To change subtitles while watching on Apple TV: press the center of the clickpad or Play/Pause to show the playback controls, swipe up, select Subtitles, and choose a language, caption track, or Off. The exact choices depend on the video, app, device, and region.
Turn subtitles or captions on during playback
These steps apply to the Apple TV app on Apple TV 4K and Apple TV HD using a Siri Remote or Apple TV remote.
- Start playing the movie, documentary, show, or other video.
- Press the center of the remote’s clickpad, or press Play/Pause, to display the playback controls.
- Swipe up on the clickpad or touch surface.
- Select Subtitles.
- Choose the desired subtitle or caption track.
The selected track should appear as the video continues. Subtitle labels and available languages vary by title. If there is no Subtitles option, that program may not include subtitles or captions in the current app, country, or region.
Turn subtitles or captions off for the current video
While the video is playing, open the playback controls, swipe up, select Subtitles, and choose Off. This changes the setting for the current playback session or title; it does not necessarily change every caption preference on Apple TV.
Apple TV 3rd generation
On an Apple TV 3rd generation, Apple documents a different shortcut:
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- The Siri Remote (3rd generation) brings precise control to your Apple TV 4K.
- Its touch-enabled clickpad lets you select titles, swipe through playlists, and use a circular gesture on the outer ring to find just the scene you’re looking for.
- With Siri, you can find what you want to watch using your voice.
- Includes a USB-C port to quickly recharge.
- Compatible with Apple TV 4K (3rd generation), Apple TV 4K (2nd generation), Apple TV 4K (1st generation), and Apple TV HD
- Start playing the video.
- Press and hold Select on the remote for about three seconds.
- When the subtitle options appear, choose the available subtitle track or turn subtitles off.
Menus and behavior can differ on older Apple TV hardware, so the playback shortcut may not match the controls on newer Siri Remotes.
Turn captions on by default
If you want closed captions or SDH captions to be preferred whenever a supported video provides them, change the accessibility setting:
- Open Settings on Apple TV.
- Select Accessibility.
- Select Subtitles and Captioning.
- Turn on Closed Captions and SDH.
SDH means subtitles for deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers. Depending on the program, these captions may include spoken dialogue as well as relevant sound information, such as music or significant noises.
This preference only works when the video supplies a compatible caption track. It cannot create captions for a program that does not include them.
Turn captions off by default
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning, then turn off Closed Captions and SDH.
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You may still select ordinary subtitles or captions manually during playback. The Subtitles menu for the current video is the best place to check which track is active and to choose Off.
Stop Apple TV from turning subtitles on automatically
Apple TV 4K can apply automatic-subtitle preferences in addition to the general CC/SDH setting. To review them, open:
Settings > Video and Audio > Automatic Subtitles
Depending on your Apple TV software and configuration, the menu can include options such as:
- Show for Different Languages: displays subtitles when the spoken language differs from your preferred Apple TV language.
- Show When Muted: displays subtitles when the television or Apple TV audio is muted or turned all the way down.
- Show on Skip Back: temporarily displays subtitles after you skip backward, which can help you catch dialogue you missed.
Turn off the automatic options you do not want. The available labels can vary with Apple TV software, so use the options shown on your device. If subtitles appear only after muting, changing the language, or skipping back, this menu is a more likely cause than the regular playback selection.
Change the subtitle language
For one movie or episode
While the video is playing, open the playback controls, swipe up, select Subtitles, and choose the preferred language. Some versions of the menu provide a Languages option from which you can select the available subtitle language.
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Set a preferred subtitle language
To set the default preference used when supported:
Settings > Video and Audio > Audio > Subtitle Language
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This is a preference, not a guarantee. A particular documentary or film may not have subtitles in that language. Availability can depend on the title, Apple TV model, app, and country or region.
Change the appearance of subtitles and captions
If captions are difficult to read, adjust their visual style rather than changing the video itself:
- Open Settings.
- Select Accessibility.
- Select Subtitles and Captioning.
- Select Style.
