Compatibility & scope
Based on Samsung's US English e-manuals for 2020–2026 TVs (each shared by a model year) and the EU English e-manual BN81-28760C-510. Covers captions/subtitles carried by TV broadcasts. Streaming apps, set-top boxes and disc players use their own subtitle controls, which these manuals do not describe. Features vary by model and region. Documentation reviewed; no TV hardware tested for this article.
In this guide
Where the caption or subtitle switch is
For TV broadcasts, open Caption Settings (on US TVs) or Subtitle Settings (on UK and EU TVs) under Accessibility, then set Caption or Subtitle to On or Off. The programme must carry captions for them to appear.
If you’re watching a cable box, set-top box or disc player connected by HDMI or Component, the TV’s switch is greyed out. Turn captions on or off with that device’s own remote instead.
Use the quick toggle
Every 2020–2026 manual lists Caption (or Subtitle) among the quick settings:
- Press Home, then open the menu: press the left directional button (2023–2026) or select Menu (2022). On 2020–2021 TVs, move to Settings on the Home screen.
- Move to Settings. The quick settings appear next to it.
- Highlight Caption (or Subtitle) and press Select to switch it on or off.
Open the full caption settings
| TV year | Path in Samsung’s e-manual |
|---|---|
| 2023–2026 (US) | Home → left directional button → Settings → All Settings → General & Privacy → Accessibility → Caption Settings |
| 2022 (US) | Home → Menu → Settings → All Settings → General & Privacy → Accessibility → Caption Settings |
| 2020–2021 (US) | Home → Settings → General → Accessibility → Caption Settings |
| UK/EU manual | Home → left directional button → Settings → All Settings → General & Privacy → Accessibility → Subtitle Settings |
Set Caption (or Subtitle) to On or Off. The same screen has more options:
- US: Caption Mode chooses the caption service (for example CC1–CC4 or Service1–Service6 on digital channels). Separate Closed Caption shows captions in an area apart from the picture, and 2024–2026 manuals add Auto Caption Position.
- UK/EU: Subtitle Language and Subtitle Mode, plus primary and secondary subtitle languages.
Choosing a language or mode can’t add captions that the programme doesn’t carry.
If the setting is greyed out
Samsung says the Caption (or Subtitle) function is unavailable when an external device is connected with an HDMI or Component cable. A cable box, satellite box, DVD or Blu-ray player sends its own picture, so use that device’s caption or subtitle setting and its remote. Samsung adds that the TV’s caption setting has nothing to do with DVD or Blu-ray subtitles.
For an app running on the TV, such as a streaming service, use the subtitle option inside the app’s player.
If captions don’t appear, or won’t go away
- Missing on a channel: some channels and programmes don’t carry caption data. On the US manuals’ troubleshooting list, Samsung suggests checking Caption Settings when watching with the antenna connected.
- Still showing after you turn them off: check which source you’re watching. If it’s an HDMI device, the text comes from that device, so turn captions off there. On UK/EU TVs, Samsung’s fix is to turn Subtitle off in Subtitle Settings.
Sources & scope
Pages 79, 174, 243, 249
View sourceSamsung US download for the QN65QN90FAFXZA; the e-manual is shared by 2025 TVs. Consulted: Caption quick setting, Showing captions (Caption Settings), and the caption troubleshooting entries. The 2026 US manual (BN81-28760A, pages 76, 168, 251, 256) matches it.
Pages 66, 150, 198, 204
View sourceSamsung US download for the QN65QN90CAFXZA; the e-manual is shared by 2023 TVs. Consulted: Caption quick setting, Caption Settings and troubleshooting. The 2024 manual (BN81-25561A, pages 71, 156, 210, 216) matches it.
Pages 75, 156, 199, 203
View sourceSamsung US download for the QN65Q60BAFXZA; the e-manual is shared by 2022 TVs. Consulted: Caption quick setting, Caption Settings and troubleshooting. Menu paths start with Home, then Menu.
Pages 26, 86, 119, 123
View sourceSamsung US download for the UN65TU7000FXZA; the e-manual is shared by 2020 TVs. Consulted: Caption quick setting, Caption Settings and troubleshooting. The 2021 manual (OSNATSCA-9.0.0, pages 38, 129, 170, 175) matches it.
Pages 79, 185–186, 275–276
Find your model’s manualOwner-supplied EU English e-manual; the link opens Samsung's model lookup, not this exact PDF. Uses Subtitle instead of Caption. Consulted: Subtitle quick setting, Watching TV broadcasts with subtitles, and Subtitle troubleshooting.
These instructions are based on manufacturer documentation. They have not been device-tested for this guide.
Based on Samsung's US English e-manuals for 2020–2026 TVs (each shared by a model year) and the EU English e-manual BN81-28760C-510. Covers captions/subtitles carried by TV broadcasts. Streaming apps, set-top boxes and disc players use their own subtitle controls, which these manuals do not describe. Features vary by model and region. Documentation reviewed; no TV hardware tested for this article.
