The quickest way to disable closed captions
To turn off closed captions on your Fire Stick, press the Menu button (the three horizontal lines) on your remote while a video is playing. Scroll down to Closed Captions and select it. Choose Off from the menu that appears. The captions will disappear when ready.
This method works for most streaming apps on Fire Stick, including Prime Video, Netflix, Disney+, and others. The captions stay off for that app until you turn them back on using the same steps.
If you want captions off across multiple apps or for a longer period, you can also adjust the accessibility settings in your Fire Stick's main settings menu, which we cover below.
Key Takeaways
- Press Menu on your remote during playback, scroll to Closed Captions, and select Off to disable them for that video.
- Each app remembers your caption preference separately, so turning them off in Netflix does not turn them off in Prime Video.
- Some apps store caption settings in their own menus rather than the Fire Stick menu, so check the app's settings if the Menu button does not show a captions option.
- Turning off captions in the Fire Stick accessibility settings disables them system-wide, but individual apps may override this choice.
Turning off captions through the Fire Stick settings menu
If you want to disable closed captions across your entire Fire Stick, you can do it from the main settings. From your Fire Stick home screen, scroll to the top and select Settings. Then go to Accessibility and look for Captions or Closed Captions.
Select that option and choose Off. This setting applies to all apps and content on your Fire Stick, though some individual apps may have their own caption settings that override this choice.
This approach is useful if captions are turning on automatically or if you want a single setting to control them everywhere. However, if you only want captions off for one app or one viewing session, using the Menu button during playback is faster.
Why captions might turn back on
Captions sometimes reappear because different apps store their settings separately. Netflix, for example, remembers your caption choice within Netflix, but that choice does not carry over to Prime Video or other apps. If you turn off captions in one app and then switch to another, captions may be on in the new app.
Some apps also default to captions on if you have enabled them in the Fire Stick accessibility settings. If you have turned on captions system-wide for accessibility reasons but want them off for a specific app, you will need to turn them off in that app's individual settings or using the Menu button during playback.
Restarting your Fire Stick or force-closing an app can sometimes reset caption preferences to their defaults, so if captions suddenly reappear after a restart, check your settings again.
Captions in specific apps
Some streaming apps have their own caption controls that sit outside the Fire Stick menu system. Prime Video, for instance, lets you adjust captions by pressing the Menu button, but Netflix may require you to go into Netflix's own settings to change caption preferences.
If pressing Menu during playback does not show a captions option, try looking for a settings icon within the app itself—usually a gear symbol or three dots in the corner of the screen. From there, you can often find subtitle or caption settings specific to that app.
Disney+, Hulu, and other major apps generally follow the same pattern: use the Menu button first, and if that does not work, check the app's own settings menu.
Turning captions back on when you need them
If you have turned off captions and later want to turn them back on, follow the same steps in reverse. During playback, press Menu, select Closed Captions, and choose your preferred caption style—usually On or a specific language option.
You can also customize how captions look: the text size, background color, and font. These options appear in the same Closed Captions menu. Experiment with different settings to find what works best for you.
When captions are stuck on and will not turn off
If captions remain on no matter what you do, first try restarting the app by pressing the Menu button and selecting Close App or Force Stop. Then reopen it and try turning off captions again.
If that does not work, restart your entire Fire Stick. Unplug it from power for 30 seconds, then plug it back in. Once it boots up, try turning off captions through the Menu button or settings again.
If captions are still stuck on after a restart, the app itself may have a bug or may be forcing captions on for some reason. Try the same content in a different app if possible, or contact the app's support team to report the issue.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to turn off captions in every app separately?
Yes. Each app stores its own caption settings, so turning them off in Prime Video does not turn them off in Netflix or Disney+. However, if you turn off captions in the Fire Stick accessibility settings, most apps will respect that choice—though some apps may override it with their own settings.
Can I turn off captions for just one video?
Yes. Press Menu during playback, select Closed Captions, and choose Off. That video will play without captions. When you start a new video in the same app, the app will remember your choice and play without captions unless you change it again.
Why do captions turn on automatically when I start a new app?
Each app has its own default caption setting. If an app is set to captions on by default, it will show captions the first time you play something in that app, even if you have turned them off elsewhere. Turn them off in that app's settings, and the app should remember your choice next time.
What if the Menu button does not show a captions option?
Some apps do not use the Fire Stick menu for captions. Look for a settings icon (usually a gear or three dots) within the app itself. Tap it and search for subtitle or caption settings. If you still cannot find it, the app may not support captions or may have them in an unexpected location.