Penka Hristovska
Short on Time? Here are 3 ways to get more Netflix subtitles in 2025
- Use a VPN. A reliable VPN can unlock a wider selection of Netflix subtitles, and it works on most devices, including smart TVs. I recommend ExpressVPN because it has a large server network and it works great with Netflix.
- Change the language settings on your Netflix account. Switching the profile language or audio/subtitle preferences can influence which subtitles appear. It’s simple but doesn’t always show every available option.
- Try a third-party extension. There are good browser extensions that let you upload/download subtitles, fix syncing issues, or even auto-translate Netflix shows and episodes. Keep in mind: these only work on browsers, not on mobile apps or smart TVs.
There are a few quick and easy ways to get the subtitles you want on Netflix — and in this guide, I’ll walk you through the best ones. No matter which method you choose, it’ll only take a couple of minutes to set up.
The most reliable way to unlock more native subtitle options on Netflix is by using a VPN. My favorite is ExpressVPN as it works seamlessly with Netflix on all devices. That said, the other options I’ve tested can work just as well depending on your setup.
Editor’s Note: Every VPN I recommend has a strict no-logs policy that stops it from monitoring or sharing anything you do online. This means you are responsible for how you use a VPN. Please keep yourself well informed of all applicable laws and regulations in your location. At SafetyDetectives, we don’t condone copyright infringement.
Editors’ Note: ExpressVPN and this site are in the same ownership group.
3 Ways to Get Netflix Subtitles in 2025
After weeks of testing and research, I’ve found that your subtitle options on Netflix typically depend on the specific title, your region, the device you’re using, and the languages you require for subtitles.
Based on this, I found the easiest methods to get more subtitles on all devices.
Change Your Virtual Location With a VPN
To get the most out of what subtitle options Netflix offers, a VPN is the best choice. Your location is one of the main factors Netflix uses to pick which languages it recommends for subtitles. It determines your approximate location by looking at your device’s IP address.
A VPN can make it significantly more likely you’ll get the subtitle options you want. When you connect to a VPN server, Netflix doesn’t see your IP address — it sees the IP address of the server you connected to, making it look like you’re located somewhere else.
1. Pick a high-quality VPN with excellent streaming support
Get a VPN that works with Netflix reliably and consistently. My top recommendation is ExpressVPN — it’s the best VPN for Netflix. It has servers in 105 countries and it works with many Netflix libraries.
2. Download & install the VPN on your device
On desktop, go to the VPN provider’s website and download the appropriate app for your device. On mobile, it’s easier to get the VPN from your device’s app store (Google Play for Android or App Store on iOS), but your VPN provider’s website will still work!
Once downloaded, launch the installer, follow the on-screen instructions, and the whole process is complete in 2–3 minutes.
If you’re watching Netflix on a smart TV or a different device like Amazon Fire, check if your VPN provider has a dedicated app for the device you’re using. ExpressVPN has apps for Fire Stick, Apple TV, and Android TV.
If you have a smart TV that doesn’t support VPNs, watch Netflix on your gaming console or use a streaming device like Roku, you’ll need to set up the VPN on your router. This way, all connected devices will connect to Netflix through the VPN server you connect to. ExpressVPN even has a dedicated router app that’s super easy to configure.
3. Connect to the VPN
Open your VPN app and connect to a a server. A good rule of thumb is to pick a server closer to your real location — this will provide you with the fastest speeds and more stable connections, which is especially important for streaming in HD.
4. Go to Netflix & revisit your subtitle options
Once you’re connected, launch the Netflix app or website and start streaming. Your subtitle options will now take into consideration the virtual location you’ve connected to, making it more likely you’ll get the languages you want for your subtitles.
Change Your Netflix Account Language Settings
Netflix also uses your language preferences to determine which languages it’ll recommend for your subtitles. More often than not, you’ll get pretty much the same selection of subtitles, but it’s more convenient that your preferred languages are closer to the top.
Here’s how to change these preferences on various devices:
Desktop
- Open your browser and go to Netflix.
