How to Remove Closed Captions on Any Device

Closed captions usually disappear as soon as you select Off, None, or the CC icon inside the video player. If they remain on screen, another caption setting may be active on your television, streaming device, phone, computer, or cable box.

This guide explains how to remove closed captions from popular streaming services and devices. It also helps you identify subtitles that cannot be switched off.

Quick Answer: How Do You Remove Closed Captions?

Try these steps first:

1. Play the video.
2. Pause it or tap the screen to reveal the playback controls.
3. Select the CC, Subtitles, Audio and Subtitles, or speech bubble icon.
4. Choose Off or None.
5. Resume the video.

If the text remains visible, check the accessibility settings on your device. You may have captions enabled in two places, such as inside Netflix and through your smart TV.

Closed Captions, Subtitles, and Open Captions Explained

The correct solution depends on which type of text appears on your screen.

Closed captions

Closed captions include dialogue and may also describe relevant sounds, music, or speaker information. Viewers can normally turn them on or off.

Subtitles

Subtitles usually display dialogue, often as a translation. Most video players let you disable optional subtitle tracks through the playback menu.

Open captions

Open captions form part of the video image. They are permanently embedded in the content, so your television or streaming app cannot remove them. Samsung distinguishes between switchable closed captions and open captions that are already inserted into the program.

Forced subtitles

A program may show translations only when characters speak a different language. These lines can appear even when regular subtitles are off. Netflix confirms that some titles display subtitles for foreign language dialogue despite the viewer’s subtitle setting.

Start With the Video Player

The fastest method works directly inside most video apps:

1. Start the movie, episode, or video.
2. Display the playback controls.
3. Open the captions or language menu.
4. Select Off or None.
5. Let the video play for a few seconds.
6. Close and reopen the video if the change does not appear immediately.

The exact icon and menu name vary by app. Look for:

• CC
• Subtitles
• Captions
• Audio and Subtitles
• Language
• Accessibility
• A speech bubble icon

If this method works, you do not need to change your entire device’s accessibility settings.

How to Remove Closed Captions on YouTube

On a computer

1. Open the YouTube video.
2. Move your pointer over the video player.
3. Click the CC button at the bottom of the player.
4. The button will no longer appear active.

You can also select Settings, followed by Subtitles/CC, and choose Off when that option appears. YouTube confirms that clicking the CC button again turns captions off.

On an iPhone, iPad, or Android phone

1. Play the video.
2. Tap the video once to show the controls.
3. Tap the CC icon.
4. Tap it again if captions remain active.

The YouTube mobile app uses the same CC control for turning captions on and off.

On a smart TV or streaming device

1. Start the video.
2. Press the select, up, or down button to reveal the controls.
3. Find the CC or settings icon.
4. Open Subtitles/CC.
5. Choose Off.

Menus can differ between television models and YouTube app versions.

If you own the YouTube video

Turning captions off during playback only hides them for you. It does not delete the caption track for other viewers.

To remove an uploaded caption track:

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
2. Select Subtitles.
3. Choose the video.
4. Find the relevant language.
5. Open Options.
6. Select Delete.
7. Confirm Delete captions.

Deleting the track removes it from the video and your Google Account.

How to Turn Off Captions on Netflix

1. Open Netflix and play a movie or episode.
2. Pause the video.
3. Open Audio and Subtitles.
4. Under subtitles, choose Off.
5. Close the menu and continue watching.

Netflix uses slightly different controls across televisions, phones, browsers, and streaming devices, but the subtitle selection appears in the playback menu.

Why Netflix subtitles may remain visible

Check these possibilities:

• The dialogue is in a language different from the title’s original language.
• Closed captioning remains active in your television settings.
• Your game console has its own caption setting enabled.
• The video contains permanent open captions.
• The app has not refreshed the profile setting.

Netflix states that device level captioning can cause subtitles to remain visible after they are disabled in the app. Its troubleshooting instructions recommend checking the console or device accessibility settings in this situation.

How to Remove Captions on Prime Video

1. Start playing the title.
2. Open the playback menu.
3. Select the Closed Caption or Subtitles icon.
4. Choose Off.

Amazon places the caption control inside the playback menu for supported titles.

If captions continue to appear, inspect your Fire TV, smart TV, or connected device settings as well.

How to Turn Off Closed Captions on Roku

During playback

1. Start the program.
2. Press the Star button on your Roku remote.
3. Find Accessibility and captions or Closed captioning.
4. Set the caption mode to Off.
5. Return to the program.

