Zoom offers automatic closed captioning in English and live transcription. Once enabled, this function automatically adds the text of the meeting dialogue to the bottom of the video. The host must enable live transcription for participants to access closed captions. Though this feature is now available, there are limitations to the accuracy of Zoom's live transcription.
Using live transcription requires action from both the host and participant:
- Host - “Enable Auto-Transcription" after you've started your meeting. Live auto-transcription must be enabled for each meeting for which you would like it to be available.
- Participant - Click the "Live Transcript" button from the in-meeting Zoom toolbar and select one of the options from the pop-up menu. As a participant, you must click “Live Transcript” for each meeting you would like it to be available.
This article covers:
- Sign in to Zoom from myhilltop.stedwards.edu
- In the left navigation menu, click "Settings."
- Under the Meeting section, choose In Meeting (Advanced) and scroll to "Closed Captioning."
- Turn on the button for "Closed Captioning."
- Check the box next to "Enable live transcription service to show transcript on the side panel in-meeting."
- Under "Save Captions," turn on the option to allow participants to save fully closed captions or transcripts.
Live transcription (automatic closed captioning) is not automatically enabled for all your meetings by default. You must enable them for each meeting for your participants to enable/view them for each meeting.
- To enable auto-transcription, first start your meeting
- Click the "CC Live Transcript" icon in your Zoom meeting controls from your host toolbar.
- Note: If you cannot see this button, click the "More" icon.
- From the pop-up panel under "Live Transcription," click Enable."
- Note: Once enabled, you will see the live transcript below your video. However, these will not automatically appear for your participants. Participants must click the CC button from the in-meeting Zoom toolbar to view the live transcription (automatic closed captioning).
We recommend commenting at the beginning of your meeting to inform participants that live transcription is available, with directions for enabling it if you are hosting a meeting with live transcription.
When a Zoom host enables live transcription, participants may see a "Live Transcript is available" message above the "CC Live Transcript" button.
Once the host enables live transcription, participants can click the "CC Live Transcript" button to choose how to view the transcription.
- Click the "CC Live Transcript" button.
- Click one of the following:
- Show Subtitles: Displays captioning on the bottom of the video. You can also select Hide Subtitle once subtitles are enabled.
Here is an example of a live transcription at the bottom of a Zoom meeting screen once a host or participant starts talking.
- View Full Transcript: Opens a panel/pop-up and displays captions with the speaker's name and time stamp. Participants will also see a button to save the transcript unless the host has disabled this functionality in that pop-up. If enabled, click "Save Transcript."A copy of the transcript will be downloaded to your machine as a .txt file.
- Note: Transcripts save up to the moment you click Save Transcript. If you click Save Transcript multiple times throughout the event, it will overwrite/update the existing file. We recommend clicking Save Transcript just before the meeting ends to ensure you have the transcript from the entire meeting. There is no option to auto-save these transcripts.
Once you have enabled live transcription, you can adjust the subtitle settings by clicking the arrow to the right of the Live Transcription button:
The accuracy of Zoom's live transcription feature depends on many variables, such as but not limited to:
- Background noise
- Volume and clarity of the speaker's voice
- Speaker's proficiency with the English language
- Lexicons and dialects specific to geography or community
- Live transcription does not work in breakout rooms, only within the main session.
Because of these limitations, if you require speech-to-text support for any compliance needs in your meetings and webinars, we recommend using a manual captioner who can guarantee a specific accuracy.
For further Zoom help and resources, visit the Zoom Help Center.