cannot turn off closed captions on macOS Big Sur

Question

cannot turn off closed captions on macOS Big Sur

A few days ago my macbook air randomly decided to start showing closed captions/subtitles for EVERYTHING.

I don't remember changing any setting, so have no idea how this started. Currently running Big Sur v11.7.8.

e.g. if I'm watching Netflix or Youtube on Chrome, the captions pop up, I close them. Then when the next episode starts they are back again! It's becoming really annoying.

Looking in the Accessibility settings there are options to change or add caption styles, but no option to just switch them off permanently.

Any ideas?

MacBook Air 11″

Posted on Aug 18, 2023 10:52 AM

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Answer 1

Best reply

MightHaveToTryIt

Level 1

9 points

Aug 23, 2023 9:47 AM in response to coffeeinawineglass

I had the same issue!

I discovered it wasn't the Mac's System Preferences settings – rather, it was a setting I had mysteriously turned on in CHROME.

Be sure to check your Chrome preferences and search for Live Captions under Accessibility.

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Answer 2

movadin

Level 1

10 points

Feb 11, 2024 5:58 AM in response to coffeeinawineglass

God bless you!! Yes it was a Chrome thing, not Mac. Turned it off in Chrome settings and it's all good now.

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Answer 3

Oct 28, 2023 8:04 AM in response to coffeeinawineglass

It is a problem with the new update. The only solution I have found is to go into the setting menu turn the captions on and then back off. I have to do it every single time I watch a movie on my computer.

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Answer 4

Feb 4, 2024 4:14 AM in response to MightHaveToTryIt

Thank you MightHaveToTryIt!

This was my issue as well. When I went to Chrome Help and searched for "live caption," it referred me to the Mac accessibility menu, where I found all of the live caption options off. I had to go to Chrome/Settings/Accessibility, where I found Live Caption turned on and was able to fix it.

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