Menu wording can vary by Roku device, Roku OS version, and streaming app.

Through Roku settings

1. Press the Home button.
2. Open Settings.
3. Select Accessibility.
4. Open Captions mode.
5. Choose Off.

Roku notes that app specific problems may require you to check the app settings, install available updates, and restart the device.

How to Remove Closed Captions on Fire TV

While a supported video is playing:

1. Press the Menu button on the Fire TV remote.
2. Select Subtitles.
3. Choose Off under the subtitle options.
4. Return to the video.

These are Amazon’s documented Fire TV caption controls.

Some streaming apps use their own playback interface. If the remote’s Menu button does not display subtitle options, pause the video and look for a CC, subtitles, or language icon inside the app.

How to Turn Off Captions on Apple TV

Remove captions during a video

1. Start playing the video.
2. Display the playback controls.
3. Open the subtitles or audio menu.
4. Choose Off.

Disable the default caption preference

1. Open Settings on Apple TV.
2. Select Accessibility.
3. Choose Subtitles and Captioning.
4. Turn off Closed Captions and SDH.

Apple places the system preference under Accessibility and allows captions to be changed during playback. Apple Support

Stop automatic subtitles on Apple TV

Apple TV can automatically display subtitles when you mute the audio or replay part of a video. To change that behavior:

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Video and Audio.
3. Find Automatic Subtitles.
4. Turn off the automatic options you do not want.

Apple documents these controls under Video and Audio settings.

How to Remove Closed Captions on a Samsung TV

For recent Samsung smart TV interfaces:

1. Press the Home button.
2. Open Settings.
3. Select General.
4. Choose Accessibility.
5. Open Caption Settings.
6. Set Caption to off.

Samsung confirms that the Caption Settings menu controls whether supported closed captions appear. Samsung Support

Some models place Accessibility under General and Privacy instead of General. Older televisions may use Menu, followed by Broadcasting or Caption.

If the caption option appears gray, switch to a live TV or compatible input before checking again. Captions from an HDMI cable box often need to be disabled through the cable box rather than the television.

How to Turn Off Closed Captions on iPhone or iPad

Inside a video app

1. Play the video.
2. Tap the screen.
3. Open the speech bubble, subtitles, or audio menu.
4. Choose Off.

In the device settings

1. Open Settings.
2. Select Accessibility.
3. Tap Subtitles & Captioning.
4. Turn off Closed Captions + SDH.

This setting controls the caption preference in supported apps.

Turning off the system preference does not necessarily override a caption track selected separately inside an app. Check both locations if the text remains visible.

How to Turn Off Live Caption on Android

If captions appear over videos, calls, podcasts, or other audio across multiple apps, Android’s Live Caption feature may be active.

Try this shortcut:

1. Press a volume button.
2. Expand the volume controls if necessary.
3. Tap the Live Caption icon.
4. Confirm that Live Caption is off.

You can also search for Live Caption inside your phone’s Settings app and switch it off there. Google confirms that Live Caption generates text for speech in audio playing on the device.

If captions appear only in one app, use that app’s caption controls instead.

How to Remove Live Captions in Windows 11

Live captions generated by Windows are separate from captions supplied by a website or streaming app.

To turn them off:

1. Open Quick Settings from the taskbar.
2. Select Accessibility.
3. Switch off Live captions.

You can also go to Settings, select Accessibility, open Captions, and turn off Live captions. Microsoft lists both methods and the Windows key + Ctrl + L shortcut for controlling the feature.

If text remains inside a YouTube, Netflix, or another browser video, disable captions in that player too.

How to Remove Live Captions From Online Meetings

Microsoft Teams

During a Teams meeting:

1. Select More options.
2. Choose Turn off live captions.

This turns off the captions shown to you. Microsoft states that Teams meeting captions are controlled through the More options menu.

Zoom

A participant can hide captions through the meeting caption controls. A host can also disable captioning for everyone when the relevant host control is available.

For host control:

1. Select the arrow beside Show Captions.
2. Open Host caption control settings.
3. Turn off Allow closed captioning for this meeting.

Zoom states that this action ends automated captions for all participants in the meeting.

An organization may lock caption settings at the account or group level. In that case, an administrator must change them.

Why Closed Captions Will Not Turn Off

If you selected Off but still see words on the screen, work through these checks.

