Disney Plus faces flak during Dancing With the Stars premiere: ‘How to turn off subtitles?’

Disney+ was slammed on social media, with users wondering how to turn off subtitles during the Dancing With the Stars Season 34 premiere on Tuesday.

Published on: Sep 17, 2025, 06:40:01 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Disney+ was slammed on social media, with users wondering how to turn off subtitles during the Dancing With the Stars Season 34 premiere on Tuesday. Many users struggled to disable subtitles despite settings adjustments. The issue, affecting viewers across devices, has sparked frustration on social media, particularly as the show’s live simulcast on Disney+ highlighted technical glitches during the debut episode featuring celebrities like Jen Affleck and her partner, Jan Ravnik.

Disney users faced issues during the Dancing With the Stars premiere (REUTERS)

The problem appears tied to Disney+’s accessibility features, where captions remain enabled even after toggling off in app settings. Users reported seeing subtitles on Roku, Apple TV, and mobile devices during the premiere, with some noting they only occur for live content like DWTS.

This glitch echoes past complaints, such as a 2022 Google Nest thread where subtitles appeared during DWTS casting despite being disabled on phones and TVs. Digital Trends and WikiHow guides confirm the issue persists, advising users to check device-level accessibility menus - Roku’s Captions Mode under Settings > Accessibility or Apple TV’s Subtitles in Audio & Subtitles.

For Disney+, pausing the video and selecting Audio & Subtitles to choose “Off” under Subtitles often works, but for live streams, it may require restarting the app or device.

Stepwise Guide

Start the Disney Plus App or Website

Open the Disney+ app on your device (e.g., smart TV, phone, tablet) or visit disneyplus.com on a browser. Ensure you’re logged in.

Select or Play Content

Choose a show or movie, or begin playing the live stream (e.g., DWTS). Subtitles may appear automatically, especially during live events.

Access the Audio & Subtitles Menu

During playback, pause the video. Look for the menu icon (usually a speech bubble or three horizontal lines) on the screen. Click or tap it to open the Audio & Subtitles options.

Disable Subtitles

In the Subtitles section, select “Off” from the dropdown menu. If multiple languages are listed, ensure no language is highlighted. Confirm the change.

Check Device Settings (if Needed)

If subtitles persist, go to your device’s settings:

Roku: Settings > Accessibility > Captions Mode > Off.

Apple TV: Settings > Audio & Subtitles > Subtitles > Off.

iOS/Android: Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captioning > Turn Off.

Smart TV: Check under Accessibility or Caption Settings.

Restart the App or Device

Close and reopen the Disney+ app, or restart your device (unplug for 30 seconds if applicable). Resume playback to verify subtitles are off.

Clear Cache or Reinstall (Last Resort)

If the issue continues, clear the app cache via device settings or uninstall and reinstall Disney+. Log back in and test again.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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