You Just Want to Watch the Game, Not Read It
You’ve settled in for the big game on your ESPN app, but there they are: subtitles plastered across the screen, blocking the score bug and distracting from the action. Maybe they turned on by themselves after an app update, or a family member enabled them. Suddenly, you’re reading a play-by-play instead of watching it.
This common frustration happens across streaming devices, smart TVs, and gaming consoles. The good news is that turning off subtitles, also called closed captions, in the ESPN app is almost always a simple fix. The process just depends on where you’re watching.
This guide will walk you through the exact steps for every major platform, explain why subtitles might turn on unexpectedly, and provide troubleshooting tips if the standard method doesn’t work.
Where the ESPN App Gets Its Settings
First, it’s crucial to understand a key point: on most devices, the ESPN app itself does not have a built-in subtitle menu. Unlike Netflix or Hulu, which often have accessibility settings within their own apps, ESPN typically relies on your device’s system-wide accessibility settings.
This means the “off switch” is usually in your Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Apple TV, or smart TV’s main settings menu, not within the ESPN app. The app simply obeys the command your device sends it.
Why Did Subtitles Turn On By Themselves?
If you didn’t turn them on, a few things could have happened. A recent software update on your streaming device or TV might have reset some settings. Someone else using the device may have accidentally enabled them. On some platforms, pressing a specific button on your remote (like the asterisk * or CC button) can toggle captions instantly.
Knowing this, the solution is almost always to dive into your device’s settings. Let’s break it down by platform.
Turning Off Subtitles on Roku
If you’re using a Roku streaming stick, box, or Roku TV, follow these steps.
Press the Home button on your Roku remote to go to the main screen. Using the directional pad, scroll up or left to highlight the menu on the left side. Select “Settings.”
Within Settings, navigate to and select “Accessibility.”
In the Accessibility menu, select “Captions mode.” You will see three options: “Off,” “On always,” and “On during mute.” Select “Off.”
Exit the menu and return to the ESPN app. The captions should now be disabled. If they persist, try closing the ESPN app completely. From the Roku home screen, highlight the ESPN app, press the Star (*) button on your remote, and select “Remove channel.” Then, add it back from the Roku Channel Store. This can clear a glitched app state.
Turning Off Subtitles on Amazon Fire TV
For Fire TV Stick, Fire TV Cube, or Fire TV Edition smart TVs, the process is similar.
From the Fire TV home screen, use your remote to navigate to the top menu bar. Select the gear icon for “Settings.”
In Settings, choose “Accessibility.”
Select “Closed Captions.” You will see a master toggle switch at the top. Ensure this switch is set to “Off.”
You can also adjust the caption style here if you ever need to turn them back on with different fonts or colors. Once toggled off, go back to the ESPN app. The change should take effect immediately. If it doesn’t, restart the Fire TV device by unplugging it from power for 30 seconds.
Turning Off Subtitles on Apple TV
On Apple TV (HD, 4K, or any tvOS version), you can use the Siri Remote or a standard remote.
From the Apple TV home screen, go to “Settings” (the gear icon).
Navigate to “Accessibility.”
Select “Subtitles and Captioning.”
At the top, you’ll see “Closed Captions + SDH.” Toggle this switch to the off position.
Apple TV also allows you to hold down the Play/Pause button on the Siri Remote while a video is playing to bring up a quick menu. Sometimes, a subtitle option appears here. Ensure it’s deselected. The settings menu method is the most reliable.
Turning Off Subtitles on Android TV and Google TV
This covers devices like the Chromecast with Google TV, Nvidia Shield, and many Sony, TCL, and Hisense smart TVs running Android TV.
Go to the device’s main “Settings.” This is usually a gear icon or in your profile picture menu.
Scroll down to “Accessibility.”
Look for “Captions” or “Subtitles.” Select it.
You will see a master switch labeled “Use subtitles/captions.” Turn this switch off.
Android TV settings can vary slightly by manufacturer. If you don’t see it under Accessibility, try searching in Settings for “Subtitles.”
Turning Off Subtitles on Samsung and LG Smart TVs
If you’re using the ESPN app built directly into your Samsung (Tizen OS) or LG (webOS) smart TV, the controls are in the TV’s settings, not the app.
For Samsung TVs, press the Home button on your remote, then select “Settings” (the gear icon). Go to “All Settings.” Navigate to “General & Privacy.” Select “Accessibility.” Choose “Subtitles.” Here, you can toggle the main subtitle setting to “Off.”
For LG TVs, press the Settings button on your remote (often a gear icon). Select “All Settings.” Go to “Accessibility.” Select “Subtitles.” Toggle the “Subtitles” option off.
On both TV platforms, you can also often press the “CC” or “Subtitle” button directly on your physical remote control, if it has one, to cycle through subtitle options until they are off.
Turning Off Subtitles on Gaming Consoles (Xbox and PlayStation)
For Xbox Series X/S or Xbox One, press the Xbox button on your controller to open the guide. Go to “Profile & system” (your profile picture tab). Select “Settings.” Choose “Ease of Access.” Select “Game and app transcription & captions.” Under “Text-to-speech and captions,” ensure “When I’m playing a game or using an app, show me captions” is unchecked.
For PlayStation 5, go to the home screen and select the gear icon for “Settings.” Navigate to “Accessibility.” Select “Captions.” Toggle the “Enable Closed Captions” switch off. The process is very similar on PlayStation 4.
Remember, these are system-wide console settings. Changing them here will affect the ESPN app and most other media apps.
What to Do If Subtitles Won’t Turn Off
If you’ve followed the correct steps for your device and the captions are still stubbornly on, try this escalation path.
First, force close the ESPN app. Don’t just back out of it. Use your device’s method to close it completely. On most devices, this involves highlighting the app on the home screen, pressing a menu or options button, and selecting “Force stop” or “Close.”
Second, restart your streaming device or smart TV. Unplug it from power for a full minute, then plug it back in. This clears temporary memory and resets the software connection.
Third, check for app and system updates. An outdated ESPN app or device operating system can have bugs that cause settings to stick. Update both to the latest versions.
Fourth, as a last resort, uninstall and reinstall the ESPN app. This gives you a fresh start with the app’s configuration. Your login and preferences will be saved server-side.
Could It Be the Broadcast Itself?
In extremely rare cases, especially with live sports, the network broadcast feed might include “open captions” that are burned into the video signal. These are not the same as closed captions and cannot be turned off by your device settings. If you see captions on every channel and app, it’s your device. If you only see them on one specific live game on ESPN, it might be a production error from the network, and there’s nothing you can do at the app level.
Managing Subtitles for a Better Viewing Experience
While this guide focused on turning subtitles off, knowing how to manage them is useful. You might want them on during a loud party or if you’re watching in a different language.
Remember the universal rule: look in your device’s “Accessibility” or “Ease of Access” settings menu. That’s the control center for closed captions across almost all streaming platforms.
Bookmark this page for your specific device. The next time an update or an accidental button press turns captions on during Monday Night Football, you’ll know exactly where to go to get your clean, distraction-free screen back in under a minute.
Now you can get back to the game. The only text on your screen should be the score and the clock, just the way it was meant to be seen.
