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While a video is playing on Apple TV, press Play/Pause to show the playback controls, swipe up, then select Subtitles to turn captions on or choose an available subtitle language. To change spoken dialogue, open the same controls, select Audio, and choose an available language. These are separate settings.

Turn on subtitles or change subtitle language for a video

  1. Start playing the film or TV programme.

  2. Press Play/Pause on your Siri Remote or Apple TV Remote to display the playback controls.

  3. Swipe up, then select Subtitles.

  4. Turn subtitles on. If the video offers more than one subtitle language, choose Languages and select the one you want.

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Depending on the video, subtitle controls may also let you adjust the subtitle style. Options vary by title.

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Change the spoken audio language

  1. While the video is playing, press Play/Pause to show the playback controls.

  2. Swipe up and select Audio.

  3. Choose an available audio language.

Audio changes the spoken track; it does not change subtitles. Apple documents these playback controls in its instructions for changing subtitles or languages in the Apple TV app.

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Set default subtitle and audio languages

To choose preferred languages for future playback on Apple TV, open Settings > Video and Audio > Audio. Then set each preference separately:

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A default is a preference, not an added track: it cannot make a language available if the film or programme does not include it. Apple gives the same path for the audio default in its Apple TV app language instructions.

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Adjust automatic subtitles

Apple TV has a separate Automatic Subtitles setting in Settings > Video and Audio. Apple’s Apple TV 4K guide describes automatic subtitle options for content in a different language, when playback is muted, and after skipping back. The available behavior depends on the options shown on your device; see Apple’s Apple TV 4K subtitle and language guide.

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Use Siri to turn on subtitles

On Apple TV 4K, Siri can handle common subtitle requests. Apple lists commands such as “Turn on closed captioning” and “Turn on French subtitles.” Asking “What did she just say?” rewinds playback by 10 seconds and temporarily turns on subtitles. See Apple’s guide to controlling Apple TV 4K playback with Siri.

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If the language or subtitle option is missing

A subtitle or audio language may be absent because that particular film or TV programme does not offer the track. Check the title’s available playback options before changing device settings; a default language cannot supply a missing track. Apple notes that subtitle and language choices appear only when available for the video in its Apple TV app instructions.

Apple TV (3rd generation) uses a different shortcut

For Apple TV (3rd generation), Apple documents a legacy playback shortcut: hold Select on the remote for three seconds to display the Subtitles tab. This is separate from the swipe-up playback-controls procedure used on current Apple TV models.

Apple TV app on a smart TV or streaming device

If you are using the Apple TV app on a smart TV or another streaming device rather than an Apple TV box, its remote controls and menus may differ. Follow the instructions for your device in Apple’s Apple TV app language guide rather than assuming the Apple TV remote steps apply unchanged.

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