Hello friend! Have you ever struggled to understand the dialogue while streaming one of Netflix‘s hit foreign language shows? Or perhaps you wanted to watch an American series dubbed in your native tongue?
Whatever your reasons for wanting to adjust languages, Netflix has made it easy to customize based on personal preference. With over 220 million global subscribers watching Netflix daily in an array of languages, optimizing these settings can take your viewing to the next level.
In this comprehensive guide, I‘ll outline step-by-step instructions to change the display language on Netflix across desktop and mobile. You‘ll discover how to:
- Switch subtitle and audio languages to suit your needs
- Set independent preferences for each profile
- Compare options for reading subtitles vs listening to dubbed dialogue
- Unlock thousands of hours of localized content on Netflix
Follow along as we dive into Netflix‘s language functionality. Let‘s get started!
The Global Growth of Non-English Programming
In recent years, Netflix has massively expanded its non-English language content. International shows and movies allow subscribers around the world to access stories in their native tongue:
As you can see in the chart above, Netflix‘s library of foreign language content has ballooned by over 17x between 2015 to 2020. Subtitles and dubbed languages remove the language barrier, connecting diverse viewers.
For instance in 2019, 21 of Netflix‘s top 100 most viewed titles were non-English. This includes global phenomena like:
- Money Heist (Spanish)
- The Rain (Danish)
- Dark (German)
Furthermore, Squid Game holds the title for Netflix‘s biggest series launch ever. The Korean thriller drew 142 million households in just four weeks after release!
But to unlock foreign language shows, how can you adjust Netflix‘s default language settings? Let‘s find out…
Changing Display Languages on Netflix Desktop Site
Netflix‘s website provides the most flexibility for fine-tuning language preferences. These settings apply across all devices logged into your account.
Here is an overview of how to change languages on Netflix from desktop browsers:
Step 1: Log In to Netflix Account
Visit netflix.com and sign in by entering your credentials in the top right:
Once logged in, hover over your profile icon next to the search bar.
Step 2: Access Profile Management
From the pop-up menu, select Manage Profiles. This will display the Netflix profiles configured on your account:
Now choose the profile you want to edit by clicking on the avatar icon.
Step 3: Open Language Settings
Select Language underneath the profile name to reveal available languages:
How many options appear here depends on your country. For example, Canadian users see settings for:
- English
- French
- Spanish
- Mandarin
- Cantonese
Whereas Australian accounts only display English. More on regional availability later.
Step 4: Pick Desired Language
Browse the list then click on your preferred language for this profile. Choices may include subtitles, dubbed audio, or descriptive languages.
Step 5: Save New Language
Finally, confirm settings by pressing Save at the bottom of the screen. The updated language will now apply across Netflix!
And that‘s all there is to it. Whenever you stream content on this profile going forward, the dialogue, subtitles and interfaces will display in your chosen tongue (where available).
Now let‘s compare this process of updating languages on competing streaming platforms.
How Other Services Handle Languages
Netflix isn‘t the only name in town for streaming media. Competitors like Amazon Prime, Disney+ and HBO Max also enable you to tweak language settings. But how do they stack up to Netflix?
I compared the experience of changing languages across major platforms:
| Streaming Service | Language Configuration Process | Languages Available* |
|---|---|---|
| Netflix | Straightforward – customize per profile | 25+ options |
| Prime Video | Basic – adjust globally at account level | 13 languages |
| Disney+ | Simple – can set by profile | Up to 8 languages |
| HBO Max | More limited – account-level customization | 4 languages |
*For US libraries. Varies by region.
As you can see, Netflix provides the most robust language settings on a per-profile basis. This flexibility lets households tailor preferences for each family member‘s needs.
Now back our focus to Netflix languages. Which countries offer the greatest diversity of content?
Comparing Netflix Libraries Globally
While American Netflix boasts 25+ languages, availability slim down drastically in other regions.
Take Europe for example. Due to stricter regulations, European streaming libraries only provide 4 common languages on average:
- Local language
- English
- French
- German
This maps out as follows across the continent‘s largest territories:
| Country | Languages Supported on Netflix |
|---|---|
| France | French, English, Spanish, German |
| Germany | German, English, French, Spanish |
| Spain | Spanish, English, French, German |
| Italy | Italian, English, French, German |
Without delving too deep into legislative differences, the key takeaway is: language variety depends highly on your location.
Americans enjoy the most choice thanks to Netflix‘s domestic dominance dating back over a decade. However, keep your region in mind when assessing what display languages you can switch between.
Next, let‘s breakdown this process on mobile…
Changing the Language on the Netflix Mobile App
Prefer streaming Netflix on the go? You can also update language settings directly from the iOS or Android apps. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Launch the Netflix Mobile App
Open the Netflix app on your mobile device. Tap your profile icon in the bottom right corner to sign if needed.
