Netflix now lets you customise subtitles on your TV — here’s how to do it

Netflix has updated its TV app to let you change the size and colour of subtitles and closed captions.

You can now choose from small, medium, and large subtitles, and switch the style to one of four colours, including the default white text option, drop shadow (white text with black background), light (black text with white background), and contrast (yellow text with black background).

The update began rolling out to Netflix subscribers on Thursday, and should now be available globally.

If you want to try the new features for yourself, here’s what you need to do.

How to change the size of Netflix subtitles

First, make sure you’re logged in to Netflix, and fire up your chosen show or movie.

To activate larger subtitles, follow these steps:

1. On the title’s main page, scroll down and select audio and subtitles.
2. Choose from the subtitle language options that are supported.
3. When the title starts, press down on your remote to bring up the playback options.
4. Now, press down again and scroll along to the settings icon at the far right.
5. Here, you will be able to choose from small, medium, or large subtitles.
6. Select the option you want to activate that size.
7. To turn off subtitles, press down for playback options.
8. Now, press down again and select the language audio option.

Netflix’s largest subtitles take up significantly more screen space (Saqib Shah / Netflix)

How to change the colour of Netflix subtitles

The option to change the colour of Netlfix subtitles is also located in the settings section.

1. Head to the title’s settings (see steps one to four above). 
2. Here, you should see four style options.
3. Scroll to the one you wish to activate, and select it.

Subtitles are popular with younger viewers

The new feature should mark a welcome change for subscribers who binge-watch. Specifically, bigger subtitles may be easier to read for those with visual or hearing impairments. Subtitles are also essential for watching shows and films that aren’t in your native language.

Beyond those use cases, it seems that younger people are also big fans of captions. A recent YouGov survey revealed that 61 per cent of 18- to 24-year-olds watch TV with subtitles on. By comparison, 31 per cent of 25- to 49-year-olds said they used subtitles, while the figure was just 13 per cent for 50- to 64-year-olds.

The majority of younger viewers polled by YouGov watch TV with the subtitles on (YouGov)

That led some to speculate that younger people are watching with captions because they’re looking at other screens, such as their phones or tablets.

Plenty of streaming services also let you change the size or style of subtitles, including BBC iPlayer, Disney+, Prime Video, and Paramount+.