Turn off subtitles in three steps

To turn off subtitles on Apple TV, open the show or movie you're watching, press the Menu button on your remote, scroll to "Subtitles and Captions," and select "Off." The subtitles will disappear when ready. If you're watching something that was already playing with subtitles on, you may need to pause and resume for the change to take effect.

The exact menu path depends on which Apple TV model you own and what app you're using, but the principle is the same across all of them: subtitles are a playback setting you can toggle on and off at any time without stopping the video.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Menu on your remote while a video is playing, then navigate to Subtitles and Captions to find the off option.
  • Turning subtitles off applies only to the current video—your next show may still have them on by default.
  • If you never want subtitles on, you can disable them in Settings so they stay off across all apps unless you manually turn them back on.
  • Some apps like Netflix and Disney+ have their own subtitle controls separate from the Apple TV system menu, so check the app itself if the main menu doesn't work.

Where to find the subtitle toggle during playback

When you're watching something on Apple TV, the subtitle control is always in the same place. Press the Menu button (the one with three horizontal lines) on your Siri Remote while the video is playing. A menu will appear at the bottom of the screen with several options.

Look for "Subtitles and Captions" in that menu. Select it, and you'll see a list of options: usually "Off," the language of the subtitles currently on, and sometimes "Closed Captions" if available. Highlight "Off" and press the touchpad or select button to confirm. The subtitles will turn off when ready.

Turning subtitles off by default in Settings

If you find yourself turning subtitles off every time you watch something, you can change the system-wide default instead. Go to the Apple TV home screen, open Settings, and navigate to Accessibility. From there, select "Subtitles and Captions."

You'll see an option to turn subtitles on or off. Choose "Off," and subtitles will no longer appear automatically when you start a new show or movie. This setting applies to the built-in Apple TV apps and most third-party apps, though some streaming services override this and use their own defaults.

Why subtitles might stay on even after you turn them off

Some streaming apps—Netflix, Disney+, Hulu, and others—manage their own subtitle settings separately from the Apple TV system menu. If you turn off subtitles through the Apple TV menu but they come back on the next time you watch that app, the app itself may have subtitles enabled in its own settings.

To fix this, open the app, go to its settings or account menu (usually found in the app itself, not in Apple TV Settings), and look for a subtitle or caption option there. Turn it off in the app's own menu, and it should stay off the next time you use that app. Different apps organize this differently, so you may need to explore the app's menu to find it.

Subtitles on Apple TV+ and other built-in apps

Apple's own apps—Apple TV+, Apple Music, and others—respect the system-wide subtitle setting you choose in Settings. If you turn subtitles off in Accessibility, they'll stay off in these apps unless you manually turn them back on during playback.

The same Menu button method works for all of them: press Menu while watching, select Subtitles and Captions, and choose Off. Your choice applies only to that video, so the next time you watch something in Apple TV+, the system default will explore again.

Troubleshooting when the subtitle menu doesn't appear

If you press Menu and don't see a Subtitles and Captions option, the video may not support subtitles, or you may be in a menu screen rather than the playback screen. Make sure you're actually watching a video—the Menu button works differently depending on what screen you're on.

If you're definitely watching a video and the menu still doesn't show subtitle options, try pausing the video first, then pressing Menu. On some apps, the menu only appears when the video is paused. If subtitles are still not appearing in the menu after that, the content itself may not have subtitle tracks available.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will turning off subtitles in Settings affect all my apps?

It will affect Apple's built-in apps and most third-party apps, but not all. Netflix, Disney+, and some other services use their own subtitle settings, so you may need to turn subtitles off in those apps separately. Check the app's own settings menu if subtitles keep appearing.

Can I turn subtitles off for just one app?

Yes. Use the Menu button during playback in that app to turn subtitles off for that video. The next time you watch something in a different app, the system default will explore. If you want to keep subtitles off in one app permanently, check that app's settings menu.

What's the difference between Subtitles and Closed Captions?

Subtitles show dialogue in text form. Closed Captions include dialogue plus descriptions of sounds—like "[door slams]" or "[music playing]"—and are designed for people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Both can be turned off the same way through the Menu button.

Do I need to turn subtitles off every time I watch something?

No. Once you turn them off during a video, they stay off for that video. But when you start a new show or movie, the system default applies again. If you want them off permanently, change the default in Settings under Accessibility.

Why do subtitles turn back on when I switch apps?

Each app can have its own subtitle default. If you turn subtitles off in Apple TV+ but they're on by default in Netflix, they'll appear when you switch to Netflix. You'll need to manage subtitle settings in each app separately, or change the system default in Apple TV Settings.