Consistent issues with dropped subtitles

This bothers me too. I found a solution for this issue by terminating my AppleTV+ subscription. Why paying for something that does not work?

Unfortunately, doesn't seem like this issue is getting any attention by Apple. I will add, the problem has most often occurred for me on my iPad Pro when I have tried to skip forward or back multiple times in the same episode. With Invasion, I paused multiple times to try and increase the screen brightness (a losing battle). After that start/stop/skip situation, the subtitles would completely crap out. Then I'd pause/rewind trying to get the subtitles back (selecting always on or recommended etc). Even force closing the app and restarting. The only solution was to give up and try another day. They *would be back on a follow up viewing.

The best advice is to disable and enable subtitles, which can partially work for up to a day. But still only partially, as you get subtitles sometimes and then they disappear. Switching between size and type of font sometimes works for a day, but still only partially. With a show like MacBeth, I need subtitles the whole show (because I was born in the 20th century). My biggest question is why? I thought streaming services had this figured out years ago. Maybe Apple needs to hire a tech company to explain to Apple how to fix this.

Hello 1Jrh5,

It sounds like you are experiencing issues with subtitles on the Apple TV app. We understand how important this is to you and we are here to help.

First, let's try disabling the subtitles and enabling them again using this article: Use subtitles and captioning in the Apple TV app

If the issue persists, can you provide a few more details? Which device and OS are you using with the Apple TV app? Also, when did you first notice this?

Cheers!

Same issue. Sony Bravia TV with Apple TV app. I enable regular English subtitles for all programs due to hearing issues. With the Invasion series, the English subtitles for English-speaking characters work consistently. But the Japanese to English translations for characters speaking Japanese disappear in the middle of dialogue. If I reset everything the Japanese translation subtitles come back, but only for a few moments. Very annoying.

I absolutely agree with EdDC! We are having the same issue and gave up watching Macbeth last night because of this issue. Previously, watching "For All Mankind" the subtitles/closed-captioning would disappear after about 30 seconds, but then if we paused the video and backed it up a bit (to catch that missed bit of dialog), the subtitles would come back and be fine for the rest of the episode. That's not the case with Macbeth; the subtitles go away and come back erratically. We're using an Amazon Fire Stick with the Apple TV app.

Same issue here. Subtiles drops after some minutes or so, and I have to change subtitles to other language and then back again. Very frustrating. My ATV+ app is installed on Nvdia Shield 2016 unit and updated to the newest version.

I've been having this issue for a while now on my TCL. Apple TV+ is too much of a resource hog for the built-in Roku, so I'm running it through my Fire Stick 4K. But same thing, works for a short while then nothing. Very frustrating for a show like Invasion, that seems to speaks every language there is. I've turned the captions from Off to Auto to English over and over, the result is always the same. I'm guessing, that those with Apple TV devices aren't having any issues.

I'm having the same issue. I've timed it multiple times, from the time I start video with subtitles until they disappear. It's about 50-60 seconds. If I exit the video (Foundation in this case) and go to Apple TV+ settings - Accessibility - Subtitles and captions, change the setting and go back to the video, they work and then disappear again after 50-60 seconds. I tried other shows, like Ted Lasso, and the same problem occurs. I'm using a Firestick with the Apple TV+ app in the 'man cave', both with the latest software updates. The Apple TV app on my Samsung TV doesn't have this problem, so thinking it might be the Firestick, I was going to purchase another Firestick, until I found this thread. Turned Firestick subtitles off and on, to no avail. Very frustrating.

It seems to me that the issue is more frequent when one pauses the video and turns it on again. But the frequency is hard to predict and thus recreate 1:1.. but happens multiple times while watching fx. Ted Lasso atm. Also DRM issues happens a couple of times. I have an ATV+ 3 month trial after buying new iphone. Sadly not going to prolong the trial if issue is not fixed by then. Otherwise nice service.

Experiencing the very same issue on Apple Tv app for Android TV (Philips) . After playing the show (in my case “Defending Jacob”) there are subtitles for about 30s and then they disappear. Tried switching subtitles of and on again, resetting the app - nothing helps, still subtitles for around 30 sec after playing. It’s strange, because I’ve watched the first episode without any issues, and it started happening from second episode.

Dropped subtitles are especially irritating when watching Macbeth, where it helps to see the words visually. We go back and forth to settings and reset, trying different fonts and transparency level, but nothing works. We gave up on the show. I like subtitles for all shows, by the way, since I misunderstand words from time to time.

I’m watching invasion on Apple TV app on a Google TV. Same issue, subtitled work for a while and then stop which is annoying because it often happens during the scenes in Japanese.

surely apple have to be aware of this?

Ive got the same problem. After a few minutes the subtitles vanish, ive tried polish, english and hard of hearing subtitles - switching subtitles works only for a while and then the subs vanish again. (Suspicion and Afterparty)

Ive got the same problem. After a few minutes the subtitles vanish, ive tried polish, english and hard of hearing subtitles - switching subtitles works only for a while and then the subs vanish again. (Suspicion and Afterparty)