Turn off subtitles using the remote control
The fastest way to turn off subtitles on Apple TV is to use your remote. While a show or movie is playing, press the Menu button (the one with three horizontal lines) on your Apple TV remote. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen with playback controls and options.
Look for the Subtitles & Captions option in that menu — it usually appears as an icon that looks like a speech bubble or closed caption symbol. Press it to open the subtitles menu, then select Off from the list of options. The subtitles will disappear when ready, and you can resume watching.
This method works on all Apple TV models and works the same way whether you're watching from the Apple TV app, a streaming service like Netflix or Disney+, or any other app that supports subtitles.
Key Takeaways
- Press the Menu button during playback, find Subtitles & Captions, and select Off to turn off subtitles when ready.
- You can also change subtitle settings in the Settings app under Accessibility, which will affect subtitles across most apps.
- Some apps like Netflix have their own subtitle controls within the app menu, separate from Apple TV's system settings.
- Turning off subtitles in Settings does not turn them off everywhere — individual apps may override the system setting.
- If subtitles reappear after you turn them off, check whether the app itself has subtitles turned on in its own menu.
Turn off subtitles in Apple TV Settings
If you want to turn off subtitles system-wide across most apps, you can change the setting in Apple TV's main Settings menu. Go to Settings on your Apple TV home screen, then navigate to Accessibility.
Inside Accessibility, look for Subtitles & Captions and open it. You will see options including Off, On, and Auto. Select Off to disable subtitles by default. This setting will carry over to most apps, though some streaming services may still show subtitles if they have their own subtitle controls enabled.
This approach is useful if you find subtitles turning on repeatedly and want a permanent default. However, remember that individual apps can override this system setting, so you may still need to turn off subtitles within the app itself if they continue to appear.
Turn off subtitles within streaming apps
Many streaming services like Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Amazon Prime Video have their own subtitle controls built into the app, separate from Apple TV's system settings. If subtitles keep appearing even after you turn them off using the remote menu, the app itself may have subtitles turned on.
While a show or movie is playing in the app, look for a settings icon (usually three dots or a gear symbol) in the playback controls. Open that menu and look for an option called Subtitles, Captions, or Audio & Subtitles. Select it and choose Off or None. The exact wording and location varies by app, but the principle is the same across all of them.
If you cannot find the subtitle control in the app's playback menu, try pausing the video and looking for a settings option in the pause screen itself. Some apps hide subtitle controls there instead.
Why subtitles keep turning back on
Subtitles sometimes reappear after you turn them off because of how Apple TV and individual apps handle subtitle settings. If you turned off subtitles using the remote menu but they came back on the next time you played something, the app may have its own subtitle setting that overrides the system default.
Another common reason is that your Apple TV account has a default subtitle preference set. If you share your Apple TV with other people, someone else may have turned subtitles on in their profile settings. Check Settings > Users and Accounts and make sure you are using the correct profile, then adjust the subtitle settings for that profile.
If subtitles are on in one app but not others, that app almost certainly has its own subtitle control. Netflix, for example, remembers your subtitle preference separately from Apple TV's system setting, so you need to turn off subtitles within Netflix itself to keep them off the next time you watch.
Subtitles on Apple TV+ shows and movies
Apple TV+ (Apple's own streaming service) respects the system-wide subtitle setting in Apple TV's Accessibility menu. If you turn off subtitles in Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles & Captions, most Apple TV+ content will play without subtitles by default.
However, you can still turn subtitles on or off for individual shows using the remote menu during playback. Press Menu, select Subtitles & Captions, and choose your preference. This will override the system setting for that one viewing session but will not change your default setting for future shows.
Subtitles on rented or purchased content
If you rent or buy movies through the Apple TV app, the subtitle behavior is the same as with streaming services. Use the remote menu during playback to turn subtitles off for that viewing, or change the system-wide setting in Accessibility if you want subtitles off by default across all content.
One difference with purchased content is that your subtitle preference may be saved to your Apple account. If you watch the same movie on multiple Apple devices (iPhone, iPad, Mac), the subtitle setting you chose on one device may carry over to another. You can always override it by using the remote menu during playback.
Troubleshooting when subtitles won't turn off
If you have tried turning off subtitles using the remote menu, the Settings app, and the app's own controls but subtitles still appear, 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. This clears temporary settings that may be stuck.
If the problem persists after a restart, check whether you are using the correct remote. Some third-party remotes do not support the full menu system, and pressing what you think is the Menu button may not open the subtitle controls. Try using the official Apple TV remote if you have one available.
As a last resort, you can reset your Apple TV's settings entirely. Go to Settings > System > Reset and choose Reset All Settings. This will erase all your preferences and sign you out of apps, so only do this if other troubleshooting has not worked. After the reset, you will need to sign back into your accounts and adjust your settings again from scratch.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off subtitles for just one app?
Yes. Open the app's settings or menu during playback and look for a Subtitles or Captions option. Turn it off there, and that app will remember your choice the next time you use it. Other apps will not be affected by this change.
Will turning off subtitles in Settings turn them off everywhere?
Mostly, but not always. Turning off subtitles in Apple TV's Accessibility settings will disable them by default in most apps, but individual streaming services like Netflix can override this with their own subtitle setting. You may need to turn off subtitles in both places.
What if I only want to turn off subtitles for one show?
Use the remote menu during playback. Press Menu, select Subtitles & Captions, and choose Off. This change applies only to that viewing session and will not affect other shows or change your default setting.
Do I need to restart Apple TV after turning off subtitles?
No, subtitles turn off when ready when you select Off from the menu. A restart is only necessary if subtitles are stuck on and will not respond to the menu controls.
Why do subtitles turn back on when I watch a different show?
The app may have its own subtitle setting that overrides Apple TV's system setting. Check the app's menu during playback and turn off subtitles there as well. You may also need to adjust the subtitle setting in your Apple account profile if you share the Apple TV with others.