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Turn on Closed Captions or Subtitles in your TV’s Accessibility settings—but don’t expect one switch to cover every show or app. Captions must be available for the program, and a streaming app, console, or set-top box may control them separately.
First identify where the show is coming from
The right setting depends on the source, not just the screen you are watching. Check whether the program is coming through an antenna or TV tuner, an app installed on the TV, or an external device such as a streaming box or game console.
- Antenna or broadcast TV: Start with the television’s Accessibility or caption settings.
- An app running on the TV: Check the app’s playback caption or subtitle controls if the TV setting does not work.
- An external box or console: Check that device’s accessibility or caption settings. The TV may not control captions for content it receives from another device.
Where to turn on captions
Menu names and paths differ by model, software version, and region. These are documented examples, not one universal sequence.
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For supported programs, Samsung documents this path: Settings > General > Accessibility > Caption Settings > Caption. Some apps, consoles, and set-top boxes have their own caption controls, and feature availability varies by TV model and software version. Samsung’s caption instructions explain the TV controls and their limits.
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For supported over-the-air broadcasts on 2026-and-newer LG TVs, the company’s guidance dated August 18, 2026, gives this path: Settings > All Settings > General > Accessibility > Hearing Features > Closed Caption. LG says to enable captions in the external device or streaming app when watching through those sources. Older TVs may use different menus. See LG’s closed-caption instructions.
Roku
Roku places closed captioning under Accessibility. Its exact caption-mode controls depend on the device interface; consult the current settings menu. Captions also need to be supported by the movie or show. Roku explains the setting in its closed-captioning guidance.
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Apple TV 4K and the Apple TV app
On Apple TV, open Accessibility > Subtitles and Captioning and enable Closed Captions and SDH. Apple also provides caption-style controls for the Apple TV app. Not all videos include captions, and available features can vary by device and region. See Apple’s subtitle and caption instructions.
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Google TV
Google TV lets you set caption preferences in accessibility settings, but Google notes that the preferences may not apply in certain apps. If captions remain off in an app, check that app’s own playback controls. See Google TV’s caption settings guidance.
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Why a TV caption setting may not affect every program
A television preference can apply to supported content without controlling every source connected to the TV. An app may handle its own captions, while a set-top box or console may have a separate accessibility menu. In those cases, enabling captions on the television alone may not change what appears on screen.
The program also needs to include a caption or subtitle track. A system setting can select an available track, but it cannot create one for a video that does not provide it. Both Roku and Apple note that captions are not available for every show or video.
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What to try when captions are missing
- Identify the source. Decide whether you are watching a broadcast through the TV tuner, a built-in TV app, or an external box or console.
- Check that the program offers captions. Look in its playback options for a caption or subtitle track. If none is available, the TV cannot supply one.
- Turn captions on where that source is controlled. Use the TV’s Accessibility settings for supported broadcast viewing, the app’s playback or settings menu for app content, or the external device’s accessibility controls for content from a box or console.
- Adjust readability if needed. If captions appear but are difficult to read, look for appearance options in the relevant TV, app, or device settings.
- Consider embedded text if captions will not turn off. Some videos have open captions encoded into the picture; those are part of the video image, not a selectable caption track.
Make captions easier to read
Some platforms offer controls for caption appearance. Samsung lists font and background options; Apple lists choices including font, size, color, background, opacity, edge, and highlighting. Availability varies, and a style set on the TV or device is not guaranteed to carry through every app. Samsung distinguishes switchable closed captions from open captions embedded in the video. See Samsung’s caption guidance and Apple’s style instructions.
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