Live captions are useful for video calls so you can see what’s being said in addition to hearing it. Basically, captions, you can turn on live captions in Google Meet, turn them off if needed, and change the language.
If you’re having trouble hearing what participants are saying, live captions can make sure you don’t miss a thing during your Google Meet video call. You can set a preferred language, but note that the speaker must speak that language for the feature to work; it is not a live translation tool.
Live captions in Google Meet on the web
You have a few easy ways to enable live captions on the Google Meet website. Start or join your meeting normally.
To use your default language, click the Captions button in the bottom toolbar. The button turns blue and the subtitles are activated.
Captions button enabled on Google Meet
To enable subtitles and choose the language at the same time, click on the three dots to open More options at the bottom of the screen and select “Subtitles.”
More options menu, select Captions
Choose the subtitle language and click “Apply”.
Apply caption language
Another way to enable captions is in the settings. Click on the three dots, choose “Settings” and choose “Captions”. » Turn on the toggle at the top for captions.
Captions enabled in Settings
You’ll see captions appear at the bottom of the screen when participants are speaking.
Google Meet live subtitles on the web
Change the language on the web
English subtitles are available in all locations. In North America and Latin America, you can choose German, Portuguese, or Spanish. In Asia Pacific or Europe, you can select English, French, German, Portuguese, or Spanish.
You have a few easy ways to change the caption language.
Method One: When you first enable Live Captions, you will see a brief message informing you. You can click on the language in blue font in this message to change the dialect immediately if necessary.
Message captions with language
Method Two: Click on the Caption Settings icon which displays the current language. Choose the language from the drop-down list and click the X to close the settings.
Third method: Click on the three dots at the bottom, choose “Captions”, choose a language from the list and click “Apply”.
Captions language applied
Fourth method: Click on the three dots, select “Settings”, choose “Captions” and choose a language from the drop-down list. Click the X in the top right to close Settings.
Caption languages in settings
The language you choose remains the default language until you change it.
Disable captions on the web
You can turn off captions at any time during your video call in one of three ways.
First method: Click on the Captions button in the toolbar at the bottom. This removes the blue highlight from the button and disables subtitles.
Captions button disabled on Google Meet
Second method: Click on the three dots, choose “Captions“, choose “Disabled“ and click on “Apply”.
Disabled captions applied
Third method: Click on the three dots, choose “Settings”, choose “Captions” and turn off the toggle at the top.
Disabled captions in settings
Live captions in the Google Meet mobile app
If you’re joining a Google Meet from your Android, iPhone, or iPad device, it’s just as easy to turn on live captions.
Open the Meet app and join or start your meeting as you normally would. Tap the three dots at the bottom right and select “Show Captions.”
Show captions in the Google Meet mobile app
You’ll see captions appear at the bottom of the screen when participants are speaking.
Live captions in Google Meet mobile
Change the language in the mobile app
Like the Google Meet website, captions are available in English in all regions. For Asia-Pacific or Europe, you can choose English, French, German, Portuguese, or Spanish.
When you enable live captions for the first time, you’ll see a brief message that captions have been enabled with the language you’ve chosen. To change the language immediately, tap the blue language in the message.
Select “Language” under the captions, choose the dialect and press the arrow to go back. You can then tap the X in the top left to close Settings.
Legend languages
To change the caption language later, tap the three dots and choose “Settings.” »Select “Language” and choose the dialect. Then tap the arrow to go back and the X to close the settings.
Legend languages
The language you choose remains the default language until you change it.
Disable captions in the mobile app
If you want to disable subtitles during your video call, it only takes two taps. Tap the three dots at the bottom right and select “Hide Captions.”
Hide captions in the Google Meet mobile app