audio will switch to that language when ready, and Netflix will remember your choice for next time you watch something on that profile.

If the language you want is not listed, that show or movie does not have an audio track in that language. Netflix cannot create audio tracks — it can only offer what the studio provided. You can still watch with subtitles in your language if they are available.

How to change the subtitle language while watching

During playback, tap or click the same audio and subtitle icon you used to change the audio language. This time, look for the Subtitles section of the menu. You will see a list of available subtitle languages, plus an option to turn subtitles off. Select the language you want.

Subtitles are often available in more languages than audio tracks are, because they are cheaper and faster to produce. If a show has audio in English but subtitles in ten languages, you can watch the English audio with subtitles in any of those ten languages.

Netflix also offers Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH) in some languages. These subtitles include descriptions of sounds and music cues, not just dialogue. If SDH is available for your language, it will appear as a separate option in the subtitle menu, usually marked with [CC].

Why a language you want might not be available

Netflix does not create its own audio tracks or subtitles. It uses what the film or TV studio provides. A show might have audio in English and Spanish but subtitles in fifteen languages, because the studio dubbed it into two languages but translated the subtitles into many more.

Availability also varies by region. A show might have French audio in France but only French subtitles in the United States. This is because studios license content differently in different countries, and they control which languages Netflix can offer in each region.

If you are looking for a specific language and cannot find it, that particular title straightforward does not have it. You can search Netflix's catalog for other shows or movies that do offer your language, but Netflix cannot add a language to a title that does not have it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the menu language affect my recommendations?

No. Netflix's recommendations are based on what you watch, not what language your menu is in. If you switch the menu to Spanish but watch English-language shows, your recommendations will still be English shows. Your watch history and ratings stay the same regardless of menu language.

Can I watch one episode in English and the next in Spanish?

Yes. Netflix remembers your language choice for each profile, but you can override it anytime you start a new title. Start an episode, change the audio language, and when you finish and start a different show, you can pick a different language again. There is no limit to how many times you can switch.

What if I want subtitles in one language and audio in another?

You can do this. Open the audio and subtitle menu, select your audio language, then select your subtitle language separately. For example, you can watch with English audio and Spanish subtitles, or French audio and English subtitles. Netflix treats them as independent choices.

Do I have to change the language every time I watch?

No. Netflix remembers your audio and subtitle choices for each profile. If you watch in Spanish one day, it will offer Spanish the next time you open the app. You only need to change it if you want something different.

Why does Netflix show me languages I did not choose?

Netflix suggests languages based on your device's system language, your account region, and your watch history. If you set your phone's language to Spanish, Netflix will offer Spanish even if your Netflix menu is in English. You can ignore these suggestions and pick what you want.