AppleTV: How to Turn Closed Captioning On Or Off Fast

Christopher Nguyen

Posted in Zoom Sep 6 · 8 Sep, 2022

AppleTV: How to Turn Closed Captioning On Or Off Fast

How to Turn On or Off Subtitles on Apple TV and Other Devices

Subtitles and closed captions improve the viewing experience for many users. Whether you need accessibility features or want to watch quietly, Apple TV offers flexible subtitle controls. This guide explains how to enable or disable subtitles and captions on Apple TV, iPhones, iPads, computers, and other supported devices.

Turning Subtitles On or Off in the Apple TV App

You can easily control subtitles directly within the Apple TV app. The process varies slightly by device, but the main steps remain simple:

Start playing a movie or show.
Access the audio menu:
- Apple TV remote: Swipe down to open the menu.
- iPhone or iPad: Tap the screen, then tap the speech bubble icon.
- Computer: Click or hover over the video, then click the speech bubble.
- 3rd Gen Apple TV: Hold SELECT for three seconds to open captions.
Select Subtitles.
Choose a supported language to enable subtitles.
To turn subtitles off, go back to the menu and deselect the language.

Each device's menu appearance might look a bit different, but options for subtitles remain easy to find.

Additional Audio Controls

Change speaker output.
Activate full dynamic range.
Switch the audio language.

These controls help customize your experience for better understanding and comfort.

Default Subtitle Settings on Apple Devices

You can set subtitles to appear automatically on all videos. This is helpful if you always want captions enabled, regardless of which app you use.

Go to Settings.
Select Accessibility.
Under Hearing, tap Subtitles and Captioning.
Enable Closed Captions + SDH.

This change applies system-wide, affecting all apps that play video on your device, not just the Apple TV app.

Supported Devices

Apple TV set-top boxes
iPhones and iPads with the Apple TV app
Mac computers
Smart TVs and streaming devices running the Apple TV app (see complete supported devices list)

How to Customize Caption Appearance on Apple TV

Apple lets you personalize how captions and subtitles look. This helps users with vision needs or style preferences.

In the Accessibility menu, look for Subtitle and Captioning style options.
Choose from preset styles or create a custom caption style.
- Change text color, size, and background.
- Adjust font type and opacity.

These settings apply to all apps on your device, making captions easier to read or more visually appealing.

Quick Recap: Steps to Control Subtitles on Apple TV

Use the in-app audio menu to toggle subtitles on or off while watching videos.
Set default subtitles via Settings > Accessibility > Hearing on Apple devices.
Customize caption appearance for easier viewing.

Helpful Tip

Setting subtitles at the system level changes the default for all apps on your device, not just Apple TV.

FAQs: Subtitles and Captions Explained

What Are Captions?

Captions are on-screen text versions of spoken audio and other important sounds in a video (such as music or sound effects). They help people who are deaf or hard of hearing understand what is happening. Captioning turns audio into readable text, making content more accessible (learn more about closed caption services).

Types of Captions

Closed captions (CC): Can be turned on or off by the viewer.
Open captions: Always visible and cannot be turned off.
Subtitles for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (SDH): Include speaker identification and sound cues. Nearly verbatim from audio.
Foreign subtitles: Translate dialogue only for hearing viewers.
Standard subtitles: Usually show dialogue at the bottom. Location may change if the bottom is already occupied.

Are All Captions the Same?

No, captions vary by purpose and detail.
SDH includes sound effects and speaker changes; standard subtitles typically show only spoken words.

Subtitles vs. Captions: What’s the Difference?

Captions: Show verbatim spoken audio, sound effects, and speaker identification, usually in the same language as the video.
Subtitles: Translate spoken dialogue into another language and are designed for viewers who can hear the original audio.

For accessibility, captions help people who are deaf or hard of hearing enjoy the full experience (National Association of the Deaf, 2020).