Apps & viewing

[CableCut2Roko]

I have numerous Roku Ultra and Ultra LT devices that have stopped showing Closed Captioning on YouTube TV.

I have tried, updating Roku Software, deleting and reinstalling YouTube TV and doing a factory reset on the devices.  I can get Closed Captioning on Netflix but not YouTube TV This appears to be a Roku issue as I see may people with the same issue.

When I deleted YouTubeTV off one device it actually removed it from a 2nd device while my wife was watching it!

Any help in resolving it would be appreciated.  

[CableCut2Roko]

I stumbled across the solution, and it happened to be with the YouTube TV application.

The solution was as follows: when watching any station hit the down arrow on the remote which opens a variety of functions.  One of these expose a button for Closed Captioning.  Use the arrows to select the CC button and make the needed changes.

Whew!  Being a household of hearing-impaired people, loosing closed captioning really this threw us!

[AvsGunnar]

@CableCut2Roko 

Just to clarify a couple of things for you.  When you link Roku devices to the same account (use the same email account/same email address for all your Roku devices) the addition or removal of channel/apps from one Roku device will result in the adding or removing of that channel from, all linked Roku devices.

Second, regarding Closed Captioning.  The main settings for Closed Captioning are located under Settings/Accessibiity on your Roku devices. (each device will need to be configured seperately).  You can also bring up the Closed Captioning and Accessibility menu while watching content by pressing the asterick (*) button on your Roku remote.

Additionally, some channels/apps have their own additional Closed Captioning/Subtitle menus.  Generally, you can access them by pressing the "Pause/Play" button on your Roku remote which will then provide you an overlay banner with options from within the channel/app.  Some other channels/app use different remote buttons (like the Up or Down arrow buttons).  

You may just have to experiment with each channel/app you will be watching on your Roku device.  Note, there are a few channels/apps that lack Closed Captions/Subtitles altogether, so may not be available (even though a menu may show it Enabled).

[Harry6]

I have had this same issue for a few months now and may have stumbled onto the solution, at least for me.  I have two Roku Ultra models in the house.  One began to stop showing closed captioning but the other was fine.  Each time the problem unit did this, I could get captions working again by rebooting the Roku unit.  This happened several times every day!  I appreciate all the helpful comments from those telling us how to turn on closed captioning but this is clearly a different problem altogether.  It quits even when the settings are always on. 

I switched my two Roku units and the formerly working one immediately began to drop closed captioning too while the one giving me the problem worked normally on the other system.  This indicated to me the problem was not with the Roku but something else in the system.  I figured it had to be my surge protector or perhaps the HDMI cable.  I first replaced the surge protector and now everything works fine and it is back to normal operation. 

My surge protector was aver 10 years old and I did not take into account that those things eventually need to be replaced. 

If your closed captioning stops working and you have tried everything else and you are using a surge protector, replace the surge protector or at least by-pass it long enough to see if the problem persists with the surge protector out of the system.

[RokuCarly]

Hi, @Harry6.

Greetings from the Roku Community.

Thanks for sharing your solution! This will really help out other users who are dealing with the same issue.

Feel free to reach out anytime you need help or create a new post for a different concern. We hope you continue to have a Happy Streaming! 💜

Best regards,
Carly

[Harry6]

Hello,  Weighing in again with information that may help folks fighting with the issue of their Roku frequently dropping Closed Captioning despite it being turned on in settings.  I have tried many things and everything points to a power management issue.  I tried this and suggest others give it a try as well if nothing else has worked for them.  Go to the Roku app and navigate to settings on the left side menu bar.  Select system and then power.  Under the power tab select auto power savings and turn it off if it is set to reduce power to the unit after 20 minutes of disuse and this seems to be when closed captioning most often is dropped.  Doing this will make the unit use a little more power but others say saving from this feature is minimal at best and if it causes closed captioning to be dropped it is just not worth it in my opinion.    Harry6