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How to improve Netflix subtitle appearance for better viewing

How to improve Netflix subtitle appearance for better viewing
Russell Kidson

Russell Kidson

  • Updated:

What if I told you that you didn’t have to suffer with Netflix’s stock subtitle color and font? To be fair, there’s nothing inherently wrong with how Netflix displays its subtitles, but that doesn’t mean that it can’t be a little more to your taste. Wouldn’t it feel more appropriate and fitting to have cursive subtitles at the bottom of your screen when watching a royal period piece like the Spanish Princess?

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Here’s how to change the appearance of Netflix subtitles!

  1. How to View Subtitles on Netflix

    Improve Netflix subtitle appearance for better viewing

    It would be rather pointless to explain, in great detail, how to change Netflix subtitles only for you to log in and realize that no one has ever shown you how to make the subtitles show up in the first place. Therefore, I thought it pertinent to start with how to display subtitles on Netflix. This depends on the device you’re using, so to make it easier, we’ve included a short guide for all mainstream devices. 

    Tablets, Mobile Devices, and PCs

    Assuming that the mobile device you’re using has a touchscreen, as I believe almost all of them do at this stage, all you need to do is tap the screen once you’ve zeroed in on a show to watch. On PC, you simply need to click the screen during an active show. I’m currently enjoying season 2 of Designated Survivor, a hit political thriller from 2016. You’ll be able to access the navigation menu from here. The navigation menu refers to the bar at the bottom of the screen from where you can select a new episode, play, pause, and, as this guide will show you, change the subtitle settings. 

    Smart TVs, Blu-ray Players, and Consoles

    Essentially all you’re doing is bringing the Netflix context menu up while watching a show. To do this on the above-mentioned devices, you’ll need to hit the up or down arrows on each device’s remote. Once you see the context menu at the bottom of the Netflix interface, the process is simple and identical, no matter what device you’re using. 

    Apple TV

    Depending on which generation of Apple TV you use, this process may differ slightly. Traditionally though, all you need to do is hold down the button in the middle of your remote or, with newer models, swipe down on the remote. Next, you’ll need to select the text icon at the bottom of the screen to enable or disable subtitles.

  2. How to Customize Netflix Subtitles

    Improve Netflix subtitle appearance for better viewing

    Here we are; this is what you came here for. This process is criminally easy. So easy, in fact, that it doesn’t even require our usual full-on how-to format. Here’s how:

    First, you’ll need to log into your Netflix account. Once in, navigate to your account settings, and then head to where it reads Profile and Parental Controls. 

    Next, select Profile, and then scroll down to where you see Subtitle appearance, and hit Change. This will open up a menu from which you can change the way Netflix subtitles look. There’s no limit to what you can do here. You could even place your text in a purple box, make the font the same colour as the sun, and select a tasteful and elegant shade of hot pink to round out the subtitles’ appearance. How pretty that must look.

  3. Take Control of your Subtitles

    Improve Netflix subtitle appearance for better viewing

    In all seriousness, there are numerous reasons you may want to change how Netflix displays subtitles. Perhaps the stock subtitles are a little too small and hard to read, or perhaps you see colors differently. Whatever the reason for needing or wanting to make a change to the netflix subtitle experience, it’s always good to know that you have the option to switch things up if the desire arises.

Russell Kidson

Russell Kidson

I hail from the awe-inspiring beauty of South Africa. Born and raised in Pretoria, I've always had a deep interest in local history, particularly conflicts, architecture, and our country's rich past of being a plaything for European aristocracy. 'Tis an attempt at humor. My interest in history has since translated into hours at a time researching everything from the many reasons the Titanic sank (really, it's a wonder she ever left Belfast) to why Minecraft is such a feat of human technological accomplishment. I am an avid video gamer (Sims 4 definitely counts as video gaming, I checked) and particularly enjoy playing the part of a relatively benign overlord in Minecraft. I enjoy the diverse experiences gaming offers the player. Within the space of a few hours, a player can go from having a career as an interior decorator in Sims, to training as an archer under Niruin in Skyrim. I believe video games have so much more to teach humanity about community, kindness, and loyalty, and I enjoy the opportunity to bring concepts of the like into literary pieces.

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