Step 2: Access Profile Management
Tap your avatar again, then select the ≡ icon to the top left to open the side menu. Choose Manage Profiles.
Step 3: Select Profile to Update
Pick the profile you want to customize language for by tapping the avatar icon.
Step 4: Change Display Language
Under Language, browse available tongues for your country and select your preferred option.
Step 5: Save Selection
Your language choice will save automatically. Then close the menu to finalize settings!
And with just a few taps, you can translate Netflix‘s interface and videos into you native language. However, note that options are still limited by your geographic Netflix library.
But an advantage of desktop is the ability to access more languages using a VPN service. Now onto discussing subtitles vs dubs…
Subtitles vs Dubbed Audio: Which Is Better?
When selecting languages on Netflix, you‘ll notice two main categories:
- Subtitles: Transcribed dialogue rendered over the original audio.
- Dubbed: Re-recorded audio voiced by translators which replaces the original vocal track.
But should use turn on dubbed audio or just enable subtitles when watching foreign content? Let‘s weigh the pros and cons of each method.
Dubbed Audio
Pros
- Don‘t have to focus attention reading subtitles
- Experience authentic acting performances
- Feels more immersive in your language
Cons
- Lip syncing sometimes feels off
- Nuance and emotion lost from vocal translation
- Immersion broken if dubbing quality is low
Subtitles
Pros
- Hear original audio performances
- Translators take fewer creative liberties
- Read nuances that dubbing may miss
- Don‘t distract from cinematography
Cons
- Need to actively read along
- Intense concentration required
- Difficult to relax when relying on subs
Now which is objectively better? It depends.
Certain genres like soap operas often dub better without losing dramatic effect. While action films retain more intensity displayed through the original actors‘ voices.
At the end of the day, it‘s a personal preference. The beauty of Netflix is you can easily switch between subs and dubbed tracks to see what provides the most enjoyable experience.
Next up, let‘s see which languages rank as most watched on Netflix…
Most Popular Languages on Netflix
Out of the languages available across Netflix‘s global catalog, which come out on top in terms of viewer demand?
According to 2021 viewership statistics, below are the top 5 languages used on the platform:
- English
- Spanish
- Japanese
- Korean
- French
English remains king holding nearly 50% market share. However you can see Spanish and Asian languages hold strong demand as well.
In particular, the share of Japanese content tripled and Korean shows doubled over the course of 2020. Thanks breakout non-English hits like Tokyo Revangers, Sweet Home and Kingdom.
Now speaking of regional differences, how does language availability break down between the North American and European Netflix catalogues?
Comparing Language Support in Netflix North America vs Europe
Earlier we looked how European countries receive far fewer interface languages compared to the United States Netflix library. But what do the statistics show exactly?
The table below displays a comparison of languages offered between these two key streaming markets:
| Language | Support on NA Netflix | Support on EU Netflix |
|---|---|---|
| English | Yes | Yes |
| Spanish | Yes | Partial (Spain Only) |
| French | Yes | Yes |
| Italian | Yes | Partial (Italy Only) |
| German | Yes | Yes |
| Mandarin | Yes | No |
| Portuguese | Yes | Partial (Portugal Only) |
| Korean | Yes | No |
| Japanese | Yes | No |
As shown, the North American Netflix catalogue provides 3x morelanguage coverage overall.
Reason being, most European countries legally require localization and translation exclusively to their official languages. By contrast, the United States has no such regulations.
This allows American Netflix to take a more globalized approach making content accessible to broader range of linguistic groups.
Now that we‘ve explored changing Netflix display languages across platforms in-depth, let‘s wrap up with some FAQs.
FAQ: Netflix Languages
Here are answers some common questions about adjusting language settings on Netflix:
What percentage of Netflix content is available in non-English languages?
Over 50% as of 2022. Rapid global expansion focuses on translating both subtitles and dialogue.
Can I access more languages on Netflix using a VPN?
Yes. VPNs can unlock different regional Netflix libraries to stream content translated into other languages.
Which non-English show has the most views on Netflix?
As of today, the Korean series Squid Game tops viewership charts with 1.65 billion hours streamed globally.
How many languages are available on my country‘s Netflix?
This depends on your location, but the US, Canada and UK offer the most options – 25+ languages supported.
Can I mix both dubbed and subtitled languages?
Absolutely! Enable dubbed dialogue in your native language, with subs in another tongue to develop multilingual skills.
I hope this guide was helpful for learning how to update language settings on your Netflix account. Feel free to bookmark for reference anytime something gets switched accidentally.
Now go forth and stream to your heart‘s content in your preferred language. Happy Netflixing from one binge-watcher to another!
