How to Turn Closed Captioning On or Off on a Panasonic TV

Closed captioning is not just for the hearing impaired. Have you ever wanted to watch TV, but you didn’t want to disturb the people around you? Closed captions (CC) are perfect for a situation like that.

Other times, though, you want to get that text off the screen. Maybe your CC viewing session is done, you can turn the volume up, and you don’t need to read the dialogue any longer. Or maybe seeing text while you’re trying to watch a program is distracting.

Whichever the case, this article will help you be the master of your Panasonic TV’s caption capabilities.

Closed Captions Versus Subtitles

First, are you sure that you have on the closed captioning or are you actually reading subtitles?

Subtitles and closed captions may look similar, but there are some subtle differences.

Subtitles make it possible to watch movies in languages you don’t understand. Imagine trying to watch the Academy Award-winning movie Parasite but you need to know fluent Korean to appreciate it. Subtitles make it possible to enjoy the movie because it translates the language. Subtitles let you understand the dialogue and also hear everything else.

Captions, however, are primarily for people who have a hearing impairment. Because many times they can’t hear the dialogue or sound effects from the television, with closed captioning they’ll see text for both.

The difference between closed captioning and subtitles is important because there may be some slight differences in turning either feature on or off.

Toggling CC Feature on a TV

The most direct way to switch those closed captions on and off is to do it directly from your TV. The exact way to do so may vary depending on which model of Panasonic TV you have, but here are some general steps:

Remote Control Button

Sometimes the solution for toggling the CC feature is right on your remote control. You need to have a genuine Panasonic remote, though. Universal remotes or smartphones with an app that works as your remote don’t have the same configuration.

If you have a Panasonic Viera TV, grab your remote and check out the line of buttons near the top. You should see one that says “CC.” Pressing that button can toggle the feature on and off.

Using the TV Menu

You can also try using your TV menu to toggle closed captions on and off.

First, turn on your TV and go to its main menu by pressing the “Menu” button on your remote. You’ll see your Menu options and be able to toggle through them.

When you’re on the main menu, go to the “SetUp” option and select it by pressing “OK” on the remote. This opens an additional menu with all your TV setup options. Scroll down to the “CC” option and press the “OK” button on your remote to open the next menu.

On the next menu, scroll to the “Mode” option and hit “OK” to change the closed caption settings. Select whether you want it “On” or “Off” and press “OK” again for the changes to take effect.

While Streaming

You may have your television closed caption feature toggled on or off, but when you stream a show on a service you still see closed captioning. This may be because the CC settings selected for the streaming platform may be set differently.

So, if you’re watching something on Netflix, for example, and need those captions on (or off) you can follow these steps:

• Open Netflix.
  
• Select a program.
• Hit the “Play” button.
  
• Press the up or down arrow on your remote (for Smart TVs, consoles, and streaming devices).
  
• Select the “Dialog” icon near the bottom or top of the screen.
• Change your audio options.

These steps work similarly on other streaming platforms, too.

One Last Thing About Closed Captioning

Your geographical region may also affect how this feature operates.

By law, televisions sold in the United States require a CC feature. However, if you bought your TV somewhere else in the world, you may not see this button on your remote. Closed captioning is becoming more widely accepted, but it’s not a guarantee that you’ll have it available on your TV. Especially if you’re outside of the U.S.

What’s your experience with toggling the closed caption features on your TV? Tell us about it in the comments section below.