HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (2023)

Some shows and movies have multiple audio and subtitle languages available. You can also turn captions or subtitles on or off and customize their appearance.

Audio Description (Narration)

Audio description narrates what’s happening on screen. To turn this off, choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (1) and then an audio language (e.g. English - Original instead of English - Audio Description).

Which device are you using?

Here's how to turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio language:

Android phone or tablet, or Amazon Fire tablet

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something and then tap the screen.
  2. In the upper-right corner, tap the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (2).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Under Subtitle, tap a language.
    • Closed captions: Under Subtitle, tap English CC or Off.
    • Audio: Under Audio, tap a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Tap X to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

Tap your profile (upper right), the Settings icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (3), then tap or scroll to Captions and Subtitles and choose Manage Preferences (if available).

iPhone, iPad or iPod touch

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something and then tap the screen.
  2. In the upper-right corner, tap the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (4).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Under Subtitle, tap a language.
    • Closed captions: Under Subtitles, tap English CC or Off.
    • Audio: Under Audio, tap a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Tap X to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, go to the Home screen on your iOS device, then Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning > Style. For more info, see Subtitles and captioning on iOS.

Here's how to turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio language:

Change subtitles, closed captions, or audio

  1. Start watching something and then click the screen.
  2. In the lower-right corner, choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (5).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Under Subtitle, choose a language.
    • Closed captions: Under Subtitles, click English CC or Off.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Click X to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

Choose your profile (upper right), then Settings, scroll down to Captions and Subtitles, and choose Manage Preferences.

Here's how to turn captions or subtitles on or off, customize their appearance, and choose an audio language:

Amazon Fire TV

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Select button on your remote (center of the navigational ring).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (6).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, choose your profile icon (upper-left corner), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

Android TV

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Select button on your remote (center of the navigational ring).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (7).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, choose your Settings icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (8), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

Apple TV

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something, then press the Play/Pause button.
  2. Swipe up, and then do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose Subtitles, and then choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Select Subtitles, then choose English (US) SDH or Off.
    • Audio: Choose Audio. Choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  3. Press the Play/Pause button to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, on your Apple TV go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning > Style. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

For more info, see Subtitles and captioning on Apple TV.

Cox device

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Select button on your remote (center of the navigational ring).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (9).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (10), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

LG Smart TV

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Select button on your remote (D-pad center button).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (11).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (12), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

PlayStation console

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something, then press the X button on your PlayStation controller.
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (13).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language
    • Closed Captions: Choose English CC.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Press the O button to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (14), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

Roku

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Play/Pause button on your Roku remote.
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (15).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language
    • Closed Captions: Choose English CC.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Press the Back button to save your changes.

You can also turn closed captions on and off by pressing the Star button (*) on your Roku remote, and then choosing: On replay, Off, or On always.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, on your Roku go to Settings > Accessibility > Caption style. Here you can adjust the font, color, size, and opacity.

For more info, go to Roku Help: Closed captioning.

Samsung TV

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something, and then press the Down button on your remote.
  2. Choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (16).
  3. Select one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

If the above closed caption steps don't work, change the closed caption setting on your Samsung TV. To do this, go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Caption settings or try pressing the CC button on your remote control (settings and remotes vary depending by TV model).

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (17), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

VIZIO Smart TV

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something, and then press the Down button on your remote.
  2. Choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (18).
  3. Select one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

You can also turn closed captions on or off by pressing the CC button on your VIZIO TV remote.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (19), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

Xbox console

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something and then press the A button on your Xbox controller.
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (20).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Press the B button to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To find out how to change the caption styling, go to Xbox: Closed captioning settings.

Xfinity device

To change subtitles, closed captions, or audio:

  1. Start watching something and then press the Select button on your remote (center of the navigational ring).
  2. Move down and choose the Audio and Subtitles icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (21).
  3. Do one of the following:
    • Subtitles: Choose a subtitle language.
    • Closed captions: Choose English CC.
    • Audio: Under Audio, choose a language (to turn off narration, choose English - Original instead of English - Audio Description.)
  4. Press the back button to save your changes.

For more info about audio descriptions, see Accessibility features.

Customize subtitles and captions

To change the caption styling, choose the Settings icon HBO Max | Find out how to change subtitles, captions, and the audio in HBO Max. (22), and then choose Closed Captioning. Here you can adjust the closed captioning font, color, size, and opacity.

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