Netflix has solidified its position as one of the leading streaming platforms for anime enthusiasts across the globe. With thousands of hours of animation available at your fingertips, the service makes it simple to find everything from long-running shonen epics to slice-of-life hidden gems. What often trips up newcomers, however, is navigating between subtitled and dubbed versions of the same show. This expanded guide walks you through every method available, explains why options sometimes appear or disappear, and equips you with the knowledge to enjoy anime in exactly the language you prefer—no more accidental clicks on the wrong audio track.

Understanding Netflix’s Language Settings and How They Work for Anime

Before you can master the controls, it helps to know exactly what Netflix offers and why. The platform separates language into two distinct categories: audio tracks and subtitle tracks. Audio is the spoken dialogue you hear; subtitles are the text displayed on screen. Anime often comes with the original Japanese audio and a set of translated subtitles, but many popular titles also feature dubbed versions in English, Spanish, Brazilian Portuguese, French, German, and others. Netflix treats each audio option as a separate track, and in most cases you can mix and match—for example, watching with Japanese audio and English subtitles, or English audio with no subtitles at all.

Audio Tracks vs. Subtitle Tracks

An audio track is the language you hear coming from the speakers. When you select “English [Original]” or “Japanese [Original],” that is the audio. Subtitles, on the other hand, provide a text translation or transcription. Netflix often labels dub subtitles separately—like “English [CC]” (closed captions) for the actual spoken English lines, which can be useful for viewers who are hard of hearing or in noisy environments. Original Japanese subtitles are usually labeled simply “English” or “Japanese [CC].” Understanding these labels prevents the common frustration of turning on English audio and then seeing mismatched translated subtitles floating across the screen.

Why Some Titles Offer Multiple Versions and Others Don’t

Not every anime on Netflix comes fully loaded with every language option. Availability depends on licensing agreements, regional broadcast rights, and production budgets. A license to stream a show in the United States might include English dub rights, while the same title in Germany might only have the original Japanese with German subtitles. Some older or more niche titles were never dubbed into anything beyond Japanese. Additionally, Netflix sometimes acquires the rights to a show after it has aired, and the English dub may be owned by a different company, which can lead to a subtitled-only listing. If you discover a title missing the audio you want, it is rarely a technical glitch—it is almost always a licensing restriction. For a current list of shows with English dubs, communities on r/Animedubs often maintain updated spreadsheets, and Anime News Network’s encyclopedia provides dub production details for thousands of titles.

Step-by-Step Guide to Switching Between Subtitled and Dubbed Versions

Once you’ve picked a show, switching languages is straightforward. The exact steps differ slightly depending on your device, but the core process remains the same. Here is how to do it on every major platform.

On Desktop or Web Browser

  1. Go to Netflix.com and log in to your account.
  2. Find the anime you want to watch and click its title card to enter the details page, or click the Play button to start streaming immediately.
  3. Once playback begins, move your mouse cursor anywhere on the video player. A control bar will appear at the bottom of the screen.
  4. Click the Audio & Subtitles icon—it looks like a small speech bubble or a dialogue box. On some browsers it may be a rectangular icon with lines of text.
  5. A side panel or pop-up will show all available Audio tracks (for example, “Japanese [Original]”, “English”) and Subtitles options. Select your preferred combination.
  6. Click anywhere outside the panel to close it, and playback will instantly adjust.

Pro tip: If your preferred audio does not appear, try stopping playback, returning to the title page, and checking if the show has an alternate listing. Some series, like “Neon Genesis Evangelion,” appear as separate entries for the original subtitled version and the new English dub.

On Mobile Devices (iOS/Android)

The mobile apps work almost identically. Start playback, then tap the screen to reveal the controls. Look for the Audio & Subtitles symbol—usually a speech bubble on both iPhone and Android. Tap it, and the same menu appears, letting you pick the audio language and subtitle style. One important note: if you have downloaded the title for offline viewing, you must download the specific language version you want ahead of time. Once downloaded, you cannot switch to a different audio track without re-downloading the title.

On Smart TVs and Streaming Devices

Navigating with a remote can feel clunky, but the process is similar. While the anime is playing, press the Up arrow or OK button on your remote to bring up the on-screen controls. Then navigate to the Audio & Subtitles icon, select it, and use the directional pad to highlight your language choice. On some devices, like Apple TV, you can also swipe down on the touch surface to access the info panel. If the icon is not immediately visible, look for a “More” or “Options” button. For Roku, open the Netflix app, start a show, and press the * (star) button, then choose Audio & Subtitles. The Netflix Help Center has device-specific instructions if you get stuck.

