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To turn closed captioning on or off on YouTube TV, play a program, reveal the player controls, and select CC. Choose a caption track to enable captions, or reopen CC and choose the off state to disable them. The control is inside the YouTube TV player, and its location varies slightly by device.
To turn closed captioning on or off on YouTube TV, start playing a program, reveal the player controls, and select the CC button. Choose an available caption track to turn captions on. Open the same control again and select the off option to disable them.
The steps are similar across devices, but the way you reveal the controls differs.
Turn captions on or off on a smart TV, streaming device, or game console
- Open the YouTube TV app—not the regular YouTube app.
- Play the live, recorded, or on-demand program you want to watch.
- Press Down on the remote to display the player controls.
- Move to the CC icon and select it.
- Select a caption track to turn captions on.
To turn captions off, open the player controls again, select CC, and choose the off state.
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The exact remote navigation after the controls appear depends on the device. Roku, Apple TV, Fire TV, Samsung and LG smart TVs, Android TV devices, Xbox, PlayStation, and other supported platforms may use different arrow, select, or menu buttons. YouTube TV standardizes the in-player CC path, but there is no universal remote shortcut that works on every device.
Turn captions on or off in a computer browser
- Open tv.youtube.com in Chrome, Firefox, or Safari.
- Start playing the program.
- Move the pointer over the video to reveal the controls.
- Click CC beside the progress bar.
- Select the available caption track.
To disable captions, click CC again and select the off option.
If the CC button is missing, make sure the full player is open. YouTube TV does not show captions in the collapsed browser view, so expand the player before checking the controls.
Turn captions on or off on Android
- Open the YouTube TV app and start playback.
- Tap the video to display the player controls.
- Tap More in the upper-right corner of the player.
- Select CC, then choose a caption track.
Repeat these steps and select the off state when you want to remove captions.
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Captions are not available in YouTube TV’s mobile mini-player. If you cannot find the CC option, return to the full player and open the controls there.
Turn captions on or off on an iPhone or iPad
- Open the YouTube TV app and play the program in the full player.
- Tap the player to reveal its controls.
- Open the player menu or overflow menu.
- Select CC and choose the desired caption track.
To turn captions off, reopen the same menu and select the off option. The exact menu placement or wording can vary with the YouTube TV app version and iOS presentation.
What to do when the CC button is missing
A missing or disabled CC button does not automatically mean that your television, remote, or YouTube TV account is malfunctioning. YouTube TV can display captions only when the content owner provides them. If a program has no caption track, enabling a general caption preference will not create one.
Check the problem in this order:
- Open the full player. Captions may be unavailable in the collapsed browser view or mobile mini-player.
- Confirm that you are using YouTube TV. The YouTube TV app is separate from the standard YouTube app, and its controls may be different.
- Try another program. Caption availability can vary between live channels, recordings, and on-demand titles.
- Look for an available track. If CC appears but no caption track is offered, the program may not include captions.
- Check the app and device. Make sure the device is supported and the YouTube TV app is current.
Can you change the look of YouTube TV captions?
YouTube TV allows caption appearance adjustments for on-demand programs. Depending on the available controls, this can include aspects such as text size, color, font, or background.
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Those appearance controls are not available for every type of programming. YouTube TV says captions for live programs cannot be customized, so do not expect the same font, size, color, or background options while watching every live channel.
Captions versus subtitles
YouTube TV’s player labels the control CC. Help documentation may call the feature captions or closed captions, while viewers sometimes use “subtitles” more broadly. For the most reliable instructions, look for the CC control inside the video player rather than searching only in the television’s system-wide accessibility settings.
Does casting change the caption controls?
YouTube TV supports casting from a mobile device or computer on supported setups. When casting, playback is sent to the television while the casting device can act as the controller. If captions are not visible, check the player controls on the casting device as well as the television display.
The available controls can depend on the program, app version, casting setup, and receiving device. If CC is unavailable, return to the full player and test a program known to offer captions.
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Availability and device notes
YouTube TV is officially available in the United States. Program access and caption availability should not be assumed outside the US.
Supported hardware includes selected smart TVs, streaming players, game consoles, computers, and mobile devices. The supported-device list can change, so a device that does not show the expected controls may be unsupported or running an outdated app. You normally need only an active YouTube TV viewing session and, on a television or console, the device’s remote; no special caption hardware is required.
Quick reference
| Device | How to reveal controls | Caption control |
|---|---|---|
| Smart TV, streaming device, or console | Press Down on the remote | Select CC, then choose a track or Off |
| Computer browser | Move the pointer over the full player | Click CC beside the progress bar |
| Android | Tap the full player | Open More, select CC, then choose a track or Off |
| iPhone or iPad | Tap the full player | Open the player or overflow menu, then select CC |
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I turn on closed captions on YouTube TV?
Start playback, reveal the player controls, select CC, and choose the available caption track. On Android, CC is under More; on a computer, it appears beside the progress bar.
How do I turn off captions on YouTube TV?
Open the player controls, select CC again, and choose the off state.
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Why is the CC button missing on YouTube TV?
The program may not have a caption track. YouTube TV can show captions only when the content owner provides them. Also check that you are using the full player and the YouTube TV app rather than regular YouTube.
Can I change the size or appearance of live-TV captions?
No. YouTube TV says caption appearance cannot be customized for live programs, although appearance adjustments are available for on-demand programs.
Is there a universal remote shortcut for YouTube TV captions?
No universal shortcut works across every supported TV, streaming device, and console. Press Down to reveal the controls, then use the in-player CC option.
The Bottom Line
The reliable path is always inside the YouTube TV player: open the full player, reveal its controls, select CC, and choose a caption track or Off. If CC is unavailable after trying another program, that content likely does not include captions.
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