Systems and methods for automatically enabling subtitles are provided. A user request is received from a user input device to access a first media asset. A type of activity associated with the user is detected in response to receiving the user request. The type of activity is cross-referenced with a database of activity types associated with subtitles stored in a storage device. A subtitles setting is automatically enabled when the subtitles setting is disabled, in response to determining that the type of activity associated with the user is associated with subtitles.