Closed captions are built into Peacock and turn on through your playback settings
Closed captions on Peacock work the same way they do on most streaming services: you turn them on during playback, and they stay on for that session. The steps differ slightly depending on whether you are watching on a phone, tablet, computer, or TV device, but the setting lives in the same place on all of them — the playback controls that appear when you press play.
Peacock does not let you set captions to stay on permanently across all videos. You will need to turn them on each time you start a new show or movie, though they will remain on if you pause and resume the same episode. This is a limitation of how Peacock's player works, not a bug.
Key Takeaways
- On any Peacock device, press play on a video, then look for the CC icon or settings button in the playback controls at the bottom of the screen.
- On phones and tablets, the CC button usually appears as a small icon in the lower right corner of the player; on computers and TV devices, it is often in the bottom right as well.
- Peacock offers captions in English on most content, though availability varies by title and some older or licensed content may not have captions.
- If captions do not appear even after you turn them on, restart the app or refresh the page, as the player sometimes needs to reload.
How to turn on captions on a phone or tablet
Start playing any show or movie in the Peacock app. Once the video begins, tap anywhere on the screen to bring up the playback controls — you will see a bar at the bottom with a play button, a timeline, and several icons on the right side.
Look for a small "CC" icon or a settings gear icon in the lower right corner of the player. If you see the CC icon, tap it once to turn captions on. If you see a gear icon instead, tap it to open a menu, then look for a "Captions" or "Subtitles" option and select it.
The captions will appear at the bottom of the screen when ready. If they do not show up, close the app completely and reopen it, then try again — sometimes the player needs to reload.
How to turn on captions on a computer or web browser
Open Peacock in your browser and start playing a video. Move your mouse over the video player to reveal the playback controls at the bottom. On the right side of the control bar, you should see a CC icon or a settings button (usually represented by three dots or a gear).
Click the CC icon directly if you see it. If you see a settings or menu button instead, click it and select "Captions" or "Subtitles" from the dropdown. The captions will turn on when ready and display at the bottom of the video.
If captions still do not appear, refresh the page and try again. Browser cache issues sometimes prevent the player from loading captions correctly on the first attempt.
How to turn on captions on a TV device or streaming box
Start playing a show or movie on your TV. Press a button on your remote (often labeled "Select," "OK," or the center of a directional pad) to bring up the playback menu. This menu usually appears as a bar at the bottom of the screen with playback controls and options.
Use your remote to navigate to the CC or captions icon, which is typically on the right side of the control bar. Press select or OK to turn captions on. On some TV devices like Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV, you may need to press a dedicated button on the remote to access accessibility settings instead — check your device's manual if the standard method does not work.
Once captions are on, they will stay on for that episode. If you start a different show, you will need to turn them on again.
What to do if captions are not available for a title
Not every show or movie on Peacock has captions. Older content, some licensed films, and certain live events may not include them. If you turn on the CC button and nothing appears, the title likely does not have captions available.
You can check whether a title has captions before you start watching by looking at its details page. Some streaming services list this information, though Peacock does not always make it obvious. The only reliable way to know is to start playing and check whether the CC button works.
If a title you want to watch does not have captions, you can contact Peacock support through the app or website to request them, though there is no may provide they will be added.
Captions versus subtitles on Peacock
Closed captions include not only dialogue but also descriptions of sounds — music, door slams, phone rings, and other audio cues. Subtitles show only the spoken words. Peacock uses the term "captions" for both, so when you turn on the CC option, you are getting the full caption experience with sound descriptions included.
Peacock does not offer a separate subtitle-only option. If you turn on captions, you get the complete version with all audio information.
Troubleshooting captions that are not working
If you have turned on captions but they are not showing up, try these steps in order. First, close the Peacock app or browser tab completely and reopen it. Second, start playing a different title to see whether captions work on other content — this tells you whether the problem is with the app or with that specific video. Third, restart your device entirely, then open Peacock again.
If captions work on some titles but not others, those titles may not have captions available. If captions do not work on any title, the problem is likely with your app or device. Uninstalling and reinstalling the Peacock app sometimes fixes persistent caption issues. On a web browser, try a different browser or clear your cache and cookies, then log back in.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make captions stay on automatically for every video I watch?
No. Peacock does not have a setting to keep captions on permanently across all content. You must turn them on each time you start a new show or movie. They will stay on if you pause and resume the same episode, but switching to a different title turns them off.
Are captions available in languages other than English?
Peacock primarily offers captions in English. Some international content may have captions in other languages, but this is not standard across the platform. Check the title's details page to see what caption languages are available before you start watching.
Do I need a paid Peacock plan to use captions?
No. Captions are available on all Peacock plans, including the free tier. The feature does not require a premium subscription.
Why do captions sometimes appear in a different position on my screen?
Peacock places captions at the bottom of the video by default, but some content may position them differently to avoid covering important on-screen text. You cannot manually move captions to a different location — their placement is set by the content itself.
What should I do if captions are out of sync with the audio?
Out-of-sync captions are usually a playback issue. Pause the video, wait a few seconds, then press play again. If that does not fix it, restart the app or refresh the page. If the problem continues on multiple titles, restart your device. Peacock does not offer manual caption timing adjustments.