LG TV Closed Caption Won’t Turn Off | Easy Fix Guide

Text on screen after you’ve turned it off is almost always a source mix-up. Your LG set can draw words from its own decoder, from a streaming app, or from a set-top box. If two places send text at once, the overlay clings to the picture even when one switch says Off. This guide gives fast, safe steps that work across webOS versions and common external devices so you can clear the overlay and keep it off.

LG Subtitles Still On? Quick Causes And Fixes

Match your setup to the row below. Tackle that switch first.

Start With The TV: Turn Off Captions In Accessibility

Grab the remote, press the gear icon, open All Settings → Accessibility, then set Closed Captions to Off. On some models it’s labeled Subtitles. If you see CC1–CC4 or style options, set the main switch to Off, back out, and confirm words vanish. Menu names vary by year, but the path matches the steps in the LG help library.

Why The Toggle Seems Ignored

The TV’s switch controls only the internal decoder. If an HDMI box, app, or disc bakes text into the feed, the TV can’t stop it. That’s why Off still shows words. Fix it by toggling captions where the content originates.

Disable Subtitles Inside Streaming Apps

Open any show, bring up the player bar, and look for a speech bubble or “CC” icon. Pick Off under Subtitles. Each app stores the choice per profile and sometimes per title. If the switch flips back, update the app, relaunch, and set it again.

Netflix On LG: Where The Switch Lives

While a title plays, open Audio & Subtitles, select Off under Subtitles, and return to the video. If text returns on the next episode, close the app, reopen, and confirm it still reads Off. See the Netflix help page for device-specific details.

YouTube, Prime Video, And Others

YouTube uses a CC toggle in the on-screen gear. Prime Video puts Subtitles under the speech-bubble icon. Hulu and Disney+ follow the same pattern: open the overlay, choose Subtitles, and set to Off. If the app keeps forcing text, sign out and sign back in so the choice syncs to your profile.

Check The Cable Or Satellite Box

Boxes render captions before the TV sees the picture, so the TV’s toggle won’t clear them. Use the provider remote to open the box menu. Look for Captions, Closed Captions, CC Services, or Subtitles, and set to Off. Leave the TV’s own decoder Off to prevent double overlays. Still seeing text? Power the box and TV off and back on to refresh HDMI.

ATSC, CC1, And Duplicate Text

Broadcasts can carry several caption services. CC1 is the main track; CC2–CC4 may repeat words or carry another language. If you tapped CC2 earlier, switch back to CC1 or Off. Two layers at once come from both the box and the TV drawing text—turn off one of them and confirm only one decoder remains active.

Rule Out Teletext Or “TTX” Pages

Some regions send captions through Teletext. Page 888 (or a similar code) can stick across channels. If the screen shows colored key prompts, press the Teletext key again or Exit to close it. Then confirm the TV’s caption setting still reads Off.

Fixes For Stubborn Overlays

If words linger after you switched the right place, work through these actions.

Power Cycle The Right Way

Turn the TV off, unplug for 60 seconds, press the power key once to drain charge, then plug back in. Do the same for any set-top box. This clears a stuck overlay layer and rebuilds the HDMI handshake.

Reset Caption Preferences Only

Open Accessibility → Closed Captions and reset style or defaults. Toggle On, then Off to refresh the state. On some models the style menu lets you adjust background and text options; returning those to defaults can clear a render glitch.

Update webOS And Apps

Go to All Settings → Support → Software Update and run the checker. Update streaming apps from the LG Content Store. Newer builds fix cases where captions return after channel changes or app hops.

Try Another HDMI Port Or Cable

Move the box to another HDMI port and test. A flaky cable or port can misread CEC or EDID flags, which can cause state mismatches. Swap the HDMI cable if you notice flickers or audio drops.

Advanced Checks That Solve Edge Cases

These items pop up less often, yet they explain many “still on” reports.

Disable Any Accessibility Shortcut That Toggles CC

Some Magic Remotes map a long-press to the caption toggle. If someone taps it by habit, text reappears. Open Accessibility Shortcuts and unassign the CC toggle so channel changes stop flipping it.

Turn Off Instant Game Response While Testing

ALLM/Instant Game Response can switch modes and reload overlays. Turn it Off while you test captions. Once the state holds, set your gaming mode again.

Is One App The Only Problem?

If captions stick in one service only, reinstall that app and clear cached profile data. Many providers list device steps on their help sites. After reinstall, play one title, set Subtitles to Off, and confirm the overlay stays away on the next episode.

Menu Paths By webOS Generation (For Reference)

If your screen looks different, try these paths. Wording shifts by year, but the panel stays under Accessibility.

When Captions Come From Outside The TV

Some devices always control their own text—Apple TV, Roku, Fire TV, PlayStation, Xbox, and many cable boxes. Open the device’s captions menu or the player overlay and set Subtitles to Off there. Then keep the TV’s decoder Off so you don’t create a double layer.

Last Resorts Before A Full Reset

If nothing sticks, save your picture settings, then try these in order:

1. Power cycle the TV and any HDMI boxes.
2. Remove and reinstall the streaming app that keeps turning text back on.
3. Update webOS and apps, then retest.
4. Disconnect HDMI devices, verify captions are Off on live antenna TV, then reconnect one by one.
5. Perform Reset to Initial Settings only after the source-based tests.

When You Should Expect Captions To Reappear

Some broadcasts and apps default to captions On for accessibility. Turn them Off once and the player usually remembers that device. If captions toggle back after each power cycle, update firmware first and check the Accessibility Shortcut assignment.

Quick Diagnostic Flow You Can Do In Two Minutes

1. Play a video from the source you care about.
2. Open that source’s subtitle control and set it to Off.
3. If text remains, turn Off the TV’s captions in Accessibility.
4. If text still remains, disable captions in any connected box or player.
5. Power cycle the TV and the device you just changed.

Why Captions Matter

Captions help viewers who need text on screen, and most broadcast content carries them. Your set can show them when you want them and stay clear when you don’t. Once the source and the TV agree on Off, the setting holds across channels and apps.

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