Quick Answer: To turn off captions, open the video or streaming app, select the CC, captions, or subtitles icon, and choose Off. On some TVs and phones, captions may also be controlled through the device’s Accessibility settings.
If captions keep appearing after you disable them, check both the app settings and your device accessibility settings. Some platforms save caption preferences separately, so turning them off in one app may not disable them everywhere.
Seeing captions on your screen when you do not need them can become distracting, especially when you are watching a movie, TV show, YouTube video, or live stream. Fortunately, you can usually turn off captions in just a few taps.
The exact steps depend on where you are watching. You may need to use the CC button, subtitle menu, audio and language settings, or your device’s accessibility options.
This guide explains how to turn off captions on popular streaming services, phones, computers, smart TVs, and other common platforms. It also covers what to do when captions keep coming back.
What Does Turn Off Captions Mean?
Turn off captions means disabling the text that appears on your screen while a video plays.
they can display:
- Spoken dialogue
- Speaker identification
- Important sound information
- Music or lyrics
- Other audio descriptions
People use for accessibility, noisy environments, language learning, or simply to follow dialogue more easily. However, you may want to disable them when you prefer watching without text on the screen.
The setting may appear under different names, including:
- CC
- Subtitles
- Accessibility
- Audio and language
How to Turn Off Captions on Most Videos
The quickest method works similarly across many apps.
On a phone, tablet, computer, or smart TV
- Open the video you want to watch.
- Tap or select the screen to display playback controls.
- Look for the CC, speech bubble, or subtitles icon.
- Open the captions or subtitles menu.
- Select Off.
- Resume the video and check that the text has disappeared.
If you cannot find the CC button, open the Settings, Audio, Language, or Accessibility menu.
Turn Off Captions on YouTube
YouTube usually makes caption controls easy to access.
On a computer
- Open the YouTube video.
- Move your mouse over the video player.
- Find the CC button.
- Click CC to disable.
- The caption text should disappear from the video.
You can also open the video settings menu if you need to change additional subtitle preferences.
On a phone or tablet
- Open the YouTube app.
- Start the video.
- Tap the video screen.
- Select the CC icon if it appears.
- Turn captions off.
If these continue appearing on multiple videos, check your YouTube caption preferences and your device’s accessibility settings.
Turn Off Captions on Netflix
Netflix lets viewers change subtitle settings while watching a title.
On a TV or streaming device
- Start the movie or show.
- Open the playback controls.
- Select Audio & Subtitles or the subtitle icon.
- Find the subtitle or caption language currently selected.
- Choose Off.
- Close the menu and continue watching.
On a phone or computer
The process is similar:
- Play the title.
- Open the playback controls.
- Select Audio & Subtitles.
- Choose Off under subtitles.
- Return to the video.
If subtitles keep turning back on, your profile or device may still have a subtitle preference enabled.
Turn Off Captions on Hulu
Hulu generally provides caption controls directly through its video player.
- Start the video.
- Open the playback controls.
- Find the CC or option.
- Open the caption menu.
- Select Off.
The exact appearance can vary depending on the device and Hulu app version.
Turn Off Captions on Disney+
If they appear while watching Disney+, you can usually disable them through the playback menu.
- Start your movie or show.
- Open the playback controls.
- Select the Audio and Subtitles icon.
- Find the subtitle or caption option.
- Choose Off.
- Return to the video.
I remain visible, check your device’s accessibility settings.
Turn Off Captions on Amazon Prime Video
Amazon Prime Video provides subtitle controls inside its video player.
- Start the movie or show.
- Select the CC/Subtitles icon.
- Open the subtitle menu.
- Choose Off.
- Continue watching.
Some devices may display the control differently, but the basic process remains similar.
Turn Off Captions on a Smart TV
Smart TVs can control in two different places. You may be able to disable them directly in the streaming app, or you may need to change the TV’s accessibility settings.
