How to Use Zoom Subtitle to Improve Meetings

It’s easy to lose track of what someone said in a busy Zoom meeting, especially when people talk over each other or the audio cuts out. Subtitles can help make conversations clearer. They show the speaker’s words on-screen as they’re spoken to help you catch every detail in real time.

In this article, you’ll learn how Zoom subtitles work, how to turn them on or off, and what limitations to keep in mind. We’ll also show you a smarter way to get accurate transcripts from your meetings without relying only on Zoom.

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What Is A Subtitle?

A subtitle shows the text of what someone is saying during a Zoom call. It appears at the bottom of the screen and updates in real time as people speak. This makes it easier to follow the conversation, especially if the audio isn’t clear or if you're in a noisy environment.

Subtitle vs closed captions

Subtitles focus only on the spoken words. They assume the viewer can hear the audio.

Closed captioning, on the other hand, includes extra details like sound effects, background noise, and speaker names. It’s built to support people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Zoom subtitles often get lumped in with closed captions, but they aren’t exactly the same. Zoom subtitles rely on speech-to-text, while manual captions or automated captions with closed captioning may offer more complete coverage.

Zoom Subtitle Availability and Restrictions

Zoom offers several ways to show subtitles during meetings and webinars. These include manual captions, third-party captioning services, and Zoom’s own live transcription feature, which provides automated captions.

All three options are available in meetings. The same captioning options apply to meetings and webinars, although only the host or a panelist can provide manual captioning.

Subtitles and captions can also be viewed in Zoom Rooms.

Plans

The automated captions feature is available on free and paid Zoom plans, though access to certain languages and advanced settings may depend on your plan. To use any captioning option, you’ll need to be on the latest version of the Zoom desktop client or mobile app.

Who can access Zoom subtitles?

Everyone in a meeting or webinar can view subtitles if they’re enabled by the host. Participants may also request captions during a meeting using the “Request Captions” option. Hosts (and sometimes co-hosts) will receive a notification in the meeting window and can approve or decline the request.

You can also choose to have captions always show up by default. This setting is found in the Zoom desktop settings under the Accessibility tab.

Supported languages

Zoom supports the following languages for automated captioning:

• Arabic
• Cantonese
• Chinese (Simplified)
• Chinese (Traditional)
• Czech
• Danish
• Dutch
• English
• Estonian
• Finnish
• French (France)
• French (Canada)
• German
• Hebrew
• Hindi
• Hungarian
• Indonesian
• Italian
• Japanese
• Korean
• Malay
• Persian
• Polish
• Portuguese
• Romanian
• Russian
• Spanish
• Swedish
• Tagalog
• Tamil
• Telugu
• Thai
• Turkish
• Ukrainian
• Vietnamese

To get accurate subtitles, make sure the speaking language matches what’s being spoken. This can be adjusted by clicking the arrow next to the Show Captions icon in the meeting window and then selecting your language.

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How to Start Zoom Subtitles

Subtitles don’t appear automatically unless you’ve set them to. Depending on your role in the meeting, here’s how to turn them on.

How to start Zoom subtitles as a host

1. Start your meeting in the Zoom desktop or mobile app.
2. In the meeting window, click the Show Captions icon in the toolbar.

3. (Optional) Set the speaking language so Zoom can transcribe accurately for everyone.
   

If you want captions to appear automatically for participants, you’ll need to enable this setting in your meeting's advanced settings before the call.

How to start Zoom subtitles as a participant

If the host has already enabled captions:

1. Click the Show Captions icon in your Zoom window.
2. Captions will appear at the bottom of the meeting window.
3. You can drag them around or adjust their size using Caption Settings.
4. If you don’t see captions but want them, click Request Captions. The host will get a notification and can approve or decline.

Remember, if the host hasn’t enabled closed captioning for Zoom, participants won’t be able to turn it on themselves.

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How to Disable Zoom Subtitles

If subtitles are distracting or you simply don’t need them, you can turn them off anytime without affecting other participants.

How to disable Zoom subtitles as a host

1. Click the arrow next to Show/Hide Captions in the toolbar.
2. Go to Host caption control settings.
3. Turn off Allow closed captioning for this meeting.
4. This will immediately stop automated captions for all participants in the meeting.

