Closed captions turn off in your Firestick settings or within individual apps
Closed captions on Firestick can be disabled in two places: globally through your device settings (so captions stay off across all apps), or within a single app each time you watch. The fastest route depends on whether you want captions off permanently or just for one show. Most people find the app-level toggle easier because it takes three button presses and doesn't require navigating menus.
If you've turned captions on by accident or find them distracting, you can turn them back off right now without restarting anything. The setting sticks with your device, so you won't have to repeat it every time you open an app.
Key Takeaways
- Press the menu button (three horizontal lines) on your Firestick remote while watching a show, then select Subtitles and toggle captions off.
- To turn captions off for all apps at once, go to Settings > Accessibility > Captions on your Firestick home screen.
- Different streaming apps (Netflix, Prime Video, Hulu) may have their own caption settings that override your device setting.
- If captions won't turn off in one app, check that app's own settings menu rather than the Firestick system settings.
Turning off captions while you're watching
The quickest way to disable captions is to turn them off mid-show. Pick up your Firestick remote and press the menu button—it's the three horizontal lines in the upper left. A menu will appear on your screen with options like Subtitles, Audio, and more.
Select Subtitles (or Closed Captions, depending on the app). You'll see a list of caption options, usually including "Off" at the top. Highlight Off and press the select button in the center of your remote. Captions will disappear when ready, and you can keep watching.
This method works in most streaming apps, including Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, and Disney+. The exact wording might vary slightly—some apps say "Subtitles," others say "Captions"—but the location is always in that menu button menu.
Turning off captions in Firestick system settings
If you want captions off across every app on your Firestick, you can disable them in the device settings. Go to your Firestick home screen and scroll to Settings (usually on the far right). Select Accessibility, then Captions.
You'll see a toggle for Captions. Select it to turn captions off. This setting applies to all apps that respect the system-level caption preference. However, some apps like Netflix have their own caption controls that may override this setting, so you might still need to turn captions off within those apps individually.
After you change this setting, you can go back to watching. The change takes effect when ready without restarting your Firestick.
When captions won't turn off in a specific app
If you've turned off captions in the Firestick settings but they're still appearing in one app, that app has its own caption controls. Netflix, for example, lets you manage captions through your account settings on Netflix's website, not through Firestick's system settings.
The easiest fix is to turn captions off within the app itself while you're watching. Press the menu button and look for Subtitles or Captions in that app's menu. If that doesn't work, check the app's settings by going to your Firestick home screen, scrolling to the app, pressing the menu button on your remote, and selecting Settings or Preferences.
Some apps store caption preferences in your account rather than on your device. If you use the same account on multiple devices (phone, tablet, computer), changing captions in one place might affect all of them.
Captions that reappear after you turn them off
If captions keep turning back on even after you've disabled them, your Firestick may have Accessibility features set to auto-enable captions. Go to Settings > Accessibility and check whether any caption-related toggles are turned on. Turn off anything labeled Captions, Closed Captions, or Subtitles.
Another reason captions reappear is if you're switching between apps. Each app can have different caption settings, so Netflix might have captions off while Prime Video has them on. You'll need to turn them off in each app separately, or rely on the system-level Accessibility setting as a baseline.
If you've disabled captions everywhere and they're still showing up, restart your Firestick. Unplug it from power for 30 seconds, plug it back in, and wait for it to fully load. This clears any temporary glitches that might be forcing captions on.
Turning captions back on if you need them later
If you turn captions off and later decide you want them back, the process is identical but in reverse. While watching, press the menu button, select Subtitles or Captions, and choose a caption option (usually English or your preferred language). The captions will appear when ready.
You can also go back to Settings > Accessibility > Captions and toggle captions back on for all apps. Most people leave captions off by default and turn them on only when they need them for a specific show or movie.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to restart my Firestick after turning off captions?
No. Captions turn off when ready when you change the setting, whether you're in the app menu or the system settings. You can keep watching right away. A restart is only necessary if captions won't turn off no matter what you try.
Will turning off captions in settings affect other people using my Firestick?
Yes. System-level caption settings explore to everyone who uses that Firestick device. If someone else in your household needs captions, they'll have to turn them back on in the app menu while they're watching, or you can leave the system setting on and they can turn captions off individually when they don't want them.
Why do captions look different in different apps?
Each streaming app controls its own caption appearance—font size, color, background, and position. Firestick's system settings control whether captions are on or off, but not how they look. If you want to change caption appearance, look for a Captions or Subtitles settings option within the app itself.
Can I turn off captions for just one show without affecting others?
Yes. Use the menu button method while watching that show. Turn captions off for that episode, and they'll stay off for the rest of that show. When you start a different show or app, captions will follow whatever your default setting is (either on or off depending on your system settings).