Short guide:
- Click the Apple icon
in the top left corner of the screen and select System Settings. - Click Accessibility in the sidebar.
- Select Captions from the list of Accessibility options.
- Choose one of the the pre-set styles or click the + (plus) button to create your own style.
- If you would like to use closed captions and subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (when available), click the toggle switch for Prefer closed captions and SDH.
Before and after
This section gives you step by step instructions on how to customise subtitles and captions in macOS 14 Sonoma, with pictures of the screens to help.
Open System Settings
1. Click the Apple icon in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings from the menu.
Open the Accessibility settings
2. In the System Settings window, click Accessibility in the sidebar.
Find the Captions settings
3. On the right, choose Captions from the list of Accessibility options on the right.
Choose a style for subtitles and captions
4. On the Captions page, choose one of the pre-set styles or click the + (plus) button to create your own style. Note: A preview of the current style appears on the image at the top of the window.
Creating your own style
5. To create your own style for substiles and captions, click the + (plus) button.
In the pop-up window, choose your styles for each of the options – text size, font, background colour, etc.
When you are happy with your settings, click OK.
Repeat these steps if you want to create more custom styles.
Use closed captions and SDH (when available)
6. If you would like to use closed captions and subtitles for the deaf and hard of hearing (when available), click the toggle switch for Prefer closed captions and SDH to turn it on.
Close System Settings
7. When you are happy with your settings, close System Settings by clicking the Close button (red circle) in the top-left corner of the window or using the Cmd + W keyboard shortcut.
Note: If this does not work it could be because your computer settings are managed by someone else (an IT department or administrator for example). If so, you will need to contact them to access these settings or for help.
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