Method 1: Use the streaming app
While watching:
- Press the OK, Select, or similar button on your remote.
- Open the caption or subtitle menu.
- Select Off.
Method 2: Use TV settings
If captions appear across multiple apps:
- Open your TV’s Settings.
- Look for Accessibility.
- Find Captions,
- Change the setting to Off.
The exact menu names vary between TV brands and models.
Turn Off Captions on iPhone and iPad
Apple devices provide caption controls through Accessibility settings.
If you want to check the system setting:
- Open Settings.
- Select Accessibility.
- Find Subtitles & Captioning.
- Check the caption settings.
- Disable the option that automatically displays
Individual apps can also have their own subtitle controls. If appear only in one app, check that app’s video settings first.
Turn Off Captions on Android
Android phones and tablets can have system-wide caption settings as well as controls inside individual apps.
A common route is:
- Open Settings.
- Search for Live Caption or
- Open the relevant accessibility or caption setting.
- Turn the feature off.
The exact location can differ between Android versions and manufacturers such as Samsung, Google, OnePlus, and others.
If only appear on a particular streaming service, disable them inside that app instead of changing the entire phone’s accessibility settings.
Turn Off Captions on Windows
Windows can display through accessibility features, including Live
If Windows Live are active, open the relevant accessibility settings and disable the feature.
You can also search Windows Settings for
This helps you quickly locate the appropriate setting without searching through every menu.
Turn Off Captions on Mac
On a Mac, caption preferences can be managed through Accessibility settings and individual applications.
A general approach is:
- Open System Settings.
- Select Accessibility.
- Look for Hearing or caption related options.
- Review the subtitle and caption settings.
- Disable the feature you no longer want.
Remember that streaming services may still control their own independently.
Why Won’t My Captions Turn Off?
Sometimes you select Off, but continue appearing. This usually happens because another setting controls them.
1. The app has its own caption preference
A streaming app may remember subtitles separately from your device.
Try disabling directly inside the video player.
2. Accessibility are enabled
Your phone, computer, or television may have a system-wide caption feature enabled.
Check:
Settings → Accessibility → Captions
The exact menu path varies by device.
3. Live Caption is active
Some phones and computers can automatically generate for spoken audio.
If you see outside normal video apps, look for a Live Caption setting.
4. The video has embedded text
Not every piece of text on a video comes from closed captions.
Some videos contain subtitles permanently built into the actual video image. These are sometimes called burned-in subtitles or open captions.
You cannot remove this type of text through the CC button because it is already part of the video.
5. Another device controls the playback
If you use Chromecast, AirPlay, a streaming box, game console, or smart TV, the caption setting may come from the device receiving the video.
Check both devices when troubleshooting.
Closed Captions vs Subtitles: Does Turning Them Off Work the Same Way?
The terms and subtitles often overlap, but they can serve different purposes.
| Feature | Captions | Subtitles |
|---|---|---|
| Displays dialogue | Yes | Yes |
| Includes sound information | Often | Usually not |
| Identifies speakers | Often | Sometimes |
| Designed for deaf or hard of hearing viewers | Often | Not always |
| Helps with language translation | Sometimes | Commonly |
| Can usually be switched off | Yes, when selectable | Yes, when selectable |
Both usually appear through a similar CC or subtitle menu.
However, embedded subtitles may not be removable because they are permanently included in the video.
Captions vs Live Captions
These two features can also cause confusion.
they normally come from the video or streaming service.
Live these are generated automatically by a device or software while someone speaks.
For example, you might turn off subtitles in a Netflix video but still see text because your computer’s Live Captions feature remains active.
If that happens, disable Live Captions separately.
When Should You Turn Off Captions?
There is no right or wrong choice. It depends on how you watch content.
You might prefer captions off when:
- The dialogue is already easy to hear.
- You find text distracting.
- You want a cleaner screen.
- You are watching a familiar show.
