Turn off captions in three steps

Open YouTube TV and start playing any video or live channel. Look at the bottom right corner of the player — you will see a CC icon (two overlapping rectangles). Click it once to toggle captions off. The icon will dim or disappear, and the text will vanish from your screen.

If you do not see the CC icon, move your mouse over the video player to reveal the control bar. The icon appears only when captions are available for that content. Some live channels and older videos do not have captions at all, so the icon may not show up regardless.

Your choice applies only to that single video or channel. YouTube TV does not save a global "captions off" setting across all content. Each time you watch something new, captions will be on by default if they are available, and you will need to turn them off again if you want them off.

Key Takeaways

  • The CC icon in the bottom right corner of the player toggles captions on and off for whatever you are watching right now.
  • Captions are on by default for most YouTube TV content, but not all videos or channels have captions available.
  • Turning captions off for one video does not turn them off for the next video — you have to toggle them off each time.
  • If the CC icon does not appear, move your mouse over the player to show the control bar, or that content may not have captions.

Where the CC button is located

The closed caption button sits in the bottom right corner of the YouTube TV player, next to the fullscreen icon. It looks like two white rectangles overlapping each other. When captions are on, the icon is bright and solid. When captions are off, the icon appears grayed out or faded.

On a computer or tablet, you may need to hover your mouse over the video to see the control bar. On a phone, tap the video once to reveal the controls. The CC icon will appear in the same spot on all devices.

Why captions turn back on

YouTube TV does not remember your caption preference between videos. This is different from the main YouTube website, which can save your settings. Each piece of content — whether it is a live channel, a recorded show, or a movie — starts with captions on by default if captions exist for that content.

If you watch the same show multiple times, you will need to turn captions off each time you start a new episode. This applies even if you are watching episodes back-to-back in a series.

Content without captions

Not all YouTube TV content has captions. Live news channels often have captions because they are broadcast with them. Recorded shows and movies vary — some have captions, some do not. If captions are not available, the CC icon will not appear in the player at all, no matter how many times you click or where you look.

Older content is less likely to have captions. Newer shows and major networks are more likely to include them. If you are watching something without captions and the CC icon does not show up, captions straightforward are not available for that content.

Captions on different devices

The process is the same on a computer, phone, or tablet, but the way you access the controls differs slightly. On a computer, move your mouse over the video to show the control bar. On a phone or tablet, tap the video once. The CC icon will appear in the bottom right corner on all three.

If you are using YouTube TV on a smart TV or streaming device like Roku or Apple TV, the controls may look slightly different, but the CC button is still in the bottom right corner of the player. Use your remote to navigate to it and press select to toggle captions off.

Keyboard shortcut for captions

On a computer, you can press the C key while a video is playing to toggle captions on and off without clicking the CC icon. This works on YouTube TV just as it does on the main YouTube website. The C key is a quick alternative if you find it faster than reaching for the mouse.

This keyboard shortcut does not work on phones, tablets, or TV devices — only on a computer with a keyboard. If you are using a remote control on a TV, you will need to navigate to the CC icon and select it with your remote.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I turn off captions for all YouTube TV videos at once?

No. YouTube TV does not have a global setting to turn off captions for everything you watch. You must toggle captions off individually for each video or channel. This is a limitation of the platform, not a hidden setting you can change.

Why do captions keep turning back on?

YouTube TV defaults to captions on for each new video if captions are available for that content. Your choice to turn them off does not carry over to the next video. You will need to turn them off again each time you start watching something new.

What if the CC icon is not showing up?

First, move your mouse over the video (on a computer) or tap the video (on a phone) to reveal the control bar. If the CC icon still does not appear, captions are not available for that particular video or channel. Not all content on YouTube TV has captions.

Does turning off captions on YouTube TV affect captions on other websites?

No. Your YouTube TV caption settings are separate from YouTube.com, Netflix, or any other streaming service. Each platform has its own caption controls, and changing one does not affect the others.

Can I change the size or style of captions instead of turning them off?

YouTube TV does not offer caption customization options like size, color, or font style. You can only turn captions on or off. If you need larger or different-looking captions, the main YouTube website offers more options, but YouTube TV's player does not.