- Sign in if necessary, and go to your Account page.
- Click Profiles and then find your Netflix profile.
- Click Languages.
- Here, choose the languages you prefer for subtitles or audio.
- Click Save to apply the changes if prompted.
Android & iOS
- Open the Netflix app. Tap on the My Netflix tab in the lower right corner.
- Next, tap the three horizontal lines in the upper right corner to open the menu.
- Tap Manage Profiles.
- Choose your Netflix profile.
- Tap Audio & Subtitles.
- Here, you can select languages for subtitles and audio, if available. Your choices apply immediately.
Smart TV or TV Streaming Device (Amazon Fire Stick, Roku…)
- Launch the Netflix app. Play an episode or a movie, and pause the stream.
- In the player controls at the bottom of the screen, select Other.
- Here, you’ll find the Audio and Subtitles section, where you can choose languages.
- Your choices are automatically saved, so you can go right back to streaming.
Try a Third-Party Browser Extension
There are plenty of browser extensions that offer community-sourced subtitles for Netflix, but they only work if you’re watching through your browser. Extensions like Substital, Open Subtitles, or NflxMultiSubs are good options.
You could also check out language learning tools like Language Reactor, which can be a great way to use Netflix for studying and often lets you enable dual subtitles. That said, it can be a pain to find the right subtitles that are free of translation mistakes or timing issues.
In my tests, finding subtitles for TV series was way more of a hassle than for a movie — for example, a lot of the time, the extension didn’t offer subtitles for every episode, and even if it did, it was in a different language.
Oftentimes, I also had to manually search for the episode and the subtitles I wanted, even if the extension auto-detected what I was watching. Plus, there’s the issue of the extension not working on all browsers (most work in Chrome only).
Why Doesn’t Netflix Have All Subtitles Everywhere?
The subtitle languages Netflix recommends on a video you’re watching depend on several factors (in order of importance):
- The content you’re watching.
- Your streaming device.
- Your location (associated with your IP address).
- Your language preferences in the Netflix app.
The video content you’re watching on Netflix only has subtitles that the distributor provides. While most content will have English subtitles, that isn’t always the case, so the subtitles vary from distributor to distributor. The distributors can also choose to license some subtitles only for some Netflix libraries.
A VPN changes your virtual location, which can give you a different initial pool of languages Netflix lets you choose from.
Then, out of the available languages, Netflix determines how many it will recommend based on the device you’re streaming on. You’ll usually be able to see all available subtitles on desktop and mobile and a limited number on smart TVs and TV-based streaming devices. For downloaded content, Netflix usually sticks to 2 languages (based on your location and language preferences).
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I get English subtitles on Netflix?
The best way to get English subtitles on Netflix is to get a good VPN that can change your virtual location and access English subtitles on Netflix. English subtitles are available for most content on Netflix, but they may not be the top ones that Netflix recommends for your location. You should also try changing your Netflix language preferences and see if that helps.
Can I get more Netflix subtitles on my smart TV or Fire Stick?
Yes but it just takes some time to set up. You could initially try modifying your Netflix language settings on your streaming device, though this might not always work.
You’re better off connecting your device to a router with a configured VPN — I recommend ExpressVPN, as it has a dedicated router app. This will change the virtual location of your streaming device and get you subtitles based on the new location. However, keep in mind that some older devices don’t support languages with non-Latin scripts, such as Arabic, Japanese, Korean, or Chinese.
Why do I get different subtitles on different devices?
One of the factors Netflix uses to determine what subtitles it recommends is the very device you’re using. It typically recommends all subtitles available for your location on desktop and Android/iOS mobile devices. On smart TVs, Fire Sticks, and other streaming devices, it typically shows only the top 5–7 subtitles for your location. Meanwhile, for downloaded content, it only recommends 2 languages.
How do I know which Netflix library has which subtitles?
There’s no surefire way to tell without checking out the content you want to watch directly through different Netflix libraries. Netflix typically recommends the most popular languages in each country, though the whole process of determining languages is a bit more complex.
