Turn Off Captions in the YouTube TV Player
To disable closed captioning on YouTube TV, open the video you are watching and look for the CC icon in the bottom right corner of the player. The icon looks like a rectangle with two lines inside it. Click or tap the CC icon once, and the captions will turn off when ready. The icon will no longer be highlighted or active when captions are disabled.
If you are watching on a phone or tablet, you may need to tap the screen first to reveal the player controls. The CC button appears alongside the volume, fullscreen, and settings icons. On a computer, the controls are always visible at the bottom of the player window.
This method works whether you are watching live TV or recorded shows. The captions will stay off for that video only — the next time you start a different show or channel, you may see captions again if they were on by default for that content.
Key Takeaways
- The CC icon in the bottom right corner of the YouTube TV player toggles captions on and off with a single click or tap.
- Turning off captions this way affects only the current video; other shows may still display captions by default.
- On mobile devices, tap the video to make the player controls visible before you can access the CC button.
- YouTube TV does not offer a global setting to disable captions across all content at once — you control them per video.
Captions Turn Back On After You Stop Watching
YouTube TV does not save your caption preference between viewing sessions. If you turn off captions and then stop watching, the next time you open YouTube TV or start a new show, captions may appear again. This is the default behavior for most content on the platform.
Some channels and shows have captions enabled by default because they are required for accessibility or because the broadcaster chose that setting. You will need to turn them off each time you encounter them, unless you change your account-level settings in YouTube (not YouTube TV).
Change Your Caption Settings in Your YouTube Account
If you want captions off more often, you can adjust your default caption preference in your main YouTube account settings. Go to your YouTube account (youtube.com, not the YouTube TV app), click your profile icon in the top right, and select Settings.
From the Settings menu, click Playback and performance on the left side. Look for the option labeled Captions and set it to Off. This tells YouTube to hide captions by default on all videos you watch across YouTube and YouTube TV.
Keep in mind that this setting applies to your YouTube account globally. If other people use your account, they will see captions off by default too. If you share a device with family members who prefer captions on, you may want to leave this setting at its default and instead turn captions off in the player each time.
Captions on Live TV vs. On-Demand Shows
Live TV channels often display captions automatically because they are broadcast with captions by the network. On-demand shows and recordings may also have captions on by default. The CC button in the player works the same way for both — one click turns them off.
Some live channels do not offer captions at all, in which case the CC icon will be grayed out or inactive. This means the broadcast itself does not include caption data. You cannot enable captions for content that was not broadcast with them.
Troubleshooting: CC Button Not Working
If the CC icon does not respond when you click it, try refreshing the page or closing and reopening the YouTube TV app. On mobile, make sure you are tapping the CC icon itself and not another button nearby.
If captions are stuck on and the CC button appears inactive, the content may not support caption toggling. Try switching to a different show or channel to see if the button works there. If the problem persists across multiple videos, sign out of your YouTube account and sign back in, or clear your browser cache if you are watching on a computer.
Using Your TV Remote to Control Captions
If you are watching YouTube TV on a smart TV or streaming device, you may be able to control captions using your remote. Press the Options, Menu, or Settings button on your remote while a video is playing. Some TV remotes have a dedicated CC or Subtitles button that toggles captions directly.
The exact button name and location depend on your device and remote model. Check your TV or streaming device manual if you are unsure which button to press. The on-screen player controls (including the CC icon) will always work as a backup method.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I turn off captions for all YouTube TV shows at once?
YouTube TV does not have a master switch to disable captions across all content permanently. You can change your YouTube account caption setting to Off in your main YouTube settings, which will make captions off by default. However, some content may still display captions, and you may need to toggle them off in the player for individual videos.
Why do captions turn back on when I watch a new show?
YouTube TV does not remember your caption choice between videos. Each show or channel may have captions enabled by default, so you will see them again unless you turn them off in the player. Changing your account-level YouTube settings can reduce how often this happens, but it does not may provide captions will stay off everywhere.
What if the CC button is grayed out?
A grayed-out CC button means the video or broadcast does not include caption data. Live TV channels that do not broadcast with captions will show an inactive CC icon. You cannot enable captions for content that was not produced with them.
Do I need to turn off captions on every device I use?
Yes. Your account-level caption setting in YouTube applies across devices, but your in-player choices (clicking the CC button) do not sync. If you change your YouTube account setting to captions off, that preference will carry over to all devices where you are signed in. Individual video choices stay only on that device and viewing session.
Can I turn off captions just for one channel?
No. YouTube TV does not allow you to disable captions for a specific channel while keeping them on for others. You control captions per video in the player, or you can set a default preference for your entire account. There is no middle ground for individual channels.