1. Captions are active on another device layer

A streaming setup may have separate controls for:

• The video player
• The streaming app
• The Roku, Fire TV, or Apple TV device
• The smart television
• The cable or satellite receiver
• A game console
• Android Live Caption
• Windows Live Captions

Turn off captions where they originate. Changing the television setting will not remove captions generated inside a phone, app, cable box, or computer.

2. The captions are embedded in the video

If the text has the same appearance in every app and no caption menu affects it, the video may contain open captions. You cannot remove embedded text with a regular caption setting.

Try another episode or video. If captions disappear on other content, the original video probably contains permanent text or forced translations.

3. Foreign language dialogue triggers subtitles

Some programs automatically translate dialogue spoken in another language. Netflix specifically notes that these subtitles may appear even when the regular subtitle setting is off. Netflix Help Center

4. A profile saved the previous preference

Switch captions off, continue playing for a short time, exit the title, and reopen it. Also confirm that you are using the intended profile.

5. The app needs to refresh

Use this order:

1. Close the video.
2. Force close the app.
3. Reopen the app.
4. Check for app updates.
5. Restart the device.
6. Test another title.

Roku recommends checking app settings, updating the app, and restarting the device when a streaming feature does not work correctly.

6. Your television is not generating the captions

Captions delivered by a cable box, satellite receiver, streaming stick, or game console will not always respond to the television’s caption setting. Open the settings on the source device instead.

7. More than one subtitle track is active

A video app may offer English, English CC, English SDH, and auto generated tracks. Open the subtitle menu and choose Off or None, rather than switching from one language track to another.

How to Identify Where the Captions Come From

Use this quick test:

• Captions appear in only one app: Check that app.
• Captions appear on every streaming app: Check the streaming device or TV.
• Captions appear on cable channels only: Check the cable or satellite receiver.
• Captions appear over calls and media on Android: Check Live Caption.
• Captions appear across computer audio: Check Windows Live Captions.
• Captions stay in the exact same place when controls open: They may be embedded.
• Captions appear only during foreign dialogue: They may be forced subtitles.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Changing caption style instead of turning captions off

Font, size, color, background, and opacity settings only change how captions look. Find the main Caption, CC, or Subtitles switch and set it to Off.

Turning off captions on the TV only

If you watch through Roku, Fire TV, Apple TV, a console, or a cable receiver, that connected device may produce the captions.

Confusing audio description with captions

Audio description adds spoken narration for visual details. Captions add text to the screen. They use different accessibility settings.

Deleting captions when you only want to hide them

YouTube creators can delete caption tracks in YouTube Studio, but ordinary viewers only need to switch off the CC button. Deletion affects everyone who watches that uploaded caption track.

Assuming all on screen text is removable

Titles, signs, translated dialogue, graphics, and open captions may form part of the video itself.

Final Check

To remove closed captions, start with the video player and select Off or None. If that does not work, check the accessibility settings on your app, streaming device, smart TV, phone, computer, console, or cable box.

Captions that remain after every setting is off are likely forced subtitles or open captions embedded in the video. Testing another program is the easiest way to confirm the difference.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I remove closed captions from my TV screen?

Open the video player and choose CC, Subtitles, or Audio and Subtitles, then select Off. If the captions remain, open your television’s Accessibility or Caption Settings and turn off the system caption option.

Why do captions keep coming back?

The app may remember a profile preference, the device may have a system caption setting enabled, or automatic captioning may be active. Check the app and device separately.

Why are subtitles showing when Netflix says they are off?

Netflix may display translations for dialogue spoken in a language other than the program’s original language. Device level captions can also remain active after you switch subtitles off in Netflix.

Can I remove captions that are built into a video?

No standard caption control can remove open captions embedded in the picture. You would need a different version of the video without that text.

Does turning off captions affect other viewers?

Usually, no. A viewer’s playback preference normally affects only that device or profile. However, a creator who deletes a YouTube caption track removes it for viewers of that video.

What does CC mean on a remote?

CC means closed captions. The button or menu controls optional text that represents dialogue and other relevant audio information.

How do I remove captions without a remote?

Use the television’s physical controls, its official mobile remote app, or the controls inside the streaming app. Available options depend on the television or streaming device.

Why is the caption option unavailable or gray?

The current input or content may not support television generated captions. If you use an HDMI device, open the caption settings on that connected device or streaming app.