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How to Use Live Caption on Android

Tap each step to follow along in order.

  1. Turn it on quickly with the volume buttons

    Press a volume button to bring up the volume slider, then tap the speech-bubble Live Caption icon that appears below it to turn captions on or off instantly.

  2. Find Live Caption in Settings

    In the Settings app, go to "Sound & Vibration" or "Accessibility" and select "Live Caption." The exact menu location can vary a bit by manufacturer.

  3. Turn on captions

    Flip the toggle, and any video, voice message, or call played afterward automatically gets real-time captions.

  4. Adjust how captions display

    Drag the caption box to reposition it on screen, or adjust the text size and background transparency to your liking.

  5. Fine-tune the display options

    On some devices, you can also control whether profanity is shown in captions and adjust the size of the caption box.

  6. Good situations to use it in

    Especially useful on public transit, in a meeting room, or anywhere you cannot make sound, as well as for anyone who is hard of hearing β€” and since captions are generated entirely on the device, it works without using any mobile data.

When it is especially useful

Live Caption is a great way to quickly follow the content of a video or voice message in a loud environment or a situation where you cannot turn on sound. Because captions are generated entirely on the device, there is no data usage to worry about.

It all runs on the device itself

Once the language model has been downloaded the first time, Live Caption keeps generating captions with no internet connection needed at all. No audio ever gets sent anywhere, which is a genuine privacy advantage, and it keeps working fine even in airplane mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Live Caption work in every app?

It works in most video, music, and voice-messaging apps, though some apps, live broadcasts, or DRM-protected content may not be supported.

Does it show captions during phone calls too?

On some newer devices and Android versions, Live Caption can be applied to phone calls or voice memos as well, though support varies by device and software version.