Turn off closed captions in three steps
Closed captions on Apple TV turn off through the Settings menu on your device. Open Settings, select Accessibility, then Subtitles and Captioning, and toggle off the captions option. The exact wording and menu order depends on whether you are using an Apple TV box (4th generation or later) or the Apple TV app on another device like a Roku, Fire Stick, or smart TV.
If you want captions off for just one show or movie instead of turning them off system-wide, you can also control them from the playback screen while a video is running. A button on the remote or on-screen menu lets you switch captions on and off without changing your settings.
Key Takeaways
- On an Apple TV box, go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning and toggle captions off.
- On the Apple TV app on other devices, the path is Settings > Accessibility > Captions and Subtitles, then turn off the toggle.
- During playback, press the Menu button on your remote and select the captions icon to turn them off for that video only.
- Turning captions off in Settings applies to all content on that device unless you turn them back on later.
Steps for Apple TV box (4th generation and newer)
Start by pressing the Menu button on your Apple TV remote to go to the home screen. From there, navigate to Settings using the touch pad or directional buttons on the remote.
Once in Settings, scroll down and select Accessibility. Then find Subtitles and Captioning in the list. You will see a toggle switch next to "Subtitles and Captioning" — press the touch pad to select it and turn it off. The toggle will change from on (usually shown in white or green) to off (usually gray).
Exit Settings by pressing Menu again or waiting a few seconds. Captions will now be off for all content you watch on that Apple TV box.
Steps for Apple TV app on Roku, Fire Stick, and smart TVs
The process is slightly different if you are using the Apple TV app on a streaming device or smart TV instead of an Apple TV box. Open the Apple TV app and go to the main menu, then select Settings.
Navigate to Accessibility, then select Captions and Subtitles. You will see a toggle or on/off option — select it to turn captions off. Some devices show this as a straightforward on/off switch, while others may list it as "Captions" with an enabled or disabled status underneath.
Once you turn it off, exit the Settings menu. The change takes effect when ready for any new content you start watching.
Turning captions off during playback
If you only want to turn off captions for the show or movie you are currently watching, you do not need to go into Settings. While a video is playing, press the Menu button on your remote. A menu will appear with playback controls and options.
Look for a captions or subtitles icon — it usually looks like a speech bubble or the letters "CC" in a box. Select it to toggle captions off for that video. When you finish watching and start a different show, captions will return to whatever your default setting is.
What to do if you cannot find the captions toggle
On older Apple TV models (3rd generation and earlier), the captions menu is in a different location. Go to Settings, then General, then Accessibility, and look for Closed Captions. The toggle should be there.
If you are using the Apple TV app on a phone or tablet instead of a TV device, captions are controlled differently — they are usually managed through the playback controls during a video, not through the app settings. Tap the screen while a video is playing to bring up the controls, then look for a captions button.
If captions are still appearing after you turn them off, check whether the content itself has burned-in captions (captions that are part of the video image and cannot be removed). Burned-in captions will appear no matter what your settings are, because they are not a separate caption track.
Why captions might turn back on automatically
Some Apple TV content comes with captions turned on by default, especially news, sports, and live events. If you turn captions off in Settings but they reappear on certain shows, the content provider may have set captions to override your preference for accessibility reasons.
You can still turn them off during playback using the Menu button method described above. If a specific app (like Netflix or Disney+) is showing captions despite your Apple TV settings, that app may have its own caption settings that take priority. Check the app's own settings menu to turn captions off there as well.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will turning off captions in Settings affect other apps like Netflix?
No. Netflix, Disney+, and other streaming apps have their own caption settings that are separate from your Apple TV system settings. Turning off captions in Apple TV Settings only affects content played through the Apple TV app itself. You will need to adjust caption settings within each app individually if you want them off there too.
Can I turn off captions for just one user on a shared Apple TV?
Apple TV does not have per-user caption settings. Any changes you make in Settings explore to everyone who uses that Apple TV box. If different people in your household want different caption preferences, you will need to adjust the setting each time you switch users, or use the playback menu to turn captions off for individual videos.
What if captions are stuck on and I cannot turn them off?
Try restarting your Apple TV by going to Settings > System > Restart. If that does not work, go back to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning and make sure the toggle is fully off — sometimes it appears on but is not fully activated. If the problem continues, the content itself may have burned-in captions that cannot be removed through settings.
Do I need to turn off captions on each Apple TV device separately?
Yes. Each Apple TV box or device has its own settings. If you have multiple Apple TVs in your home, you will need to turn off captions on each one individually. Settings do not sync across devices.