How to Turn On Closed Captioning on Apple TV

Turn on closed captioning in Settings

Closed captioning on Apple TV is controlled through the Accessibility settings on your device. You do not need to turn it on for each show — once you enable it, captions will appear automatically on any content that offers them.

Start by pressing the Menu button on your Apple TV remote to go back to the home screen. Then navigate to Settings (the gear icon), scroll down, and select Accessibility. Look for Subtitles and Captions and open that menu.

Inside Subtitles and Captions, you will see the option Closed Captions + SDH (SDH stands for Deaf and Hard of Hearing). Select this option and toggle it on. The toggle will turn white or show a checkmark, depending on your Apple TV model.

Once you have enabled closed captions, exit Settings by pressing Menu again. The next time you play a show or movie that includes captions, they will display automatically at the bottom of the screen.

Key Takeaways

Closed captions are turned on through Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions > Closed Captions + SDH.
Once enabled, captions appear automatically on any content that offers them — you do not need to turn them on per show.
Not all content includes captions, so some shows or movies may not display text even after you enable the setting.
You can adjust the size and style of captions in the same Subtitles and Captions menu if the default text is too small or hard to read.

Customize caption size and appearance

Apple TV lets you change how captions look so they are easier to read. In the same Subtitles and Captions menu where you turned on Closed Captions + SDH, you will find additional options below the toggle.

Select Style to choose from preset caption designs. The options include different font sizes, background colors, and text colors — for example, white text on a black background, or yellow text on a transparent background. Scroll through the styles and select the one that works best for you.

If none of the presets suit your needs, look for Custom at the bottom of the Style list. This option lets you adjust the font size, text color, background color, and transparency independently. Make your changes and press Select to save.

Turn captions on or off during playback

Even after you enable closed captions in Settings, you can toggle them on and off while watching without going back to the menu. Press the Menu button on your remote while a show or movie is playing.

A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen with playback controls. Look for the Subtitles icon (it looks like a speech bubble or caption box) and select it. A list of available subtitle and caption tracks will appear — choose the captions you want, or select Off to hide them temporarily.

This method is useful if you want captions for one episode but not another, or if you are watching with someone who prefers to watch without them. Your default setting in Accessibility will remain unchanged.

What to do if captions are not appearing

If you have turned on Closed Captions + SDH but no text appears on the screen, the content you are watching may not include captions. Not all shows, movies, or streaming apps offer caption tracks. Check the app's description or information page to see whether captions are available for that specific title.

If captions should be available but are not showing, try restarting the app. Press Menu, then select the app icon and hold it until a menu appears. Choose Remove from Up Next or close the app completely, then reopen it and play the content again.

If the problem continues, restart your Apple TV itself. Go to Settings > System > Restart and wait for the device to power back on. This often fixes temporary glitches that prevent captions from loading.

Different caption options explained

Apple TV offers more than one type of text track, and understanding the difference helps you choose the right one for your needs. Closed Captions + SDH includes all dialogue, sound effects, and music cues written out — for example, "[doorbell rings]" or "[dramatic music plays]". This format is designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Subtitles, by contrast, show only dialogue and do not include descriptions of sounds. If a show has both options available, you will see them listed separately when you press Menu during playback. Choose Subtitles if you want dialogue only, or Closed Captions + SDH if you want the full audio description in text form.

Some content also offers subtitles in other languages. If you see language options in the Subtitles menu, you can select any language the broadcaster has provided — this is separate from your Apple TV's system language setting.

Captions on different Apple TV models

The steps to enable captions are the same on all Apple TV models (4K, HD, and older generations), but the remote design differs. If you have an older Apple TV with a silver remote, the Menu button is in the same location as on newer remotes — at the top left of the device.

On the newer Siri Remote (the thin black remote that came with Apple TV 4K models from 2021 onward), the Menu button is also at the top. The navigation and menu structure in Settings remains identical across all models, so the path Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions works the same way regardless of which Apple TV you own.

If you are unsure which model you have, go to Settings > About to see the device name and software version. This information does not affect how you turn on captions, but it can help if you need to troubleshoot other features.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will captions turn on automatically for all apps?

Captions will appear automatically in Apple's built-in apps like Apple TV+ and most third-party apps such as Netflix and Disney+, as long as the content includes caption tracks. However, some older apps or less common streaming services may not support the system-wide caption setting. In those cases, you may need to turn on captions within the app itself.

Can I make the captions bigger or smaller?

Yes. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captions > Style and choose one of the preset sizes, or select Custom to adjust the font size manually. You can make captions much larger if you have vision difficulties, or smaller if you prefer them less prominent on screen.

What if I only want captions for one show, not all shows?

You can turn captions off during playback by pressing Menu and selecting the Subtitles icon, then choosing Off. This does not change your default setting in Accessibility, so captions will still appear on other content. You will need to turn them off manually for each show or movie where you do not want them.

Do captions work on live TV through Apple TV?

If you are watching live TV through an app like Hulu Live or YouTube TV, captions depend on whether the broadcaster is sending them. Most major networks include live captions, but not all do. The system-wide caption setting will display them if they are available, but you cannot force captions on content that the broadcaster has not provided.

Can I change the caption language?

Yes, if the content offers multiple language options. Press Menu during playback, select Subtitles, and you will see a list of available languages. Choose the language you want. This is different from changing your Apple TV's system language — it only affects the captions for that specific show or movie.

This guide is for general information only and is not medical, financial, legal, or other professional advice. For decisions specific to your situation, consult a qualified professional. See our Editorial Policy.