Using the same speech recognition software utilized in YouTube automatic closed captions, Google now provides live captioning when presenting Google Slides presentations. Teachers, presenters, students, conference organizers, and businesses alike can utilize this feature to create a more accessible viewing experience. Currently, Google Slides live captions only support live captions in English.

To utilize live captioning in Google Slides, check out the video, images, and instructions below. A new, updated video has been added (first listed) to adjust for the new "presenter menu" on Google Slides for those that have this view available.

1. Begin by opening Google Chrome web browser, signing in, and opening a Google Slides presentation. The presentation does not need to be complete to leverage live captioning.

2. Start presenting the presentation by clicking the "Present" button at the top right or by using the keyboard shortcuts on your device: Windows is CTRL + F5, Chrome is CTRL + Search + 5, Mac is ⌘ + Shift + Enter.

3. When your presentation opens in “present” mode, hover your cursor across the bottom of the screen. The “new” look for Google slides will open a white/gray menu. Click the 3-dot button, select captions preferences, and then “toggle captions” and captions will turn on. You can also toggle the text position (bottom or top of the screen) and adjust the size of the captions as well. The first time you use this feature, you may receive a prompt asking for permission to use your device microphone so that the device can pick up your voice for generating captions. If you see this prompt, click allow.

4. Live captions will appear on the screen as the presenter speaks! The captions do not include punctuation and will pick up on conversations close to the device from which the presentation is being displayed, as a helpful planning tip. If captions do not appear, it could be due to loud background noise. For troubleshooting help, visit Docs Editors Help.

5. To turn off captions, click the 3-dot button once more and toggle captions off. Live captions are not saved.

For additional tips, visit Google's Docs Editors Help or check out the printable written guide.

Google's video conferencing platform, Google Meet, also supports live captioning for all participants on a Meet conference call. Each user is able to toggle captions on or off on their device, rather than the host determining captioning settings for all. As video conferencing tools become increasingly used to support distance learning, it is helpful to utilize captions to ensure all students have a means to understand, participate, and feel part of the classroom community. By default, live captions in Google Meet are displayed in English but Google plans to add other languages in 2021.

1. To use live captions, host or join a Google Meet call from a specific join link or joining from meet.google.com and entering a Meet nickname.

2. Upon joining the Meet, toggle on captions by clicking the CC button across the bottom Meet toolbar.

3. Live captions will display on the screen to show text for those who are currently speaking on the call. Captions cannot be repositioned or resized in Meet.

4. If you are speaking and do not see live captions, be sure to turn on your microphone.

5. To turn off captions, click the CC button once more.

6. If you do not see the option to turn on captions, click the More Options button (3 dot button) at the bottom right of the screen.

7. Select turn on captions button from More Options.

8. Captions can also be toggled off from the More menu. Captions from Google Meet are not saved nor are the live captions included on Meet recordings if using the "Record" button in Meet. However, there are extensions that can be used to create transcripts of conversations in Google Meet calls, such as Tac-Tiq. Tac-tiq can be installed for free from the Chrome Web Store. If you are unable to install Tac-Tiq, reach out to your IT Department.

For additional tips on Meet captions, visit Google Meet Help.