Turn off subtitles in three steps

To turn off subtitles on Apple TV, open the show or movie you are watching, press the Menu button on your remote, scroll to the Audio and Subtitles option, and select Off. The subtitles will disappear when ready. If you are using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac to control your Apple TV, the steps are the same — just tap the audio icon in the playback controls instead of pressing Menu.

Subtitles stay off only for the current show or movie. The next time you start something new, subtitles will return to whatever your default setting is. If you want subtitles off for everything you watch, you can change your default in the Apple TV settings instead of turning them off each time.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Menu during playback, go to Audio and Subtitles, and select Off to turn off subtitles for the current show or movie.
  • Subtitles turn back on automatically the next time you start a new show, so you may need to turn them off again.
  • To keep subtitles off by default for all content, change your settings in the Apple TV Settings app rather than turning them off each time.
  • On iPhone, iPad, or Mac, tap the audio icon in the playback controls to reach the same Audio and Subtitles menu.

How to change your default subtitle setting

If you want subtitles off for everything you watch, change the default in your Apple TV settings. Go to Settings, scroll to Accessibility, then select Subtitles and Captions. Choose Off, and subtitles will no longer appear unless you turn them back on for a specific show.

This setting applies to your entire Apple TV account, so it will affect what appears on any device you use to watch through that account. If someone else in your household uses the same Apple TV box with a different account, their subtitle settings remain separate.

Turning subtitles back on if you change your mind

If you turned subtitles off and want them back on for a particular show, use the same Menu button route. Press Menu, go to Audio and Subtitles, and select the language you want. English is usually the default, but you can choose any language the content offers.

If you changed your default setting to Off in the Accessibility menu and now want subtitles on for everything, go back to Settings, Accessibility, Subtitles and Captions, and select On. You can also choose a specific language there if you prefer subtitles in something other than English.

Why subtitles might turn back on automatically

Some Apple TV+ shows and movies have subtitles turned on by default when you first start watching them, even if you have turned them off before. This happens because the content provider or Apple TV+ itself may have set subtitles as the default for that particular title.

If a show has dialogue in a language other than your device's main language, Apple TV will often turn subtitles on automatically so you can understand what is being said. Turning them off manually will keep them off for the rest of that episode or movie, but they may reappear when you start the next episode.

Subtitle options beyond on and off

When you go to Audio and Subtitles, you have more choices than just Off. You can select a specific language if the content offers multiple subtitle tracks — for example, English, Spanish, or French. You can also choose Closed Captions (CC) if available, which includes descriptions of sounds and music in addition to dialogue.

Some shows and movies offer only one subtitle option, while others let you pick from several. If you do not see the language you want, that content straightforward does not have subtitles in that language available.

Using subtitles on other devices connected to your Apple TV

If you are watching through an iPhone, iPad, or Mac, the subtitle controls work the same way. During playback, look for the audio icon (usually shown as a speaker or audio symbol) in the playback controls. Tap it, and you will see the same Audio and Subtitles menu where you can turn subtitles off or choose a different language.

The subtitle setting you choose on your phone or tablet applies only to that device and that viewing session. It does not change what appears on your Apple TV box or on other devices unless you change the default setting in the Accessibility menu on each device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do subtitles turn off permanently once I turn them off?

No. Subtitles turn off only for the show or movie you are currently watching. When you start a new show or movie, subtitles will return to your default setting. If you want them off for everything, change your default in Settings under Accessibility.

Can I turn off subtitles for just one episode of a series?

Yes. Turn off subtitles using the Menu button and Audio and Subtitles option. They will stay off for the rest of that episode. When you start the next episode, subtitles will return to your default setting unless you turn them off again.

What if I cannot find the Audio and Subtitles option?

Make sure you are pressing Menu while the show or movie is actually playing, not from the title screen. If you are using an older Apple TV model, the menu layout may be slightly different, but the Audio and Subtitles option should still be there.

Will turning off subtitles on my Apple TV box affect subtitles on my iPhone?

No. Each device has its own subtitle settings. If you change the default in Accessibility on your Apple TV box, it affects only that box. Your iPhone, iPad, and Mac keep their own separate settings unless you change them individually.