- Choose an existing style, or select the edit option to create one.
Depending on the available style controls, you can change the font, text size, text color, background color and opacity, text opacity, edge style, and highlighting. A larger font, stronger contrast, or a less transparent background can make captions easier to follow during dark documentary scenes.
Some Apple TV app playback menus also offer Style or Manage Styles directly from the subtitles panel.
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Use Siri to control subtitles
On supported Apple TV hardware, languages, and regions, press and hold the Siri or Search button on the remote and try commands such as:
- “Turn on closed captioning.”
- “Turn on French subtitles.”
- “What did she just say?”
The last command skips back approximately 10 seconds and temporarily turns on subtitles. Siri features are not available in every language, country, region, or Apple TV configuration. If Siri does not recognize the command, use the playback Subtitles menu instead.
If subtitles will not turn off
Work through these checks in order:
- Change the current track: while the video is playing, open the playback controls, select Subtitles, and choose Off.
- Check CC/SDH: open Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning and turn off Closed Captions and SDH if you do not want them enabled by default.
- Check automatic subtitles: open Settings > Video and Audio > Automatic Subtitles and review Show When Muted, Show for Different Languages, and Show on Skip Back.
- Check the app: if the problem occurs only in Netflix, YouTube, another streaming service, or a different third-party app, use that app’s own subtitle controls. Apple TV’s system preferences do not control every app in exactly the same way.
- Check the title: some programs provide forced subtitles for translated dialogue or other content. Not every title offers a removable caption track, and subtitle choices differ by language, title, device, and region.
If subtitles return only when the audio is muted, turn off Show When Muted. If they return after using the skip-back gesture, turn off Show on Skip Back. If the behavior is limited to one streaming app, look for its in-app subtitle or accessibility settings.
If subtitles or captions are missing
- Open the movie or show’s description page and check whether subtitle or language options are listed.
- Try the playback controls again after the video has started; some options do not appear until playback controls are visible.
- Check the title in the correct app. A documentary may offer captions in the Apple TV app but have different options when watched through another service.
- Confirm the desired language is actually offered in your country or region.
- Remember that turning on Closed Captions and SDH cannot add a caption track that the provider did not supply.
What to do if the remote is missing
You do not need to buy anything if your existing remote works. If it is lost or damaged, an Apple TV remote is one optional replacement for opening the playback controls and changing subtitles. Apple TV can also be controlled with Apple’s Apple TV Remote app on a compatible iPhone or iPad, including controls for turning captions on or off. The app is a practical alternative when the physical remote is unavailable.
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Apple TV subtitles versus captions
People often use “subtitles” and “captions” interchangeably, but the purpose can differ:
- Subtitles generally translate or transcribe spoken dialogue, often into another language.
- Closed captions can include dialogue plus information about important sounds, speakers, or music.
- SDH is intended to make dialogue and relevant audio information accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers.
The labels and track types are supplied by the content provider. Apple TV can display the available options, but it cannot guarantee that every film, documentary, episode, or language includes captions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do subtitles keep appearing when I mute Apple TV?
Open Settings > Video and Audio > Automatic Subtitles and turn off Show When Muted. Also check Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning and turn off Closed Captions and SDH if it is enabled.
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Not necessarily. Third-party streaming apps can have their own subtitle settings. For the most reliable change, open the video’s playback controls, select Subtitles, and choose Off.
Can I turn on subtitles if a documentary does not list them?
No. Apple TV can display subtitle and caption tracks supplied with the title, but it cannot add a missing language or caption track. Availability varies by title, app, device, and region.
How can I make Apple TV captions easier to read?
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning > Style. Choose or create a style with a larger font, stronger contrast, and a suitable background or opacity.
The Bottom Line
Quick fix: during playback, press the center of the clickpad or Play/Pause, swipe up, choose Subtitles, then select a track or Off. For default behavior, use Settings > Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning; for subtitles triggered by muting, language changes, or skip-back, check Settings > Video and Audio > Automatic Subtitles.
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