Windows Live Captions translates only on Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 24H2 or later—here's how to translate live audio on any Windows PC.
Windows Live Captions can translate speech into English from approximately 44 languages, but only on Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 version 24H2 or later. Some Copilot+ PCs also translate into Simplified Chinese. On all other Windows PCs—including standard Windows 11 and Windows 10 machines—Live Captions displays captions only in the original spoken language, without translation. Microsoft's list of supported languages may change over time.
If you don't have a Copilot+ PC or need translation into languages other than English, you can use Translext to translate live audio on any Windows 10 or 11 computer that runs Chrome or Edge. Translext captures system audio from desktop apps like Zoom, Teams, games, or media players and displays translated captions in a floating window. It translates into more than 70 languages. The trade-off: Windows Live Captions runs entirely on your device, while Translext sends audio to a real-time speech translation service and requires an internet connection and an account.
Install the Translext extension from the Chrome Web Store if you use Chrome, or the Edge Add-ons store if you use Edge. After installation, click the puzzle piece icon in your browser toolbar to open the extensions menu. Find Translext in the list and click the pin icon next to it so the Translext icon stays visible in your toolbar. You'll click this icon every time you want to start translating audio. The extension works identically in both Chrome and Edge because Edge is built on the same foundation as Chrome.
Click the Translext icon in your browser toolbar to open the control panel. You'll see three audio source options: Browser tab audio, Computer audio, and Microphone. Click Computer audio. This mode captures sound from any application on your Windows PC, not just what plays in browser tabs. It works with the Zoom desktop app, Microsoft Teams, Skype, games, Spotify, VLC, and any other program that produces sound. Chrome will ask you to share your screen because browsers can only access system audio when screen sharing is enabled. Translext immediately turns off the video feed and uses only the audio stream.
A screen sharing dialog will appear. Click the Entire screen tab at the top of the dialog—not Chrome Tab or Window. You'll see a preview of your screen or screens. Below the preview, find the checkbox labeled Share system audio and switch it on. This checkbox tells Chrome to include your computer's sound output in the stream. Then click the blue Share button at the bottom right. Within a few seconds, Translext will begin listening to your system audio. Click the Show floating captions button in the Translext control panel to open a small caption window that stays on top of all your other applications, so you can see translations while using Zoom, Teams, or any other app.
If you don't see captions, check that the Share system audio checkbox was switched on when you clicked Share. Stop the session and restart, paying close attention to that checkbox. Make sure sound is actually playing from an application and that your system volume isn't muted. The floating caption window must remain open to display captions; if you close it by accident, click Show floating captions again in the Translext control panel. Translext can speak the translation aloud with Computer audio too: it removes its own voice from what it captures, so there is no audio loop. If you need spoken translation, use Browser tab audio mode instead for meetings that run in Chrome tabs. Live speech translation makes mistakes, especially with accents, background noise, or technical terminology. If translations seem wrong, check that the correct source language was detected in the Translext panel.
Yes. Use the Computer audio mode to capture sound from the Zoom or Teams desktop applications. When Chrome asks you to share your screen, select Entire screen and switch on Share system audio before clicking Share. The floating caption window will display translated captions on top of your meeting app. Translext does not offer spoken translation with Computer audio to avoid creating an audio loop. No meeting bots join your call, and audio is not recorded or stored.
No. Translext requires an internet connection because it streams audio to a real-time speech translation service for processing. Audio is not stored by the service. The translated text appears in your session history, which you can delete or switch off in settings. If you need an offline solution that runs entirely on your device, Windows Live Captions is the alternative, but it translates only on Copilot+ PCs running Windows 11 version 24H2 or later.
Browser tab audio captures sound that plays inside a Chrome or Edge tab, like YouTube videos, browser-based meetings, or webinars. Computer audio captures sound from any application on your PC, including desktop apps like Zoom, Teams, games, and media players. Browser tab audio shows captions in a floating bar on the page and can speak the translation aloud while turning down the original sound. Computer audio shows captions in a separate floating window and does not offer spoken translation.
Yes. Translext translates into more than 70 languages. After you start capturing audio, choose your target language from the dropdown menu in the Translext control panel. The spoken source language is detected automatically. Windows Live Captions, in comparison, translates only into English on most Copilot+ PCs, with some models also supporting Simplified Chinese. Translext does not translate written text, on-screen content, subtitle files, or documents—only live audio.
Chrome and Edge can access system audio only when screen sharing is active, and only when you select Entire screen in the sharing dialog. This is a browser security limitation. Translext turns off the video feed immediately after you click Share and uses only the audio stream, so your screen content is not transmitted or recorded. If you use macOS 14.2 or later, you must also grant permission under System Settings → Privacy & Security → Screen & System Audio Recording.
Translated captions and optional audio translation for online meetings, video calls and videos — in Chrome or any app on your computer. No bots to invite, nothing to upload.