Windows 11: enable live captions with Win + Ctrl + L

If you are keen on subtitles, as many younger people are, you will appreciate the Windows 11 Win + Ctrl + L shortcut. It enables the operating system to create automatic, real-time captions for any video or even audio content.

Captions are an accessibility feature designed for people with hearing difficulties and for viewers who do not speak the language used in a video. They can also prove useful when playing a video during a meeting where turning on the sound is not an option. Among younger audiences, however, subtitles are gradually becoming standard even when they understand the video's language perfectly well. They can make it easier to focus on a film, series or podcast, particularly in a noisy setting. This is why many people include captions in videos posted to platforms such as YouTube Shorts and TikTok.

Windows 11 live captions with Win + Ctrl + L

If you regularly use subtitles, Windows 11 already offers a shortcut for live captions, including for videos that do not provide them. The operating system generates them in real time, with numerous languages supported, including English and French. To switch on Windows live captions, simply use Win + Ctrl + L.

How to use Windows automatic captions

After pressing Win + Ctrl + L on an up-to-date version of Windows 11, the system introduces the feature. You only need to enable it and choose your language to start using captions. At any time, you can change the language or alter the display by selecting Settings.

Microsoft's Windows 11 accessibility feature

This is not a new feature. Microsoft introduced Windows 11 live captions in 2022 as part of a set of accessibility tools for its operating system. “Live captions on Windows 11 can automatically transcribe spoken content from any audio, including audio from apps like Microsoft Edge and even microphones – which means you can get captions for a live conversation, in person!”, the Redmond firm said at the time.