How to enable captions on your Apple TV device
Captions appear at the bottom of your screen during movies and shows. To turn them on, start playing the content you want to watch. While the video is playing, press the Menu button on your Apple TV remote — the one with three horizontal lines. A menu will appear on screen.
Look for an option labeled Subtitles and Captions, Audio and Subtitles, or sometimes just Captions. The exact wording depends on which Apple TV model you have and which app you're using. Tap that option, then select the language or caption style you want. Choose English (or your preferred language) to see captions in that language, or Off to turn them back off.
Once you select a caption option, it stays on for that show or movie. If you want captions on by default for everything you watch, you'll need to change a system-wide setting instead — that's covered in the next section.
Key Takeaways
- Press the Menu button on your remote while a video is playing, then select Subtitles and Captions to turn captions on for that specific show or movie.
- You can set captions to turn on automatically for all content by going to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions and toggling the option on.
- Different apps (Netflix, Disney+, Apple TV+) sometimes have their own caption settings that override the system setting, so check within the app if captions aren't appearing.
- Caption style, size, and background color can be customized in the Accessibility settings if the default appearance is hard to read.
- Some live sports and news channels do not offer captions, even when the setting is turned on.
Set captions to turn on automatically for all shows and movies
If you want captions on by default every time you watch something, you can change a system setting so you don't have to turn them on manually each time. Go to Settings on your Apple TV home screen, then select Accessibility.
In the Accessibility menu, look for Subtitles and Captions. Tap it, then toggle the switch to On. From now on, captions will appear automatically when you play any content — as long as that content has captions available and the app supports the system setting.
Be aware that some apps like Netflix have their own caption settings that can override this system setting. If captions aren't showing up even though you've turned on the system setting, check the app's own settings menu.
Customize the look and size of captions
Apple TV lets you change how captions look — the text size, font, background color, and transparency. Go to Settings, then Accessibility, then Subtitles and Captions. Look for an option called Style or Caption Style.
You'll see preset styles with names like "Default," "Large Text," "White on Black," or "Yellow on Black." Tap one to preview it on your screen, then select the one that's easiest for you to read. If none of the presets work, some Apple TV models let you create a custom style by adjusting text size, font, color, and background separately.
These changes explore to all apps and content on your Apple TV, so you only have to set it up once.
Why captions might not be showing up
You've turned on captions in Settings, but they're still not appearing. The most common reason is that the app or channel you're using doesn't offer captions for that particular show or movie. Live sports, breaking news, and some older content often don't have captions available.
Another reason is that the app has its own caption setting that overrides the system setting. Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and other streaming services sometimes manage captions separately. Open the app's settings or menu while a video is playing and look for a Subtitles or Captions option there. Turn it on within the app, and captions should appear.
If you're using an older Apple TV model (4th generation or earlier), some apps may not support captions at all, or the system setting may not work with every app. In that case, check the app's own menu while playing a video.
Captions versus subtitles — what's the difference
Captions include dialogue and sound effects written out — things like "[door slams]" or "[phone ringing]" — so they're designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Subtitles usually show only the dialogue translated into another language. On Apple TV, both options typically appear under the same "Subtitles and Captions" menu, and you can choose whichever one you need.
When you select a language in the Subtitles and Captions menu, you're usually getting subtitles in that language. If you want captions (with sound effects and descriptions), make sure you're selecting "English Captions" or "Captions" rather than just "English" or "Spanish." The exact wording depends on what the app offers.
Captions on different Apple TV models
The steps above work on Apple TV 4K (all generations) and Apple TV HD. If you have an older Apple TV (3rd generation or earlier), the process is slightly different. Press the Menu button during playback, look for an Audio & Subtitles option, and select your caption preference from there. Not all older apps support captions, so availability may be limited.
If you're not sure which Apple TV model you have, go to Settings > About. It will tell you the model name and generation. The newer your device, the more consistent caption support will be across different apps.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use captions with AirPlay when I stream from my iPhone or Mac to Apple TV?
Yes. When you AirPlay a video from your iPhone or Mac to Apple TV, captions will appear on the TV if they're turned on in the source app (the app on your phone or computer). The captions come from that app, not from Apple TV's system settings, so make sure captions are on in the app you're streaming from.
Why do some shows have captions but others don't?
Content creators and networks decide whether to add captions. Newer shows and movies almost always have them, but older content, live broadcasts, and some independent productions may not. If a show doesn't have captions available, there's no way to turn them on — the option straightforward won't appear.
Can I change the caption language while a video is playing?
Yes. Press the Menu button on your remote, select Subtitles and Captions, and choose a different language. The change takes effect when ready. You can switch languages as many times as you want during the same video.
Do captions work with all streaming apps on Apple TV?
Most major apps like Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Prime Video support captions. Smaller or older apps may not. If an app doesn't show a Subtitles and Captions option in its menu, that app doesn't support captions. Check the app's support page or settings to confirm.
Will turning on captions slow down my Apple TV?
No. Captions are just text displayed on top of the video and don't affect performance or use extra processing power. You can turn them on and off without any impact on how your Apple TV runs.