Turning on closed captions in the Apple TV app or on an Apple TV device
Closed captions on Apple TV work differently depending on whether you are using the Apple TV app on another device (like an iPhone, Mac, or Roku) or watching on an actual Apple TV box. On the Apple TV app, you turn on captions through the playback menu while a show or movie is playing. On an Apple TV device itself, you can turn captions on either during playback or in the system settings so they stay on for everything you watch.
The fastest way is to turn them on during playback: press the menu button or swipe down on your remote, look for the audio and subtitles icon (it looks like a speech bubble), and select your caption style. If you want captions on by default for all content, you can set that in the Apple TV settings instead, so you do not have to turn them on each time.
Key Takeaways
- On Apple TV devices, open the playback menu during a show or movie and tap the audio and subtitles icon to turn on captions when ready.
- You can set captions to turn on automatically for all content by going to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions on your Apple TV device.
- On the Apple TV app for iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other devices, swipe up during playback and tap the audio and subtitles button.
- Most shows and movies on Apple TV+ and other services offer multiple caption options, including English, Spanish, and other languages.
- If captions are not showing even after you turn them on, restart the app or device and check that the content itself supports captions.
Turning on captions during playback on Apple TV devices
When you are watching something on an Apple TV box (the physical device connected to your TV), the quickest way to get captions is to use your remote while the show or movie is playing. Press the menu button on your Siri Remote or Apple Remote. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen with several options.
Look for the icon that looks like a speech bubble or quotation marks — this is the audio and subtitles button. Tap it, and you will see a list of caption options. Select the language or caption style you want (usually "English" or "English [CC]" for closed captions). The captions will turn on when ready and stay on for that video. If you switch to a different show, you will need to turn captions back on unless you have set them to turn on automatically.
Setting captions to turn on automatically for everything
If you want captions on all the time without having to turn them on for each show, you can set them in the Apple TV system settings. This way, captions will appear by default on any content that offers them. Go to Settings on your Apple TV home screen, then select Accessibility.
In Accessibility, find Subtitles and Captions and turn it on. You can also choose a caption style here — Apple TV offers several options for text size, background color, and font. Once you turn this on, captions will appear automatically on any show or movie that has them available. You can still turn captions off for individual videos by using the playback menu if you need to.
Turning on captions in the Apple TV app on other devices
If you are using the Apple TV app on an iPhone, iPad, Mac, or another device like a Roku or Amazon Fire TV, the process is slightly different. Start playing a show or movie, then swipe up from the bottom of the screen (on iPhone or iPad) or look for the playback controls menu on your device.
You should see an icon that looks like a speech bubble or audio symbol. Tap or click it to open the audio and subtitles menu. Select your caption language from the list. On a Mac, you may need to move your mouse to the video to see the playback controls appear. The captions will turn on right away and will stay on for that video.
What to do if captions are not showing up
Sometimes you turn on captions but they do not appear on the screen. The most common reason is that the show or movie you are watching does not have captions available. Not all content on Apple TV or other streaming services offers captions, especially older movies or independent films. Check the show's details page to see if captions are listed as available.
If captions should be available but are not showing, try closing the app completely and opening it again. On Apple TV devices, you can also try restarting the device by going to Settings > System > Restart. If you are on the Apple TV app on another device, force-close the app and reopen it. If captions still do not appear after that, the content itself may not have captions, or there may be a temporary issue with the streaming service.
Caption options and languages on Apple TV
When you open the audio and subtitles menu, you will usually see several caption choices. Most shows and movies offer English captions, often labeled as "English" or "English [CC]" for closed captions. Many also offer captions in Spanish, French, German, and other languages. Some content has both regular subtitles (which translate dialogue) and closed captions (which also describe sounds like "[door slams]" or "[music playing]").
If you are watching a show in a language other than English, you can choose captions in that language or in English, depending on what is available. The audio and subtitles menu will show you every option for that specific video. You can switch between caption languages or turn captions off entirely from the same menu without stopping the video.
Adjusting caption appearance on Apple TV devices
Apple TV lets you customize how captions look so they are easier to read. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions, and you will find options for text size, font, background color, and text color. You can make the text larger if you sit far from the TV, or change the background to make captions stand out more against the video.
These settings explore to all captions on your Apple TV device, so you only have to adjust them once. If you use the Apple TV app on other devices like an iPhone or Mac, caption appearance options may be more limited, but you can usually adjust text size in the app settings or in your device's accessibility settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are captions not available for a show I want to watch?
Not all content has captions. Older movies, independent films, and some live events may not have them. Check the show or movie details page on Apple TV to see if captions are listed. If they are not shown as available, captions do not exist for that content.
Can I use captions on Apple TV+ and other services through the Apple TV app?
Yes. The Apple TV app works the same way for Apple TV+, iTunes purchases, and other services available through the app. Open the playback menu and select captions the same way you would for any other video.
Do I have to turn on captions every time I watch something?
No. If you set captions to turn on automatically in Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions, they will appear by default on all content that has them. You can still turn them off for individual videos using the playback menu.
Can I change the size or color of captions on my Apple TV?
Yes, on Apple TV devices. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions and choose your preferred text size, font, background color, and text color. These changes explore to all captions on your device.
What is the difference between subtitles and closed captions?
Subtitles translate dialogue from one language to another. Closed captions (CC) show dialogue in the same language plus descriptions of sounds, like "[door slams]" or "[phone ringing]". Apple TV usually offers both options when available.