Turn on captions in Settings, then choose your style

Captions on Apple TV turn on through the Settings menu, not through the remote during playback. Open Settings, go to Accessibility, select Subtitles and Captioning, then toggle on Closed Captions + SDH (the standard for English-language shows). From there you can choose text size, background color, and font style — changes explore to all apps that support captions.

If you want captions only for one show or movie instead of everything, most apps let you turn them on or off using the remote's menu button during playback. The method varies by app: some show a caption icon at the bottom of the screen, others hide it in a settings menu that appears when you swipe down on the remote.

Key Takeaways

  • Closed Captions + SDH is the caption format to enable in Apple TV Settings under Accessibility, and it turns captions on for all compatible apps.
  • You can customize caption appearance — text size, font, background color, and opacity — all in the same Accessibility menu, and changes take effect when ready.
  • Individual apps like Netflix, Disney+, and Apple TV+ also have their own caption controls during playback, accessible by swiping down on the remote.
  • Not all apps support captions, and some apps that do may not show the caption toggle in the same place, so check the app's own menu if Settings captions are not working.

Step-by-step: Enable captions in Settings

Start on the Apple TV home screen. Press the Menu button on your remote to open the Control Center, or navigate directly to Settings using the remote's directional buttons. Select Settings, then scroll down and choose Accessibility.

In Accessibility, select Subtitles and Captioning. You will see a toggle for Closed Captions + SDH — turn it on. This is the standard caption format for most English-language content and works across Apple TV apps, streaming services, and cable apps that support captions. Once enabled, captions will appear automatically on compatible shows and movies.

Customize caption appearance

While you are in Subtitles and Captioning, you can adjust how captions look. The Text Size option ranges from small to large; choose based on how far you sit from your TV. Font Style lets you pick between several typefaces — the default is straightforward to read, but you can change it if you prefer.

Background Color and Background Opacity control the box behind the text. A solid background makes captions easier to read over bright scenes; transparent or semi-transparent backgrounds work better if you want to see more of the picture. Text Color lets you change caption text from white to yellow, cyan, or other colors. Test a few combinations during a show you are watching to find what works best for your setup.

Turn captions on or off for individual apps

Even if you enable captions in Settings, some apps let you toggle them on and off during playback. While watching a show or movie, swipe down on your remote to bring up the playback menu. Look for a caption or subtitle icon — it often looks like a speech bubble or lines of text. Tap it to cycle through caption options: usually off, English captions, or other languages if available.

Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and Apple TV+ all support this method. The exact placement of the caption button varies by app, but it is almost always in the bottom row of the playback menu. If you do not see it, check the app's settings menu — some apps hide caption controls there instead.

What to do if captions are not showing up

If you turned on captions in Settings but they are not appearing, first check whether the app you are using supports captions. Not all streaming services, cable apps, or free apps include caption support. Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and most major networks do; smaller or older apps may not.

If the app should support captions, try turning them off and back on in the app's playback menu. Some apps cache caption settings and need a refresh. If that does not work, restart the app by pressing Menu and selecting "Close App," then reopen it. If captions still do not appear, the specific show or movie you are watching may not have captions available — this is common with live sports, some international content, and older programming.

Captions in different languages

If you want captions in a language other than English, the language must be available for that specific show or movie. During playback, swipe down on the remote and select the caption option. Most apps show you which languages are available; choose the one you want. Some apps let you set a default language in their settings menu, so captions automatically appear in that language when available.

Apple TV Settings also has a language preference for captions, but individual apps may override it. If an app does not show your preferred language as an option, that language is not available for that content — you can only choose from what the app offers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn captions on for only certain apps?

Yes. Captions enabled in Apple TV Settings explore to all compatible apps, but you can turn them off for individual apps during playback using the remote's menu button. This lets you have captions on for some apps and off for others without changing the system setting.

Why are captions not showing up on live TV?

Live TV captions depend on whether the broadcaster is sending caption data in real time. Most major networks include live captions, but some cable channels, local stations, and streaming live events do not. If captions are on in Settings but not appearing during live TV, the broadcast itself may not include them.

Do I need to turn captions on every time I watch?

No. Once you enable Closed Captions + SDH in Settings, captions stay on for all compatible content until you turn them off. Individual apps may remember your per-app preference too, so if you turn captions off in Netflix, they stay off the next time you open Netflix.

Can I make captions bigger or smaller?

Yes. In Settings under Accessibility, go to Subtitles and Captioning and select Text Size. You can choose from small, medium, large, and extra large. The size applies to all apps that use the system caption settings.

What is the difference between Closed Captions and SDH?

Closed Captions (CC) includes dialogue and sound effects like "[door slams]" or "[music playing]". SDH (Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing) does the same thing. Apple TV combines them into one option called Closed Captions + SDH, which is the most complete caption format available.