- You are watching content with permanently visible graphics.
- You simply prefer watching without subtitles.
Captions remain valuable for accessibility, noisy environments, language learning, and viewers who have difficulty hearing dialogue.
A Simple Way to Find Caption Settings
If you cannot find the right menu, use this quick checklist:
| Where you are watching | First thing to check |
|---|---|
| YouTube | CC button |
| Netflix | Audio & Subtitles |
| Disney+ | Audio & Subtitles |
| Prime Video | CC/Subtitles |
| Hulu | CC/caption menu |
| Smart TV | Accessibility |
| iPhone/iPad | Accessibility |
| Android | Settings search for captions |
| Windows | Accessibility or Live Captions |
| Mac | Accessibility |
| Game console | Accessibility or subtitle settings |
Menu names can change after app updates, so looking for CC, captions, subtitles, or accessibility often provides the fastest route.
Common Mistakes When Trying to Turn Off Captions
Turning off the wrong feature
You may disable subtitles in the streaming app while Live remain active on your device.
Check both if necessary.
Assuming every caption is removable
If text is permanently embedded into the video, no caption toggle can remove it.
Changing accessibility settings unnecessarily
If only appear on one streaming platform, start with that app’s settings. You may not need to change your entire device configuration.
Confusing audio descriptions with captions
Audio descriptions provide spoken explanations of visual events. They are different from and are usually controlled through the audio track menu.
Forgetting profile settings
Some streaming services save language and subtitle preferences to individual profiles. If several people use the same account, the selected profile can affect what appears.
Quick Tips for a Cleaner Viewing Experience
- Turn captions off inside the video player.
- Close and reopen the app.
- Check your device’s Accessibility settings.
- Look for Live Caption.
- Check the streaming profile’s subtitle preference.
- Restart the device if the setting does not save.
- Update the app if its controls appear broken.
- Test another video to determine whether the text is part of the video itself.
FAQs
How do I turn off captions?
Open the video playback controls, select the CC, captions, or subtitles icon, and choose Off. If remain, check your device’s accessibility settings.
Why won’t captions turn off?
May remain active because your device has a system-wide caption feature enabled, such as Live Captions. The video may also contain permanently embedded subtitles.
How do I turn off captions on my TV?
Open the TV’s Settings, look for Accessibility, then find Closed Captions or Subtitles and switch the feature off. You can also check the streaming app itself.
How do I turn off captions on YouTube?
Open a YouTube video and select the CC button in the video player. Selecting the button again normally turns captions off.
How do I turn off captions on Netflix?
Start your video, open Audio & Subtitles, and select Off under the subtitle options.
How do I turn off captions on my phone?
Check the video’s CC or subtitle button first. If captions appear across different apps, open your phone’s Accessibility settings and check caption or Live Caption features.
What is the difference between captions and subtitles?
Captions usually include dialogue and may also describe important sounds, while subtitles mainly provide spoken dialogue, often for viewers who speak another language.
Can I remove captions that are already on a video?
If the text is permanently embedded into the video, you usually cannot remove it through the CC or subtitle settings. The text is part of the video image rather than a separate caption track.
How do I stop captions from automatically turning on?
Check the caption preference in the specific streaming app, then check your device’s Accessibility and Live Caption settings. Some services remember subtitle preferences by profile.
What does CC mean on a video?
CC stands for closed captions. Selecting the CC button normally lets you turn captions on or off or choose a caption language.
Conclusion
Learning how to turn off captions is usually simple once you know where the control lives. Start with the CC, captions, or subtitles button inside the video player. If the text continues appearing, check your device’s Accessibility settings and look for features such as Live Caption.
The most important distinction is whether the text comes from a removable caption track or is permanently embedded in the video. Removable captions can normally be disabled, while burned-in text cannot be switched off through the player.
Whether you are watching YouTube, Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, a smart TV, phone, or computer, checking the video controls first is usually the fastest solution.