How to Turn On Closed Captions on Apple TV

Turn on closed captions in Settings

Closed captions on Apple TV are controlled through the Accessibility settings on your device. Open Settings on your Apple TV home screen, then select Accessibility. From there, choose Subtitles and Captions, then toggle Closed Captions + SDH to the on position. The captions will appear on any show or movie that includes them.

Once you turn on closed captions this way, they stay on for all content unless you turn them off again. You do not have to enable them for each show separately. If a particular program does not have captions available, the toggle will not affect it — the show straightforward will not display any text.

The SDH in the setting name stands for "Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing." This option includes both dialogue and descriptions of sounds (like "[door slams]" or "[music playing]"), which makes it more complete than standard subtitles.

Key Takeaways

Closed captions are turned on through Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions > Closed Captions + SDH on your Apple TV device.
Once enabled, closed captions appear automatically on any content that includes them, without needing to adjust settings per show.
Not all shows and movies have captions available, so you may see captions on some content but not others.
You can also control captions while watching by pressing the Menu button on your remote and selecting the audio or subtitles option.
If captions appear too small or in the wrong position, you can adjust the style and size in the same Accessibility menu under Subtitles and Captions.

Adjust caption size and style while watching

While a show or movie is playing, you can change how captions look without going back to Settings. Press the Menu button on your Apple TV remote. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen with options including audio and subtitles.

Select the subtitles option to see what captions are available for that specific show. Some programs offer multiple caption tracks — for example, English captions, English SDH (which includes sound descriptions), or captions in other languages. Choose the one you want, and it will play when ready.

If you want to change the size, font, or background color of captions permanently, go back to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions and select Style. You can choose from preset styles or create a custom one by adjusting text size, font, background opacity, and text color.

What to do if captions are not showing

If you have turned on closed captions but they are not appearing, the most common reason is that the show or movie does not include captions. Not all content on Apple TV has captions available. Check a different program to see if captions work there — if they do, the first show straightforward does not have them.

If captions are not working on any content, restart your Apple TV. Unplug the device from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in and wait for it to fully boot up. Once it restarts, try playing a show that you know has captions, like a major network program or recent movie.

Another possibility is that captions are turned off at the app level. Some streaming apps (like Netflix or Disney+) have their own caption settings separate from Apple TV's system settings. If captions are on in Apple TV Settings but still not showing, open the app you are using and check its subtitle or caption menu as well.

Caption options in specific apps

Many apps on Apple TV have their own caption controls in addition to the system-wide setting. Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, and others let you choose caption language, style, and whether to use them at all — independent of your Apple TV accessibility settings.

If you turn on captions in Apple TV Settings but an app has captions turned off in its own menu, you will not see them. The app's setting overrides the system setting. Open the app, look for a settings or preferences option (usually in the menu while a show is playing), and turn captions on there as well.

Some apps also offer more caption styles than Apple TV's system settings do. If you want a specific look or language option, check the app's own subtitle menu while playing content. You can usually access this by pressing Menu on your remote while watching.

Use captions with AirPlay and external displays

If you are using AirPlay to send video from your iPhone or Mac to your Apple TV, captions will appear on the TV screen if they are available in the source app. The captions will follow the style settings you have chosen in Apple TV's Accessibility menu, not the settings on your iPhone or Mac.

When you connect an external display or projector to your Apple TV, captions will display on that screen just as they would on a TV connected directly to the device. The caption settings remain the same — they are stored on the Apple TV itself, not on the display.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn captions on and off for just one app?

Yes. Most apps have their own caption menu that you can access while watching. Press Menu on your remote and look for a subtitles or captions option. You can turn captions on or off for that app without changing your Apple TV system settings. This is useful if one app has captions you want but another does not.

Why do some shows have captions and others do not?

Content providers decide whether to include captions when they upload shows and movies. Older content, independent films, and some live broadcasts may not have captions available. Major networks and streaming services usually caption their original shows, but not all licensed content includes them.

Can I change the caption language?

Yes, if the show or movie offers captions in multiple languages. Press Menu while watching and select the subtitles option. You will see all available caption languages for that content. Choose the one you want, and it will display when ready. Not all content offers multiple languages.

Do captions work on all Apple TV models?

Closed captions work on all Apple TV models that run tvOS 11 or later, which includes every Apple TV currently sold. Older models from before 2015 may have limited caption support, but any Apple TV from the past eight years will display captions without problems.

What is the difference between captions and subtitles on Apple TV?

Closed captions (CC) include dialogue and sound descriptions like "[door slams]" or "[phone ringing]." Subtitles show only dialogue. SDH stands for "Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing" and is the same as closed captions. On Apple TV, the Closed Captions + SDH option gives you the most complete text.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.