Turn on closed captioning in Settings

Closed captioning on Apple TV is controlled through the Accessibility settings on your device. Open Settings from the home screen, then select Accessibility. From there, choose Subtitles and Captions, and toggle Closed Captions + SDH to on. This setting applies to all apps and content on your Apple TV.

Once you turn on closed captioning in Settings, captions will appear automatically on any show or movie that includes them. The captions will display in the default style and size until you customize them — which you can do in the same Subtitles and Captions menu.

If you are using an older Apple TV model (4th generation or earlier), the path is slightly different: go to Settings > General > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions, then toggle the setting on.

Key Takeaways

  • Closed captioning is turned on through Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions on Apple TV 4K and 5th-generation models.
  • Once enabled, captions appear automatically on any content that includes them, without needing to adjust settings per show or app.
  • You can customize the appearance of captions — including text size, font, and background color — in the same Subtitles and Captions menu.
  • Not all streaming apps and content include captions, so availability depends on what you are watching and which app you are using.

Customize caption appearance

After you turn on closed captioning, you can change how the captions look. In Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions, select Style to adjust the font, text size, 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 makes captions hard to read against your content, try a different preset style first. Many viewers find the "Large Text" or "High Contrast" options easier to follow during fast-paced scenes.

Turn captions on or off for individual shows

If you have closed captioning turned on globally but want to disable it for a specific show or movie, you can do so without changing your Settings. While content is playing, press the Menu button on your Apple TV remote. Select Subtitles and Captions from the menu that appears, then choose Off or select a different caption language if available.

This temporary change applies only to that playback session. The next time you watch something, your global Settings will explore again. This approach is useful if you are watching content with burned-in captions (captions that are part of the video itself) and do not want the additional overlay of closed captions.

Check if your content includes captions

Not every show, movie, or streaming service includes closed captions. Before you assume your Apple TV is not working, check whether the content itself has captions available. In the app or on the show's detail page, look for a CC icon or label that indicates captions are included.

Major streaming services like Apple TV+, Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video include captions on most of their content. Smaller services, live broadcasts, and older titles may not have captions. If a show does not have captions, turning on closed captioning in Settings will not produce any text — there is straightforward nothing to display.

Troubleshoot if captions are not appearing

If you have turned on closed captioning but captions are not showing up, first confirm that the content you are watching actually includes them. Check the show's detail page or description for a CC label. If captions should be there, try restarting the app by pressing Menu and then Menu again to close it, then reopen it.

If captions still do not appear, restart your Apple TV entirely. Hold the Menu and Home buttons together for about six seconds until the light on the device flashes, then wait for it to restart. After it boots back up, open the same content and check again. If the problem persists, the issue may be with that specific app or title rather than your Apple TV settings.

Use captions with AirPlay content

When you use AirPlay to stream content from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac to your Apple TV, closed captions may not appear automatically even if they are turned on in your Apple TV settings. This depends on the app you are using and whether it supports caption streaming over AirPlay.

For the most reliable caption support, play content directly on Apple TV through the app itself rather than through AirPlay. If you must use AirPlay, check whether the source app (on your iPhone or Mac) has its own caption settings that you can enable before streaming.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why are captions not showing up even though I turned them on?

The content you are watching may not include captions. Check the show or movie's detail page for a CC label. If captions should be there, restart the app or your Apple TV. Some older titles and live broadcasts do not have captions available, no matter what your settings are.

Can I make the captions bigger?

Yes. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions > Style, then select a preset style like "Large Text" or adjust the text size manually in a custom style. You can also change the background color and transparency to make captions easier to read.

Do I have to turn on captions for every app separately?

No. Once you turn on closed captioning in Apple TV Settings, it applies to all apps and content on your device. You can turn captions off for a single show by pressing Menu during playback and selecting a different caption option, but your global setting remains on.

Will captions work if I use AirPlay from my iPhone?

Captions may not appear when you AirPlay from your iPhone to Apple TV, depending on the app. For the best caption support, play content directly on Apple TV through the app itself. If you need captions while using AirPlay, check whether the source app has its own caption settings.