Amazon Prime Video boasts a massive global library, but depending on your region, the default language of the application interface or the audio tracks of the movies you want to watch might not match your preferences. Perhaps you moved to a new country and the menus are suddenly in German, or maybe you want to watch an anime in its original Japanese audio with English subtitles.
Unlike some streaming services that lock everything into a single master setting, Amazon Prime Video treats the “Interface Language” (the text you read on the screen) and the “Playback Language” (what you hear and the subtitles you read during a movie) as two completely separate configurations. You must change them independently.
How to Change the Interface Language (Menus and Text)
If you are struggling to navigate the app because all the movie descriptions, buttons, and settings are in the wrong language, you must change the primary account language.
On a Computer (Web Browser):
- Go to primevideo.com and log into your account.
- Look at the top right corner of the screen and click on your Profile icon.
- Click on Account & Settings from the dropdown menu.
- Click the Language tab at the top of the settings page.
- Select your preferred language from the list (e.g., English, Español, Français).
- Click Save. The entire website will instantly translate.
On the Mobile App (iOS / Android) or Smart TV:
- Open the Prime Video app.
- Tap on your Profile icon (usually located in the top right or bottom right corner).
- Tap the Gear icon to open Settings.
- Scroll down and tap on Language.
- Select your preferred language from the list. The app may briefly refresh to apply the changes.
How to Change the Audio and Subtitle Language During Playback
If the menus are fine, but you are trying to watch a movie and it is dubbed in the wrong language, you do not need to dive into the main settings. You change this directly on the video player screen while the movie is running.
On a Computer or Mobile Device:
- Start playing the movie or TV show.
- Pause the video and move your mouse (or tap the screen on mobile) to bring up the player controls.
- Look for the Subtitles and Audio icon. It looks like a small speech bubble or a square with horizontal lines inside it (usually located in the top right corner).
- Click the icon. A menu will appear with two distinct columns: Audio on the left and Subtitles on the right.
- Select your desired spoken language under the Audio column (e.g., change it from “English [Audio Description]” to standard “English”).
- Select your desired text language under the Subtitles column (or select “Off”).
On a Smart TV or Roku/Firestick:
- Start playing the movie.
- Press the Up arrow on your remote control to reveal the player menu on the screen.
- Navigate to the Subtitles and Audio icon (the speech bubble) and select it.
- Use the directional pad to select the correct Audio track and Subtitle track.
Why Are Certain Languages Missing?
If you follow the steps above but the language you want (like French audio) is completely missing from the list, the issue is licensing, not a glitch.
Amazon does not own the global distribution rights to every movie. A movie studio might grant Amazon the rights to stream a film in the United States with English audio, but sell the French audio rights to a completely different streaming service in Europe. Therefore, the language options available in the Subtitles and Audio menu will change drastically from movie to movie depending on regional licensing agreements.