How to Turn Off Closed Captioning on a Hisense Roku TV: A Comprehensive Guide

Turning off closed captioning on a Hisense Roku TV can be achieved through several methods, depending on the source of your content and your personal preferences. Generally, you can disable captions through the Roku’s settings menu, within individual streaming apps, or via the Accessibility shortcuts. Let’s dive into each method to ensure you can enjoy your viewing experience without unwanted subtitles.

Understanding Closed Captioning on Your Hisense Roku TV

Before we get into the how, let’s understand the why. Closed captions are designed to make television accessible to viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. However, even if you don’t require them, they can sometimes inadvertently turn on, or you might simply prefer to watch without them.

The important thing to remember is that caption settings can be overridden at different levels. Your Roku TV has system-wide settings, but individual apps can also have their own caption controls. Therefore, if you’re still seeing captions after turning them off in the Roku settings, the issue might lie within the app itself.

Methods for Disabling Closed Captioning

Here are the primary methods you can use to turn off closed captioning on your Hisense Roku TV:

1. Using the Roku Settings Menu

This is the primary and most comprehensive method for controlling closed captions on your Roku TV.

Steps:

1. Press the “Home” button on your Roku remote. This will take you to the main Roku menu.

2. Navigate to “Settings”. It’s usually located towards the bottom of the menu list.

3. Select “Accessibility”. In some older Roku versions, this may be labeled “Captions” or “Closed Captioning.”

4. Choose “Caption mode”. This is where you’ll control when captions appear.

5. Select “Off”. This will disable closed captions system-wide, meaning they shouldn’t appear in any app unless specifically enabled within that app’s settings.

6. Adjust other settings as needed. Within the Accessibility menu, you might also find options to customize the caption style (font, size, color, background) should you ever need to use them in the future.

2. Disabling Captions Within Specific Apps

Many streaming apps have their own internal controls for closed captioning. If you’ve disabled captions in the Roku settings but are still seeing them in a particular app (like Netflix, Hulu, or Amazon Prime Video), you’ll need to adjust the app’s settings.

General Steps (may vary depending on the app):

1. Start playing the content in the app where you’re seeing captions.

2. Pause the content. This usually brings up the playback controls.

3. Look for a “Speech Bubble” icon, “CC” icon, “Subtitles,” or “Audio & Subtitles” option. This is often located near the play/pause controls or in a settings menu.

4. Select “Off” or “None” to disable captions.

Example: Netflix

1. Start playing the content.
2. Move your cursor (or use the D-pad on your remote) to bring up the playback controls.
3. Click the “Audio & Subtitles” icon (it looks like a speech bubble).
4. Select “Off” under the Subtitles section.

Important Note: You might need to repeat this process for each title or each profile within an app, depending on how the app saves your preferences.

3. Using the Asterisk (*) Button Shortcut

Roku offers a convenient shortcut to quickly access caption settings.

Steps:

1. While watching content, press the “*” (asterisk) button on your Roku remote.

2. This should bring up a menu with quick access to various settings, including “Closed captions.”

3. Select “Off” to disable captions.

This is a much faster way to toggle captions on and off than navigating through the full Settings menu.

4. Dealing with Antenna TV (Over-the-Air) Captions

If you’re watching live TV using an antenna, the caption settings are often embedded within the broadcast signal.

Steps:

1. Go to the Roku “Settings” menu.
2. Select “TV Inputs”.
3. Choose your antenna input (usually labeled “Antenna TV” or “Live TV”).
4. Look for a “Closed Captioning” option.
5. Set it to “Off”.

Keep in mind that some older analog broadcasts might not allow you to disable captions.

Troubleshooting Common Captioning Issues

Sometimes, even after following the steps above, you might still experience issues with closed captions. Here’s how to troubleshoot some common problems:

• Persistent Captions: If captions persist after disabling them in both the Roku settings and the app settings, try restarting your Roku TV. Unplug it from the power outlet for a minute, then plug it back in.
• Incorrect Captions: If the captions are displaying the wrong text or are out of sync, this is usually an issue with the content provider. There’s not much you can do on your end except report the issue to the streaming service.
• Accidental Activation: It’s easy to accidentally turn captions on using the “*” button shortcut. Double-check that you haven’t inadvertently activated them.
• Factory Reset: As a last resort, you can perform a factory reset on your Roku TV. This will erase all your settings and restore the TV to its original state. This should resolve any software glitches that might be causing the captioning issue.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are some frequently asked questions about closed captioning on Hisense Roku TVs:

1. Why are closed captions still showing up even after I turned them off in the Roku settings?

This usually happens because individual streaming apps have their own caption settings that override the Roku’s system-wide settings. You’ll need to disable captions within the app itself.

2. How do I change the appearance of closed captions on my Hisense Roku TV?

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Caption style. Here, you can adjust the font, size, color, background color, and opacity of the captions.

3. Can I use voice commands to turn off closed captions on my Roku TV?

Yes, if you have a Roku Voice Remote or the Roku mobile app with voice control, you can say something like “Turn off closed captions” or “Disable subtitles.”

4. How do I turn on closed captions if I need them?

Follow the same steps as turning them off, but instead of selecting “Off,” choose “On,” “On Instant Replay,” or “Always on,” depending on your preference.

5. What is the difference between closed captions and subtitles?

Closed captions are designed for viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing and include sound effects and other non-speech elements. Subtitles typically only translate dialogue into another language. However, the terms are often used interchangeably.

6. My Roku TV doesn’t have an “Accessibility” menu. Where can I find the caption settings?

In older Roku versions, the caption settings might be located directly under “Settings” or within a “Captions” or “Closed Captioning” submenu.

7. Does the Roku mobile app have caption controls?

No, the Roku mobile app does not have direct caption controls. You’ll need to use the on-screen menus on your TV to adjust caption settings.

8. I’m using an HDMI device connected to my Roku TV. How do I control the captions?

If you’re using an external device (like a Blu-ray player or game console) connected via HDMI, the caption settings are usually controlled by the device itself, not the Roku TV. Consult the device’s manual for instructions.

9. Will turning off captions on my Roku TV affect other devices connected to my home network?

No, turning off captions on your Roku TV only affects that specific device. It won’t impact other TVs, computers, or mobile devices on your network.

10. Can I set different caption preferences for different Roku user profiles?

No, Roku does not currently support separate caption preferences for different user profiles. The caption settings are system-wide.

11. Why are the captions delayed or out of sync with the audio?

This is usually a problem with the content provider or the streaming app. Try restarting the app or contacting the streaming service’s support. Sometimes, briefly pausing and resuming playback can also help resync the captions.

12. Is there a way to permanently disable closed captions on my Hisense Roku TV so I never have to worry about them turning on again?

While there’s no guaranteed way to permanently disable captions, setting the Roku’s system-wide caption mode to “Off” and then disabling captions within each of your frequently used apps should prevent them from appearing unless you specifically turn them back on. Regularly check these settings to ensure they haven’t been accidentally changed.