How to Use Live Captions in Windows 11 for Accessibility

Live captions in Windows 11 automatically transcribe spoken audio into text, making it easier for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, or in noisy environments to follow along. This feature converts audio from videos, meetings, or any other audio source into readable captions directly on your screen, without needing an internet connection. Here’s how you can turn on and personalize live captions to fit your needs.

How to Turn On Live Captions in Windows 11

Windows 11 offers several straightforward ways to activate live captions. The quickest and most convenient method is using a keyboard shortcut.

Press the keyboard shortcut Windows + Ctrl + L to instantly toggle live captions on or off. The first time you activate this feature, Windows will ask you whether you want to set up live captions. Click “Yes, Continue” to proceed. This initial setup only happens once and will let Windows download the language files required for captioning.

Once downloaded, click “Continue” again and live captions will automatically appear at the top of your screen whenever audio plays. You can test this by playing a video or audio file and observing the captions appearing in real-time.

Alternative Ways to Enable Live Captions

Enable via Quick Settings

Press Windows + A to open the Quick Settings panel. Then click the “Accessibility” icon when the panel appears.

Toggle the “Live captions” option to turn it on or off quickly.

Enable via Windows Settings

Open Settings by pressing Windows + I and then click “Accessibility” on the left.

On the Accessibility page, select “Captions” under the Hearing section.

Toggle the “Live captions” button to enable it. If this is your first time, you will again be prompted to download the necessary language files.

Customizing Your Live Captions Experience

Windows 11 allows you to personalize how live captions appear on your screen, ensuring readability and comfort.

With live captions active, click the gear-shaped “Settings” icon within the captions window.

Select “Position” to choose where the captions appear: “Above screen,” “Below screen,” or “Overlaid on screen.” The “Overlaid on screen” option creates a movable and resizable window that you can drag to your preferred location.

To adjust the caption style, click “Preferences,” then select “Caption style.”

From here, you can choose built-in styles on the right, such as white on black, small caps, large text, or yellow on blue. Click “Edit” to create your own custom caption styles.

You can then adjust font size, color, background, and opacity to match your visual preferences.

Including Microphone Audio in Live Captions

Windows 11 also lets you caption your own speech captured by your microphone, useful for in-person conversations or presentations.

Open live captions settings by clicking the gear icon in the captions window.

Select “Preferences,” then toggle on the “Include microphone audio” option. By default, this feature is turned off to protect your privacy, so you must explicitly enable it.

Ensure your microphone is properly configured by opening the “Settings” app using the Win + I shortcut and clicking “System” on the left. Then click “Sound” on the right side.

Then click “Microphone” to adjust all microphone-related settings.

Note: Windows prioritizes external audio over microphone audio. If someone else is speaking in a virtual meeting and you speak simultaneously, captions will prioritize the other person’s audio.

Using Live Captions with Translation (Copilot+ PCs)

If you’re using a Copilot+ PC running Windows 11 version 24H2 or later, live captions can translate audio from 44 languages into English instantly, making it easier to understand foreign-language content.

Ensure your device is updated to Windows 11 version 24H2 or newer.

When you turn on live captions, select English (United States) as the output language. Windows automatically translates audio from supported languages into English captions.

This feature is especially beneficial if you frequently watch educational content, attend international meetings, or consume media in languages other than English.

Important Privacy Information

All audio processing for live captions happens directly on your device. According to Microsoft’s official documentation, neither audio nor generated captions ever leave your computer or get stored in the cloud. This ensures your privacy and data security while using this accessibility feature.

With live captions enabled and customized to your preferences, you can now comfortably follow along with audio content on your Windows 11 device, whether you’re in a noisy environment, learning a new language, or need accessibility support.