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Accessible technology

Follow the words in a way that works for you.

Explore captions and hearing-related settings, with realistic limits on automatic transcription.

About 5 minutes to read · 3 steps · Try one thing, keep what helps

A woman wearing hearing aids video-calls a grandchild on a laptop with captions under the video.
AI illustration

Start with the app or video

Look for a Captions, CC or Subtitles control in the app you are using. Device-level live captions are another option on supported devices. Automatic captions can get words and numbers wrong.

  1. Check the caption language and adjust text appearance if offered.
  2. Try a short, clear recording first.
  3. Confirm important names, amounts and instructions through another reliable method.

Sources:[1][2]

Find your device’s options

Availability depends on model, software, language and region. A missing menu may mean the feature is unsupported—not that you did anything wrong.

  1. iPhone: Settings → Accessibility → Live Captions, if supported. Check the official guide for your model and iOS version.
  2. Android: search Settings for Live Caption. Google says to check with your manufacturer if it is not listed.
  3. Windows 11: review Microsoft’s Live captions guide for supported versions and language setup.

Sources:[1][2][3]

Review audio and privacy choices

Windows also offers hearing-related adjustments such as mono audio. Caption and voice tools have different privacy practices. Do not assume every device processes, stores or shares audio in the same way.

Sources:[1][2][3][4]

Try one small step

A little practice, no pressure.

Play a familiar short clip and turn captions on. Compare a few lines with what is spoken. Try adjusting the size or position if your device supports it.

Sources & review

Source check: October 5, 2026. These links go to the original publishers; listing a source is not an endorsement. Device steps were checked against these manufacturer guides, not tested on your physical device. Menus vary by model, software version, language and region.

  1. Apple — Get live captions of spoken audio on iPhone - Apple Support (CA)
  2. Google — Live Caption: Caption media & calls on your device - Android Accessibility Help
  3. Microsoft — Use live captions to better understand audio | Microsoft Support
  4. Microsoft — Make Windows easier to hear | Microsoft Support
Read our source standards →

When you’re ready

Next guide: There is more than one way to use a device. →