Using the Netflix Profile Language Settings

For households where one person always wants the English dub and another always prefers subtitles, you can set a profile-level preference that acts as the default. On a web browser, go to Account > Profile & Parental Controls > Language. Under “Audio & Subtitles,” you can set your preferred audio language and subtitle language for that profile. While this does not force all anime to play in that language—because availability still rules—it will automatically select your preferred option when it exists. This small tweak can save you from manually switching every time.

How to Find Anime with Specific Language Options Before Playing

Nobody enjoys clicking into three different shows only to find none have an English dub. While Netflix does not have a perfect “filter by language” button for audio, there are several reliable workarounds.

Browsing by Audio Description

On the title’s details page, just below the description and cast, you will see a row of tags like “Suspenseful,” “Mind-Bending,” and, importantly, language indicators. If the show has dubbed audio, you will often see a small box with “English” or “Audio Description” listed there. This is the fastest way to confirm at a glance. On a mobile device, scroll down to the “More Like This” section and look for the same tags.

Searching with Keywords

The search function is smarter than many realize. Typing phrases such as “English dub anime” or “dubbed anime” will often surface curated rows of shows that have English audio tracks. The same works for “Spanish dub” or “Portuguese dub.” You can further refine by searching for a specific genre plus “dub,” such as “action anime dub.” While not an official feature, Netflix’s recommendation algorithm has learned to associate these terms with certain titles, making it a surprisingly effective trick.

Troubleshooting Common Issues When Changing Audio or Subtitles

Even when a show is supposed to have multiple tracks, things can go sideways. Here is how to fix the most frequent problems.

Missing Language Options

If you tap the Audio & Subtitles menu and see only one audio track, first confirm that the version you want exists for your region. Use an online anime database to check the dub’s availability. If it should be there but isn’t, sign out of Netflix, restart your device, and sign back in. Sometimes a stale cache prevents the app from fetching updated language lists. On smart TVs, you can also try reinstalling the Netflix app. Should the issue persist, check your profile’s language settings—make sure you haven’t inadvertently locked the audio to “Japanese” only. Finally, remember that some titles, such as “Seven Deadly Sins,” have separate listings for the original version and the dubbed version. Searching for the exact title may reveal two results.

Audio and Subtitles Out of Sync

Lip-sync issues are especially jarring with dubs. Usually, this is a playback issue, not a problem with the file itself. Try pausing for 10 seconds, then resuming. If that doesn’t work, exit the title completely and re-enter. On a browser, clearing your cache or lowering the streaming quality to “Standard” can force a different encoding that syncs properly. For stubborn cases, especially with downloaded content, delete the download and re-download it in your chosen language.

App or Device Not Showing the Menu

Some older smart TVs or game consoles have a simplified Netflix interface where the Audio & Subtitles icon is not immediately obvious. Look for a “Dialogue” icon, a gear icon, or simply an “Options” menu. On PlayStation, press the Options button on your controller; on Xbox, press the Menu button. For Amazon Fire TV, pressing the Menu button on the remote will bring up the playback menu. If still lost, check the device manufacturer’s support page or the Netflix Help Center for exact navigation steps.

Tips for Managing Multiple Language Preferences Across Profiles

Families or roommate setups often have split preferences: one person is a diehard sub-only purist, another insists on the English dub. Managing this doesn’t have to be a daily battle.

Creating Separate Profiles for Sub vs. Dub

Netflix allows you to create up to five profiles per account. By dedicating one profile to “Subtitled Anime” and another to “Dubbed Anime,” you can set the language preferences under each one. The sub-only profile can have Japanese set as the default audio language with English subtitles, while the dub profile sets English as the preferred audio. Over time, Netflix’s algorithm will learn your habit and even prioritize recommending shows that match your preference. Just be aware that viewing history can bleed if you switch profiles mid-watch, so always double-check you’re in the right one before starting an episode.

Using the “Download” Feature for Offline Viewing in Your Chosen Language

When you download a show for offline viewing, Netflix grabs the specific audio and subtitle tracks currently selected. To download a dubbed version, make sure you have the English audio track selected before you hit the download button. The same goes for subbed versions. A common mistake is to download episodes thinking you’ll switch the language later, only to find yourself stuck with the original Japanese and no way to change it without an internet connection. As a rule, download exactly what you plan to watch. If you travel frequently, you might download the same episode twice under different profiles—once dubbed, once subbed—so you’re always covered.

