Locate the control for the player you are using
The publisher’s subtitle instructions distinguish the online and offline players. In streaming playback, the relevant control is the gear icon near the bottom right. In the offline desktop player, it is labelled CC. Looking only for a CC button in the browser can therefore produce a false impression that the control has disappeared. Establish which player is open before changing system-wide caption settings.
Compare the same programme on a supported route
If subtitles do not appear online, ARTE recommends using an up-to-date browser or trying another browser. It also suggests comparing the programme in download mode through the offline player. Keep the exact film and offered language the same during that comparison. For example, subtitles working in the offline player but failing in one browser point to a narrower problem than a claim that the programme has no subtitle track anywhere.
The offline option means ARTE’s own application
ARTE’s protected-content help says downloaded VOD programmes use its offline player or supported mobile application, rather than an unrelated media player. A download test therefore should not become an attempt to open a protected file in VLC or import a separate subtitle file into a copied video. If the documented controls still fail, report the programme, player type and browser or application version. The source describes control locations and troubleshooting steps; it does not guarantee that every film contains every subtitle language or that a device-wide setting creates an absent track.