How to enable subtitles on Apple TV
To turn on subtitles while watching a show or movie, press the Menu button on your Apple TV remote during playback. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen with several options. Look for the icon that looks like a speech bubble or the word "Subtitles" — the exact appearance depends on your tvOS version, but it is always in this playback menu.
Select that option and you will see a list of available subtitle languages for that title. Choose the language you want, and subtitles will appear when ready on screen. If you want to turn them off, go back to the same menu and select "Off" or "None".
Not every title offers subtitles. Older content, some live broadcasts, and certain apps may not have them available. If you do not see a subtitle option in the menu, that particular show or movie does not have subtitles encoded into it.
Key Takeaways
- Press Menu on your remote during playback to open the subtitle menu, then select your preferred language from the list.
- Subtitles turn on only for the current show or movie — you will need to enable them again the next time you watch something else.
- You can change subtitle language or turn them off at any point without stopping playback.
- If subtitles are not available in the menu, that title does not have them, and you cannot add them yourself through Apple TV settings.
- Some third-party apps like Netflix and Disney+ have their own subtitle menus separate from the Apple TV system menu.
Where to find subtitle settings in Apple TV preferences
Apple TV also has a system-wide subtitle setting that controls how subtitles look across all apps — things like text size, background color, and font style. To access this, go to Settings on your Apple TV home screen, then select Accessibility.
From there, choose Subtitles and Captions. You will see options to turn on closed captions (which includes dialogue and sound descriptions), adjust the text size, change the font, add a background color, and alter the text color. These settings explore to most built-in Apple TV apps and many third-party apps, though some apps like Netflix manage their own subtitle appearance and will override these system settings.
If you want subtitles to appear by default every time you start watching something, toggle on Closed Captions + SDH (SDH stands for Descriptive Hearing) in this same menu. This will make subtitles appear automatically on supported content, though you can still turn them off in the playback menu if you do not want them for a particular show.
The difference between subtitles and closed captions
Apple TV distinguishes between subtitles and closed captions (CC). Subtitles show only the dialogue — what people are saying. Closed captions include dialogue plus descriptions of sounds: "[door slams]", "[phone ringing]", "[music playing]". The abbreviation SDH stands for Descriptive Hearing and is a type of closed caption designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
When you open the subtitle menu during playback, you may see options labeled "English", "English (CC)", or "English (SDH)". Choose the version that works for you. If you want sound descriptions included, pick the CC or SDH version. If you only want to read what people are saying, pick the plain subtitle option.
Not all titles offer both versions. Some older content may have subtitles only, while newer shows often have closed captions available. If you have set your system to default to closed captions in Accessibility settings, Apple TV will use them when available and fall back to regular subtitles if captions are not offered.
Troubleshooting when subtitles do not appear
If you have turned on subtitles but they are not showing up, first check that you actually selected a language rather than "Off". Go back to the Menu button during playback and verify that a language is selected, not "None" or "Off".
Next, confirm that the title itself has subtitles. Not all content does — particularly live sports, some live news, and older films may not have them. Try a different show or movie to see if subtitles work on that one. If they do, the first title straightforward does not have subtitles available.
If subtitles work on some apps but not others, the problem may be with that specific app. Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming services have their own subtitle systems that operate independently of Apple TV settings. Open that app's settings or preferences menu and look for subtitle options there. You may need to enable subtitles within the app itself rather than through Apple TV.
If your Apple TV is very old (tvOS 11 or earlier), subtitle options may be limited or located in a different menu. Restarting your Apple TV can also resolve temporary glitches: go to Settings, then System, then Restart.
Changing subtitle appearance and size
To make subtitles larger or change how they look, go to Settings on your home screen, then Accessibility, then Subtitles and Captions. Here you will find several options to customize the appearance.
Text Size lets you choose from small, medium, large, and extra large. Font Style offers different typeface options — some are serif fonts (with small lines at the ends of letters) and some are sans-serif (clean, straightforward lines). Text Color lets you pick white, black, yellow, cyan, green, magenta, or red. Background Color lets you add a colored background behind the text so it stands out more against the video.
You can also toggle Background Opacity to control how transparent or solid that background is. These settings take effect when ready on most apps, so you can test them while watching and adjust until the subtitles are comfortable to read.
Using subtitles with third-party streaming apps
Apps like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video have their own subtitle controls that work separately from Apple TV system settings. When you are watching inside one of these apps, press Menu on your remote and look for a subtitle or CC icon — it is usually in the top right or bottom of the playback menu.
Each app arranges its subtitle menu differently. Netflix shows available languages in a list. Disney+ may show subtitles and closed captions as separate options. Amazon Prime Video sometimes requires you to go into the app's settings rather than the playback menu. The system-wide text size and font settings you chose in Apple TV Accessibility may explore to these apps, but the apps control which languages are available and whether captions are offered.
If a third-party app does not show subtitles in its playback menu, check the app's own settings or preferences section. Some apps require you to enable subtitles there before they will appear during playback. You can also check the app's support page or help section if subtitles are not working as expected.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make subtitles appear automatically every time I watch something?
Yes. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Subtitles and Captions, and toggle on Closed Captions + SDH. This will make subtitles appear by default on most apps and content. You can still turn them off in the playback menu for any individual show or movie if you prefer not to see them.
Why do some apps like Netflix have different subtitle options than Apple TV?
Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming services manage their own subtitle systems. They control which languages are available, whether captions are offered, and how subtitles appear. Apple TV system settings may affect text size and font on these apps, but the apps themselves decide what subtitle options to show you.
Do subtitles work on live TV and sports?
Some live broadcasts include subtitles, but many do not. Live sports in particular rarely have subtitles available. Check the playback menu to see if subtitles are offered for the specific broadcast you are watching. If they are not in the menu, that broadcast does not have them.
What if I want subtitles in a different language than what is offered?
You can only choose from the languages that Apple TV or the app has provided for that title. If your preferred language is not in the subtitle list, it is not available for that content. Different titles offer different language options depending on where they were licensed and distributed.
Can I add my own subtitles to content that does not have them?
No. Apple TV does not support uploading or adding custom subtitle files. You can only use subtitles that are already built into the content by the distributor or streaming service.