The Sub vs. Dub Debate in the Anime Community

No discussion about language options is complete without acknowledging the long-running, sometimes heated debate between subtitle purists and dub enthusiasts. Purists often argue that the original Japanese voice acting conveys emotion and nuance that dubs can miss, and that subtitles preserve the creator’s intent. Dub fans counter that watching in one’s native language allows for a more immersive visual experience because you aren’t constantly reading the bottom third of the screen. Both sides have merit. The rise of high-quality simuldubs—English dubs produced and released within weeks of the Japanese broadcast—has brought many viewers to the dub camp who might otherwise have stuck with subtitles. Shows like “Demon Slayer” and “Jujutsu Kaisen” have received widespread praise for their English casts. Meanwhile, purists still prefer the raw intensity of hearing “Gomu Gomu no…” exactly as the original voice actor intended. Netflix itself supports both crowds without taking sides, and its robust language menu puts the choice squarely in your hands. That flexibility is something to celebrate.

Accessibility Features: Closed Captions and Descriptive Audio

Beyond the sub vs. dub choice, Netflix provides accessibility options that are especially useful for anime fans with hearing or vision impairments. Closed captions (often labeled [CC]) display not just dialogue but also sound effects and musical cues, like “[intense orchestral music]” or “[door slams].” These can be turned on alongside any audio track. For English dubs, selecting “English [CC]” ensures you catch every nuance, even whispered lines or off-screen shouts.

Another lesser-known feature is audio description, which narrates on-screen actions and scene changes for blind or low-vision viewers. Not every anime has an audio description track, but a growing number of Netflix Original anime, such as “Castlevania” (though technically Western animation in anime style), “Baki,” and “The Seven Deadly Sins: Prisoners of the Sky,” include it. To check, open the Audio & Subtitles menu and look for “English – Audio Description.” This track will overlay a calm voice explaining visual elements between lines of dialogue. If you want to explore which anime titles offer audio description, the Netflix Audio Description page lists supported content.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my anime show separate seasons for sub and dub?
Some series, particularly long-running ones, are licensed differently. For example, “One Piece” on Netflix in certain regions might list the original Japanese version as one season and the English dub as another. This is often due to licensing windows or the sheer volume of episodes. Switching between them typically requires exiting back to the series page and selecting the alternate season, but once inside, the audio options should reflect that version’s tracks.

Can I force Netflix to always show me dubbed anime?
While you can set a language preference in your profile, you cannot force Netflix to hide subtitled-only titles. However, you can train your recommendations by giving a thumbs-up to dubbed content and a thumbs-down to anything that only has subtitles. Also, the “English dub anime” search trick can become a habit.

Does Netflix add dubs after a show is already streaming?
Yes, frequently. A new anime might launch on Netflix on the same day as its Japanese broadcast, offering only subtitles. Weeks or months later, an English dub might drop. Anime News Network and the official Netflix social media accounts often announce such additions. To stay informed, follow @NetflixAnime on X (formerly Twitter).

Why do some subtitles not match the English dub?
This is a very common observation. Dubs often modify dialogue to match lip flaps, resulting in different wording from the direct-translation subtitles made for the original Japanese. If you’re watching the English dub but turn on subtitles, you may get the subtitles originally intended for the Japanese audio, leading to a mismatch. To fix this, look for “English [CC]” in the subtitles menu, which should match the dubbed dialogue exactly. If that option isn’t available, the mismatch is unavoidable for that title.

Advanced Tips for Power Users

If you’ve mastered the basics, these tips will elevate your Netflix anime game even further. Keyboard shortcuts on the desktop version let you switch quickly: while the video is playing, just press Ctrl + Shift + Alt + S to open the audio and subtitle panel without touching the mouse. (On Mac, use Ctrl + Option + Shift + S.) This shortcut also allows you to select bitrate and manually adjust streaming quality, which can resolve lip-sync issues.

Another trick is to use browser extensions or the Netflix secret menus to see hidden metadata. Some third-party browser add-ons can display all available language tracks on the title page before you even start playing. While not officially endorsed by Netflix, tools like “Netflix Multi-Subtitles” or “Language Reactor” can show you at a glance whether a show has an English dub, removing the guesswork entirely.

Conclusion

Accessing the subtitled or dubbed version of anime on Netflix is simple once you know where to look, but the quirks of licensing and device interfaces can make it seem more complicated than it needs to be. Whether you’re a purist who insists on original Japanese audio, a dub fan who wants to hear your favorite voice actors in your own language, or someone who requires accessible closed captions, Netflix’s flexible audio and subtitle menus have you covered. By setting up dedicated profiles, mastering the playback controls on your specific device, and keeping an eye on regional availability, you can remove the friction and spend more time enjoying the stories. The next time you settle in for a Naruto marathon or a fresh season of a Netflix Original anime, you’ll be in complete control of your viewing experience.