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    2 min read 5 stepsApril 17, 2026Verified April 2026

    How to Turn On Live Captions on Your Phone

    Live Captions add real-time subtitles to any video, call, or podcast — useful for hard-of-hearing users or noisy environments.

    In this guide (5 steps):

    1. 1.On iPhone, open Accessibility settings
    2. 2.On Android, open Sound settings
    3. 3.Try it with a video
    4. 4.Move or resize the caption box
    5. 5.Turn captions off when not needed
    1

    On iPhone, open Accessibility settings

    ~15s
    Open Settings, tap Accessibility, then scroll down to Live Captions and tap it. Flip the switch on. Your phone may download a language pack — this can take a few minutes.
    2

    On Android, open Sound settings

    ~15s
    Open Settings, tap Sound or Sound & Vibration, then Live Caption. Flip the switch on. On some phones the setting is under Accessibility instead.
    3

    Try it with a video

    ~15s
    Open YouTube and play any video. A black caption box should appear near the bottom of the screen, showing the words as they are spoken.
    4

    Move or resize the caption box

    ~15s
    Drag the caption box with your finger to move it. On Android, pinch with two fingers to make it bigger or smaller. On iPhone, tap it to show a resize handle.
    5

    Turn captions off when not needed

    ~15s
    Live Captions use battery, so turn them off when you do not need them. Follow the same steps above and flip the switch off.

    You Did It!

    You've completed: How to Turn On Live Captions on Your Phone

    Need more help? Get Expert Help from a TekSure Tech

    Live Captions turn spoken words into text on your screen in real time — no internet needed. It works on any audio: YouTube videos, FaceTime calls, podcasts, or even a video someone sends you.

    Both iPhone (iOS 16 and newer) and Android (version 10 and newer) support Live Captions. On iPhone it is called Live Captions; on Android it is called Live Caption (no "s").

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    accessibility
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    Official Resources

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    How to Turn On Live Captions on Your Phone — Step-by-Step Guide | TekSure