The Distracting Transcripts
Google Chrome includes a powerful accessibility tool called “Live Caption.” When enabled, the browser utilizes a localized machine learning algorithm to generate real-time subtitles for any video or audio playing in any tab. While incredibly useful for the hearing impaired, it can be wildly annoying if it is accidentally enabled. If you are watching a YouTube video or listening to a Spotify track in a background tab, Chrome will constantly throw a massive, floating black box across the bottom of your screen, forcefully displaying auto-generated text. You must disable the algorithm to remove the box.
How to Turn Off Live Caption
You can completely deactivate the transcription engine via the accessibility settings.
- Open the Google Chrome desktop browser.
- Click the three vertical dots (⋮) in the top right corner and select Settings.
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Accessibility.
- Look for the master toggle switch labeled Live Caption (Automatically creates captions for English audio and video).
- Toggle this switch to the Off position.
An Unobstructed View
The change is absolute and instantaneous. Google Chrome will immediately shut down the local transcription engine. The massive black subtitle box will vanish from your screen, and you can watch videos and listen to podcasts across the web without the browser attempting to forcefully transcribe the audio over your content.