Live transription is available in Zoom meetings, making real-time "captioning" possible for all Zoom attendees. While this transcription service isn't perfectly accurate (like real captions should be), it can still be very beneficial for many students.

As the meeting host, the setup and use are simple.We recommend that you enable this option for all meetings to ensure accessible access to ALL our students.

The following tutorial was provided by Eric Wilson at OCC:

Before You Start

Be sure to update your Zoom to the latest version.

in zoom click your profile photo and then select check for updates

Step 1: Enable Transcription in Your Account

To enable the live transcription option in your Zoom account:

1. 1. Log in to your Zoom account.
  2. On the left side, click "Settings" and click "In Meeting (Advanced)."

click settings then in meeting advanced

1. 1. Move both toggle buttons to enable (blue) for "Closed captioning" and "Save Captions."
  2. Check the box for "Enable live transcription service to show in transcript on the side panel in-meeting."

click to enable live transcription service to show transcript on the side panel in meeting

Once these settings are enabled, you are ready for Step 2. Please know that live transcription will only work for meetings created from this point forward.

Step 2: Enabling Auto-Transcription in a Meeting

As the meeting host, once you start your Zoom meeting/lecture, you will need to enable auto-transcription in your meeting so that your meeting participants can access the transcript.

1. 1. Click the "Live Transcript" button located in the Zoom meeting controls.
  2. Click "Enable Auto-Transcription."
  3. Close the Live Transcript box by clicking the small "X" in the upper right corner.

Start talking and the auto-transcribing will begin.

click to enable auto transcription and click the live transcript button to view

Font Size

Each Zoom user can change the how the transcription appears for them personally.

1. 1. Click the Live Transcription menu option ^ in the Zoom meeting controls and select "Subtitle Settings..."
  2. Click "Accessibility" from the main menu.
  3. Click and drag the slider at the top of the page to adjust the "Font Size."
  4. Close the Settings box when done.

accessibility settings inside zoom settings

Important Notes

A copy of the transcript will be included in the meeting recording.
The system does not transcribe with 100% accuracy. Sometimes the results will be a bit awkward. For effective transcription, avoid speaking too quickly and be sure to enunciate.
Once the meeting host enables auto-transcription, participants can view the live transcript by clicking the "Live Transcript" button in their Zoom meeting controls and then selecting "Show Subtitle."
As a presenter, it is recommended that - if you have subtitles enabled - you move the subtitles to the top so that you will appear to be looking at the camera and being attentive. The subtitles can be moved to another position in the meeting window by clicking and dragging any part of the subtitle bar.
If the subtitles are distracting for you, you can turn them off by clicking the Live Transcript menu option ^ in the Zoom meeting controls and selecting "Hide Subtitle."