Turn on closed captions in Settings
To turn on closed captions on Apple TV, go to Settings on your home screen, then select Accessibility, then Subtitles and Captions. Toggle Closed Captions + SDH to the on position. This setting applies to all apps and content on your device.
Once you enable closed captions in Accessibility settings, they will appear automatically on any show or movie that has caption data available. You do not need to turn them on again for each app — the setting stays active until you turn it off.
Key Takeaways
- Closed captions are turned on through Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions, then toggling Closed Captions + SDH on.
- The setting applies to all apps and content on your Apple TV once enabled, so you do not repeat the step for each show.
- Some apps like Apple TV+ and Netflix have their own caption controls that override the system setting for that app only.
- If captions do not appear on a show you are watching, the content may not have caption data available, or the app's own caption setting may be turned off.
- You can adjust caption style — font size, color, and background — in the same Accessibility menu under Subtitles and Captions.
Adjust caption style and appearance
After you turn on closed captions, you can customize how they look. In Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions, select Style to change the font size, text color, background color, and transparency. Apple TV offers several preset styles, or you can create a custom style by adjusting each element separately.
If the default white text on a black background is hard to read on your TV, try a different preset first — they are designed for different lighting conditions and vision needs. If none of the presets work for you, the custom option lets you control every detail. These changes explore across all apps once you save them.
Turn captions on or off for a single app
Some apps, including Apple TV+, Netflix, and Disney+, have their own caption controls built into the app itself. When you are watching a show in one of these apps, you can usually access captions by pressing the Menu button on your remote, then looking for a Subtitles or Captions option. This app-level control overrides your system setting for that app only.
If you have captions turned on in Settings but they do not appear in a specific app, check that app's own subtitle menu. Some apps require you to turn captions on both in the system settings and within the app itself. Other apps let you turn captions off temporarily within the app even if they are on in Settings.
Troubleshoot when captions do not appear
If you have turned on closed captions in Settings but they are not showing up, first check whether the content you are watching actually has captions available. Not all shows, movies, or live broadcasts include caption data. Try switching to a different show or movie that you know has captions to see if they appear.
Next, verify that the app you are using has captions enabled in its own menu. Press Menu on your remote while watching and look for a Subtitles or Captions option. If the app has its own caption setting, make sure it is not set to Off. If captions still do not appear after checking both the system setting and the app setting, the content may genuinely not have captions available.
Use captions with live TV and sports
Live broadcasts, sports events, and news channels often include closed captions, but the captions appear only if the broadcaster is sending them in real time. Your system setting for closed captions applies to live content the same way it applies to on-demand shows — once you turn on Closed Captions + SDH in Accessibility, captions will appear automatically on any live program that includes them.
Some live channels and sports apps have their own caption controls. If you are watching through an app like ESPN or your cable provider's app, check that app's menu for a separate captions option. Live captions may lag a few seconds behind the audio because they are being typed or generated in real time.
Understand the difference between caption types
Apple TV offers Closed Captions + SDH (Synchronized Descriptive Hearing), which includes dialogue, sound effects, and music cues written in brackets — for example, "[door slams]" or "[dramatic music]". This is the most complete caption option. Some older content may only have standard closed captions without the descriptive elements.
You may also see Subtitles as a separate option in some apps. Subtitles typically show only dialogue and miss sound effects and music cues. If you want the most information about what is happening on screen, keep Closed Captions + SDH turned on. If you prefer a cleaner look with only dialogue, you can switch to Subtitles in the app's own menu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to turn on captions every time I watch something?
No. Once you turn on Closed Captions + SDH in Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions, the setting stays on until you turn it off. Captions will appear automatically on any content that has them available.
Why are captions not showing up on a specific app?
The app may have its own caption control that is set to Off, overriding your system setting. Press Menu while watching and look for a Subtitles or Captions option within the app. Also check whether the specific show or movie you are watching actually has captions available — not all content includes them.
Can I make the captions bigger or change their color?
Yes. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions > Style. You can choose a preset style or create a custom one by adjusting font size, text color, background color, and transparency. These changes explore across all apps.
What is the difference between Closed Captions and Subtitles?
Closed Captions + SDH includes dialogue plus descriptions of sounds and music in brackets, like "[phone ringing]". Subtitles usually show only dialogue. Closed captions give you more information about what is happening on screen.
Do captions work on live TV?
Yes, if the broadcaster is sending captions. Your system setting applies to live content the same way it applies to recorded shows. Some live channels and sports apps have their own caption controls — check the app's menu if captions are not appearing.