How to change the preferred language on your Roku® streaming device
When you power on your Roku streaming device for the first time, you must choose a language to use during the guided setup which also determines the preferred language selection for:
- System: On-screen text in the Roku interface
- Audio: Dialogue, or spoken audio
- Captions: Closed captions and subtitles
After your Roku device is activated, you can easily change your preferred language selections from the Settings menu using the instructions in this article.
Change preferred system language
The system language selection controls how text appears throughout the Roku interface for items such as menus, buttons, titles, messages, and error screens. It also determines what content details and artwork appears for movies and TV shows offered on a channel published by Roku, such as The Roku Channel.
When changing the preferred system language be aware that it also changes the preferred language for audio and captions as long as you have never changed those settings (using the steps described later in this article). If you have changed either of those settings, changing the preferred system language will have no effect on those settings.
Use the steps below to change the preferred system language on your Roku device.
- Press Home
on your Roku remote - Scroll and select Settings
- Select System
- Select Language
- Select from the supported languages
Change preferred audio language
The preferred audio language selection determines which audio track you hear when watching content from a provider like The Roku Channel. Keep in mind that it is the responsibility of each channel provider to translate the content they offer. If your preferred audio language is not supported by a channel provider, content in that channel will typically be presented with an audio track in the original language of each title.
Use the following instructions to change the preferred audio language.
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Scroll and select Settings
- Select Audio
- Select Audio preferred language
- Choose the language for spoken audio
Change preferred captions language
The preferred captions language selection determines what closed captions and subtitles you see when watching content from a provider like The Roku Channel. Be aware that it is the responsibility of each channel provider to translate the content they offer. If your preferred captions language is not supported by a channel provider, content in that channel will typically be presented with captions and subtitles in the original language of each title.
Use the steps below to change the preferred captions language.
- Press Home on your Roku remote
- Scroll and select Settings
- Select Accessibility
- Select Captions preferred language
- Choose the language you for closed captions and subtitles
Why are Spanish content details on The Roku Channel in English?
If you select a movie or TV show in The Roku Channel, the details (e.g., cast, director, synopsis, runtime) appear in the preferred system language, even if the preferred language for audio or captions is set to another language. Menu items such as Play and Add to Save List will also appear in the preferred system language.
If you want to see Spanish content details in Spanish, refer to the steps above and change the preferred system language to Spanish.