How to Turn on Subtitles in Minecraft

Last Updated: July 17, 2021

Subtitles are a handy feature in Minecraft added in the Java Edition 1.9 update. They allow for players to know what sounds are playing around them even if sounds are turned off or you cannot hear them. However, with all the settings and options available in Minecraft, it can be difficult to find where to turn subtitles on. This wikiHow will teach you how to turn subtitles on in Minecraft.

Steps

Download Article

{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-1.png\/460px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-1.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/f\/f6\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-1.png\/725px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-1.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":355,"bigWidth":726,"bigHeight":560,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

1

Open the Minecraft launcher. Search for Minecraft on your computer's search bar or find the Minecraft grass block icon on your desktop. Click the search result or the grass block desktop icon and wait for the Minecraft launcher to load.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-2.png\/460px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-2.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/29\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-2.png\/728px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-2.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":289,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":458,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

2

Start Minecraft. Make sure you are playing on version 1.9 or above and press the green Play button on the launcher.

Advertisement
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Turn-on-subtitles-on-minecraft-step-3.png\/460px-Turn-on-subtitles-on-minecraft-step-3.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/75\/Turn-on-subtitles-on-minecraft-step-3.png\/728px-Turn-on-subtitles-on-minecraft-step-3.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":269,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":425,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

3

Open the options menu. Once the main screen for Minecraft loads, find the Options button and click it to open the options menu.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/28\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-4.png\/460px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-4.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/28\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-4.png\/728px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-4.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":300,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":475,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

4

Open the accessibility settings. Once you've opened the options menu, locate the Accessibility Settings button. Click it to open the accessibility settings menu.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-5.png\/460px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-5.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/7\/78\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-5.png\/728px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-5.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":250,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":395,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

5

Turn on subtitles. Locate the button that says Show Subtitles: OFF and left click it so it says Show Subtitles: ON .
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Turn-on-subtitles-on-minecraft-step-6.png\/460px-Turn-on-subtitles-on-minecraft-step-6.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/4\/41\/Turn-on-subtitles-on-minecraft-step-6.png\/728px-Turn-on-subtitles-on-minecraft-step-6.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":274,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":434,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

6

Press the 'Done' button. Locate the Done button at the bottom of the screen and click it to exit the settings and options menu.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/ab\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-7.png\/460px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-7.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/ab\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-7.png\/728px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-7.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":261,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":413,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

7

Click the 'Singleplayer' button. Go back to the main menu and click the Singleplayer button to open the list of your worlds.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-8.png\/460px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-8.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/3\/37\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-8.png\/728px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-8.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":306,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":485,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

8

Select a world. Click on the world you want to play with subtitles on.
{"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/67\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-9.png\/460px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-9.png","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/67\/Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-9.png\/728px-Turn-on-subtitles-in-minecraft-step-9.png","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":240,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":380,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}

9

Check that subtitles are on. Once your world has loaded, try moving or breaking a block. Look in the bottom right corner for a black box with white text that tells you what sounds are playing. If you see this, then subtitles are turned on and you can continue to play as normal.

Community Q&A

Search

Add New Question

Question

How do I make the subtitles transparent?

Seasalt25

Top Answerer

You can't make the actual subtitles transparent, but you can make the chat background transparent. By default, they are at 50% opacity. You can change this by going back to accessibility settings and finding the slider that says "Text Background Opacity". You can click on the slider and drag it around to make the chat background more or less transparent.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 4 Helpful 4
Question

How do you get subtitles for mobile pocket edition?

Seasalt25

Top Answerer

You cannot enable subtitles on bedrock editions of Minecraft, including the mobile version. It is a feature exclusive to Java (PC) editions.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 2 Helpful 4
Question

Can I do this on bedrock? I play on an Xbox.

Seasalt25

Top Answerer

You cannot enable subtitles on any Bedrock edition of Minecraft, including Xbox editions of the game. It is a feature exclusive to Java/PC editions of the game.

Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
Thank you for your feedback.
If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow
Yes No

Not Helpful 0 Helpful 2

See more answers

Ask a Question

200 characters left

Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.

Submit

Tips

Submit a Tip

All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published

Submit

Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

Warnings

Subtitles only work on Minecraft: Java Edition.

Thanks
Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0

Log in

How to Turn on Subtitles in Minecraft

Steps

Community Q&A

Tips

Warnings

You Might Also Like

References

About This Article

Did this article help you?

About This Article

Quizzes

You Might Also Like

Featured Articles

Trending Articles

Featured Articles

Featured Articles

Watch Articles

Trending Articles

Explore Categories