Turn on subtitles in the Apple TV app or on your device

To turn on subtitles while watching, press the Menu button on your remote during playback. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen. Look for an icon that looks like a speech bubble or the word "Subtitles" — the exact label depends on whether you're using an Apple TV box, iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Select it, then choose your language or subtitle track from the list.

If no subtitles appear after you select them, the show or movie may not have subtitles available in that language. Some content has only English subtitles, while other titles offer multiple languages. You can also turn subtitles off the same way — go back to the menu and select "Off" or "None".

The process is the same whether you're watching through the Apple TV app on a smart TV, streaming device, phone, or computer. The remote button you press may vary slightly depending on your device, but the menu structure remains consistent across all platforms.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Menu on your remote during playback to open the subtitle menu at the bottom of the screen.
  • Select the subtitle option and choose your preferred language from the available tracks.
  • Not all content has subtitles in every language — availability depends on what the studio provided.
  • You can turn subtitles on or off at any time during playback without stopping the video.
  • The same steps work on Apple TV boxes, iPhones, iPads, Macs, and smart TVs running the Apple TV app.

Where to find the subtitle button on different devices

On an Apple TV box (4th generation or later), hold down the Menu button on the Siri Remote until the control menu appears. On the Siri Remote with touch surface (newer models), press Menu once and look for the subtitle icon in the bottom menu bar.

On iPhone or iPad, tap the screen during playback to reveal the controls, then look for the speech bubble icon in the top right corner. On a Mac, move your mouse over the video to show the playback controls, then click the same speech bubble icon.

On a smart TV (Samsung, LG, Roku, Fire TV, or others running the Apple TV app), use your TV remote to navigate to the menu during playback. The exact button varies by remote type, but it's usually labeled "Menu" or "Options". Once the menu appears, the subtitle option will be visible in the same location as on other devices.

Subtitle options and what they mean

When you open the subtitle menu, you'll see a list of available subtitle tracks. The first option is usually "Off" or "None", which turns subtitles off. Below that are the languages available for that specific title — for example, "English", "Spanish", "French", or "English (Forced)".

Forced subtitles are a special track that shows only when characters speak a language different from the main audio. For instance, if you're watching a movie in English but a character briefly speaks French, forced subtitles will display only that French dialogue. Regular English subtitles would show all dialogue. Choose forced subtitles if you want to catch foreign language moments without reading every line.

If a language you want isn't listed, that subtitle track wasn't included with the content. This is a studio decision and cannot be changed through the Apple TV app settings.

Why subtitles might not appear even after you turn them on

The most common reason subtitles don't show is that the content doesn't include that language. Check the subtitle menu again — if your preferred language isn't listed, it's not available for that title. You can only choose from what the studio provided.

A second reason is that subtitles may be turned on but positioned outside the visible area of your TV screen. This happens rarely but can occur if your TV's display settings are misconfigured. If you see the subtitle menu confirm subtitles are on but no text appears, try adjusting your TV's picture settings or checking that the content is playing in full screen.

If subtitles worked before but suddenly stopped, restart the Apple TV app or your device. Close the app completely, wait a few seconds, and open it again. This clears temporary glitches that sometimes prevent subtitles from rendering.

Changing subtitle appearance and size

The Apple TV app does not offer built-in controls to change subtitle text size, font, or color directly within the app itself. However, your device may have system-level accessibility settings that affect how subtitles look.

On Apple TV boxes and iPhones, go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning to adjust text size, font style, and background color. On Mac, open System Settings > Accessibility > Captions to make the same changes. These system settings explore to subtitles across all apps, not just Apple TV.

On smart TVs and other devices, check your TV's own accessibility or display settings. Most modern TVs have a menu option for subtitle appearance, though the exact location varies by manufacturer.

Subtitles versus closed captions on Apple TV

Subtitles show only dialogue — what characters are saying. Closed captions (often labeled "CC") include dialogue plus sound descriptions like "[door slams]" or "[music playing]". Closed captions are designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing and need to know what's happening in the audio.

Not all content has closed captions available. If you see "English (CC)" in the subtitle menu, that's the closed caption track. If you only see "English" without the CC label, that track contains subtitles only. Choose whichever matches what you need — both are turned on and off the same way.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set subtitles to stay on automatically for all shows and movies?

The Apple TV app does not have a global "always on" setting for subtitles. You must turn them on each time you start watching something new. However, if you pause and resume the same episode or movie, subtitles will remain on if you had them enabled. Some third-party smart TVs may offer app-level defaults — check your TV manufacturer's settings.

Why does one show have subtitles but another doesn't?

Each title is provided to Apple by its studio with whatever subtitle tracks the studio chose to include. Some studios provide many languages; others provide only English. This is not a technical limitation of Apple TV — it's a content decision made by the rights holder. You cannot add subtitles that weren't included by the studio.

Do subtitles work on all Apple TV devices?

Yes. Subtitles work on Apple TV boxes, iPhones, iPads, Macs, and the Apple TV app on smart TVs and streaming devices. The steps are slightly different depending on your device type, but the feature is available everywhere the app runs.

What if my remote doesn't have a Menu button?

Older Apple TV remotes or third-party remotes may not have a dedicated Menu button. Try pressing the button labeled "Options", "Settings", or the equivalent on your remote. If your remote has a touchpad, try clicking or swiping on it. On phones and tablets, tap the screen during playback to reveal the controls instead.

Can I change subtitle language mid-episode without restarting?

Yes. Press Menu at any point during playback, select Subtitles, and choose a different language. The change takes effect when ready without pausing or restarting the video.