Live Captions in Microsoft Teams Meetings

Live captioning allows people who are hard of hearing or deaf, those who may not be able to utilize speakers or have forgotten a headset, and those for whom English is their second language to fully understand an event’s content in real time. They can fully participate in the event, including asking questions about the content.

Educause Review: A Rising Tide: How Closed Captions Can Benefit All Students

Set Up

  1. Participants that prefer to view the captions must download the Teams desktop app. 
  2. Presenters should identify a quiet location. Remove noisy distractions such as pets, AC, fans, typing, etc. 
  3. Presenters should use a headset or USB microphone when possible to cut down on ambient noise and improve sound quality.

During Session - Facilitator

  1. Inform participants how to turn on live captions. NOTE: Live captions are not saved in recordings or transcripts afterward.
  2. Inform participants to mute their microphones and utilize the "Raise Hand" functionality when wanting to speak.
  3. Call upon the participant to turn on their microphone and introduce the speaker ( i.e. "Anthony, you may turn on your microphone and share or ask a question.").
  • NOTE: This will allow those viewing the captions to recognize a change in speakers.

During a Session - Participants

  1. Use Teams desktop app. Live captions are not available in the web version of Teams Meetings.
  2. Turn on live captions. NOTE: Live captions are not saved in recordings or transcripts afterward.
  3. Mute your microphone and utilize the "Raise Hand" functionality when you want to speak.
Print Article