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On a supported Windows 11 PC, press Windows key + Ctrl + L to open Live Captions. The feature converts speech from system audio into on-screen text and can optionally caption microphone audio. Microsoft documents Live Captions for Windows 11 version 22H2 and later; initial setup may require an internet connection to download speech-recognition files, but captioning can work offline afterward.
What Windows Live Captions does
Live Captions automatically turns detected speech into text in a caption panel that remains available across Windows. It can caption speech from videos, meetings, podcasts, downloaded media, and other audio routed through the PC. It can also include microphone audio when that option is enabled.
This is different from captions built into YouTube, Teams, Zoom, browsers, or other individual apps. Live Captions operates at the Windows level, while app-specific captions are controlled by the application.
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Check whether your PC supports Live Captions
Microsoft currently documents Live Captions for Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. To check your version:
- Open Settings.
- Select System, then About.
- Under Windows specifications, check the edition and version.
Windows 10 should be treated separately: Microsoft support for Windows 10 ended on October 14, 2025, and the current Live Captions documentation applies to Windows 11. If the feature is missing, confirm the Windows version, install pending updates, and check whether your organization has restricted accessibility features.
See Microsoft’s current Live Captions documentation for supported languages and requirements.
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How to turn on Live Captions
Fastest method: keyboard shortcut
Press:
Windows key + Ctrl + LPress the same shortcut again to turn the feature off.
From Settings
- Open Start > Settings.
- Select Accessibility.
- Select Captions.
- Turn on Live captions.
From Quick Settings
- Select the network, volume, or battery control on the taskbar.
- Open the Accessibility flyout.
- Select Live captions.
Depending on the Windows build, you can also open Start > All apps > Accessibility > Live captions.
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Complete the first-time setup
The first launch displays a consent prompt for on-device voice processing and asks you to download the speech-recognition files for the selected language.
- Accept the setup prompt if you want to use Live Captions.
- Choose the required speech-recognition language.
- Allow the language files to download completely.
- Play a video or other speech-containing audio to test the feature.
An internet connection may be needed for the initial download. Do not interrupt the download. If the preferred language is unavailable, choose one of the languages offered by Live Captions rather than assuming that every Windows language pack supports caption recognition.
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Caption computer audio
- Start a video, meeting, podcast, or other audio containing speech.
- Confirm that Windows is using the intended playback device.
- Make sure the Live Captions panel is visible.
- Allow a short delay while speech is recognized.
Live Captions is automatic speech recognition, not a guaranteed verbatim transcript. Background noise, music, accents, specialist terms, multiple speakers, poor audio, and people talking over one another can reduce accuracy. Names, numbers, and technical vocabulary deserve particular verification.
Caption microphone audio
Microphone captioning is optional and off by default. To enable it:
- Open the Live Captions panel.
- Open its Settings or Preferences.
- Turn on Include microphone audio.
- If necessary, open Settings > System > Sound and check the selected input device.
- Speak into the microphone and confirm that text appears.
With this option enabled, nearby speech may be captioned even when it is unrelated to the video or meeting audio.
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Customize caption appearance and position
Open Settings > Accessibility > Captions and select the available caption-style controls. Depending on your Windows build, you can adjust:
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- Background color and opacity
- Caption-window color and opacity
- Preset caption styles
Live Captions can generally be docked near the top or bottom of the display, or displayed in a floating window. A floating panel can be moved and resized; a docked panel can keep captions away from important video controls. UI labels and positioning options can vary by Windows build.
Change caption languages
Three language settings should not be confused:
- Windows display language: The language used for menus and interface text.
- Speech-recognition language: The language Live Captions listens for.
- Translation output language: The language into which supported speech is translated.
Use the Live Captions language controls to add or switch speech-recognition languages. A general Windows language pack does not automatically prove that Live Captions supports the same language; Microsoft lists language components separately in its Windows language documentation.
Live Caption translation is different
Ordinary Live Captions transcribes speech in a selected recognition language. Live Caption translation is a separate capability restricted to Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 version 24H2 or later.
Microsoft says translation supports more than 40 languages into English and 27 languages into Simplified Chinese. A standard Windows 11 PC may support transcription but not translation. If translation is unavailable, check the Copilot+ requirement, Windows version, and supported source and output languages.
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Does Live Captions work offline?
Yes, after the required speech-recognition language files have been downloaded. The sequence is:
- Initial setup: Internet access may be required to download language files.
- Later captioning: Live Captions can continue working without an internet connection.
- Adding another language: An additional download may be required.
- Translation: Has separate hardware, Windows-version, and language requirements.
Troubleshoot Live Captions
Live Captions will not start
- Confirm that the PC runs Windows 11 version 22H2 or later.
- Install pending Windows updates.
- Open Settings > Accessibility > Captions directly.
- Turn Live Captions off and on again.
- Repeat the language setup if the files were not installed.
- Restart Windows if the panel or caption process is stuck.
The caption panel is blank
- Check that the media actually contains speech.
- Confirm that Windows is using the expected playback device.
- Make sure the volume is not muted.
- Choose the speech-recognition language that matches the audio.
- Verify that the language download finished.
- Try another audio source if the application or remote session isolates its audio.
Microphone speech is missing
- Enable Include microphone audio in Live Captions preferences.
- Check Settings > System > Sound > Input.
- Review Windows microphone permissions.
- Unmute the microphone and check its input level.
- Close applications that may be exclusively controlling the microphone.
Microphone troubleshooting details are also covered in Microsoft’s Live Captions FAQ.
Captions are inaccurate or delayed
Reduce background noise, use a better or closer microphone, select the correct language, and avoid overlapping speakers. For a formal, searchable, exportable, or legally important record, use an official application transcript or professional captioning service instead.
The captions are difficult to read
Return to Settings > Accessibility > Captions and increase text size, contrast, or opacity. Move the panel or switch between docked and floating placement so it does not cover the media controls.
What Live Captions cannot do
- It does not guarantee perfect recognition.
- It is not automatically a saved transcript.
- It does not necessarily provide speaker labels, search, or export.
- It does not translate every language on every Windows PC.
- Its privacy characteristics should not be applied to cloud-based third-party captioning tools.
For meetings, YouTube videos, or browser media, the application’s own captions may offer features that Windows Live Captions does not. Cloud transcription services can provide exports and speaker labeling, but may have different privacy, account, and cost requirements.
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How to turn Live Captions off
Use Windows key + Ctrl + L, select the close control on the Live Captions panel, or disable the feature through Settings > Accessibility > Captions or the Quick Settings Accessibility flyout.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Live Captions available on Windows 10?
Microsoft’s current documentation covers Live Captions for Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. Windows 10 support ended on October 14, 2025.
Does Live Captions require the internet?
Internet access may be required to download speech-recognition files the first time. After that, captioning can work offline for installed languages.
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Does Live Captions save a transcript?
No. Microsoft says generated captions are not stored on the device or in the cloud. Live Captions should not be treated as an automatic meeting transcript.
Why is microphone captioning off by default?
Microphone captioning is optional because it transcribes nearby microphone speech in addition to system audio. Enable Include microphone audio in Live Captions preferences when needed.
Is Live Caption translation available on every Windows 11 PC?
No. Microsoft limits translation to Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 version 24H2 or later, with supported source and output languages.
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