What are closed captions and how do you turn them on?
Closed captions show you the words being spoken as text at the bottom of the screen. They're available on most streaming services, TVs, and videos. Every device has a slightly different way to turn them on — we'll show you where to look on your platform.
Closed captions are just the words and sounds from what you're watching printed at the bottom of your screen. They show you everything the audio includes — not just the dialogue, but also sound effects and who's speaking. They're useful if you can't hear the audio, are in a noisy place, or just prefer reading along. Most modern devices and streaming services have captions built in.
No step-by-step guide available for this issue yet — book a technician directly.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Looking for captions in the wrong menu — each device puts them somewhere different
- Assuming a video has no captions without checking the captions button first
- Turning on subtitles instead of closed captions — subtitles only show dialogue, captions show dialogue and sound effects
Signs you need professional help
- You've looked in settings and the captions option isn't there — your device can be older or not support captions
- A specific video or show isn't showing captions even though you turned them on
- You want to know if a particular streaming service offers captions — check their accessibility page
Book a technician
We can fix most issues remotely in 15 minutes. Weekend appointments — book your slot and we handle the rest.
Can't fix it yourself?
Most issues are resolved remotely in 15 minutes. Weekend appointments only — no parts, no in-home visit needed.