How to disable Zoom subtitles as a participant

1. In the meeting window, click Hide Captions in your Zoom window.
2. The subtitles will disappear from your screen, but others will still see them if they’re turned on.

Disabling subtitles doesn’t delete the transcript—it just stops new subtitles from appearing on the screen.

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How to View Zoom Transcript

If captions were enabled during the meeting, you can also view the full transcript either during the call or after it ends.

How to view the Zoom Transcript during the meeting

1. In the meeting window, click the Show Captions icon.
2. Then, click the arrow next to it and select View Full Transcript.

3. A side panel will open, showing the transcript in real time, including speaker names and timestamps.
   

How to view the Zoom Transcript after the meeting

If you're the host and the save Zoom transcript feature is enabled, the full file will be available in your Zoom account under Recordings. From there, you can find Zoom transcript files saved along with the video and chat.

Note: If you need a free Zoom recording transcript with more editing options or want to transcribe Zoom call audio after the meeting, AI tools like Tactiq offer a better alternative.

Tactiq: Best Zoom Subtitle Alternative

Zoom’s built-in captions are helpful, but they have limits, like language restrictions and missing context. That’s where Tactiq can do more.

Tactiq is a browser extension that works with video conferencing platforms like Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams. It captures the conversation as it happens and gives you real-time subtitles, a complete transcript, and AI-powered summaries—all without needing to record the meeting.

Here’s what you can do with Tactiq:

• Live Transcriptions: Follow along with on-screen captions while staying focused on the conversation.
• Full Transcript Access: Save the entire conversation and jump to key moments later.
• AI Notes and Summaries: Get meeting highlights, action items, or follow-up emails in seconds.
• Ask Questions with Prompts: Use custom prompts to dig into the transcript, like “What were the main concerns?” or “Summarize marketing tasks.”
• 50+ Language Support: Transcribe Zoom calls in multiple languages and even use prompts to translate.
• No Recording Required: Tactiq works without storing your video or audio, just the transcript.

If you want more control over subtitles, more accurate transcripts, and quick summaries after every meeting, Tactiq is a solid upgrade. Download the free Tactiq Chrome Extension today!

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FAQs

How do I turn on subtitles in Zoom?

Click the Show Captions icon in the meeting toolbar. If you're the host, you may need to click Enable to activate automated captions.

Can Zoom automatically translate with subtitles?

Yes, but only with the Translated Captions feature. It’s available on Zoom Workplace Business Plus, Enterprise Plus, or with the Translated Captions add-on. You can choose your preferred language, and Zoom will display live translated subtitles during the meeting. Accuracy may vary depending on the language spoken.

Can I enable Zoom captions just for myself without affecting others?

Yes. Once the host has enabled captions, participants can choose to view or hide them on their own screen.

How do I turn off captions on Zoom without turning them off for everyone?

Click Hide Captions in the toolbar. This hides subtitles only on your screen.

Can I adjust the size or appearance of captions only for my screen?

Yes. Click the arrow next to Show Captions, choose Caption Settings, and adjust the font size using the slider.

Where can I find the Zoom transcript after the meeting?

If the host enabled transcription, go to your Zoom account’s Recordings tab. There, you can find Zoom transcript files alongside video and chat logs.

Can I use Zoom subtitles without a Zoom account?

No. You’ll need a Zoom account and the latest desktop or mobile app to access captioning features during Zoom meetings.

Do subtitles work on the mobile Zoom app?

Yes. Subtitles and captions can be viewed on the Zoom mobile app for Android and iOS, as long as the host has them enabled.

What’s the difference between the live transcript and the closed caption button?

The closed caption button lets you access both manual captions and live transcript options. Live transcripts are generated automatically, while manual captions are typed by a person.

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Wrapping Up

Subtitles make Zoom meetings easier to follow, especially when there are audio issues or mixed-language conversations. While Zoom’s live transcription and closed captioning features cover the basics, they can fall short when you need more flexibility or detail.

Tactiq gives you more than just captions—it lets you transcribe Zoom calls, get smart summaries, and keep a full searchable transcript, all in real time.

No setup. No recording. Just clear, accurate meeting notes every time.

Want to try it for yourself?

Download the free Tactiq Chrome Extension and start capturing your meetings today.