How to Add Subtitles to Any Game in Windows 11

ByJim Miller

There are many games on Windows that unfortunately do not come with subtitles. This can be an issue for non-native English speakers or for those who struggle to understand accents. Luckily, Windows 11 has introduced an accessibility setting that allows you to enable subtitles for any game on your computer.

What are Live Captions?

Live Captions is an accessibility feature in Windows 11 that converts audio into text. This means that you can use it to generate subtitles for games as well. The best part is that all the processing is done offline on your own machine, and no data is transmitted over the internet. This means you can even use it for offline games or when you're not connected to the internet.

Live Captions is available on Windows 11 version 22H2 and later. To check your PC's version and build number, follow these steps:

  1. Press Windows+I to open Settings.
  2. Select Accessibility from the sidebar.
  3. Scroll down and click on Captions.

Enable Live Captions to Add Subtitles While Gaming

Before you can use Live Captions to generate subtitles for games, you'll need to enable the feature and download the necessary files. Don't worry, all the processing is done offline on your computer and no data is shared.

Here's how to enable Live Captions:

  1. Press Windows+I to open Settings.
  2. Select Accessibility from the sidebar.
  3. Scroll down and click on Captions.
  4. Enable Live captions.

Once you've enabled Live Captions, a pop-up will appear at the top of your desktop. Click on the Download button to start downloading the required files.

Setup and Customize Live Captions for Windows Gaming Subtitles

Now that you've downloaded the necessary files, you can set up and customize Live Captions according to your preferences. Here's how:

  1. Click on the cog icon to open the Settings for Live Captions.
  2. From here, you can change the position of the subtitles on the screen.
  3. You can also change the language by downloading additional language packs. By default, Windows will download the language you have set as default in Windows settings.
  4. Under Preferences, you can filter out profanity if desired.
  5. To change the font size and color, go back to Settings > Accessibility > Captions.

Enable/Disable Live Captions (Subtitles) for Windows Games

To activate Live Captions and generate subtitles while gaming, simply press Windows+Ctrl+L. However, please note that Live Captions will only work if you are playing the game in Window Mode. You can switch to Window Mode by pressing Alt+Enter or by checking the in-game settings.

Let's test this feature with Assassin's Creed 1 as an example. You can drag the subtitles or Live Captions bar on the screen while gaming using the drag-and-drop feature. You can easily understand the context, narrative, and storyline with Live Captions, even if it occasionally gets a word wrong. To close the subtitles, click on the cross icon or press Windows+Ctrl+L.

Enable Subtitles While Gaming on Windows

Subtitles in gaming are not always a given. Some games, like the initial version of Assassin's Creed, did not include subtitles. However, with Windows 11's Live Captions, you can now enjoy subtitles for any game on your computer.

If you're wondering where to buy games, we've done an in-depth comparison between the Microsoft Store and Steam to help you make informed decisions.

With Live Captions on Windows 11, you can now enhance your gaming experience by enabling subtitles for any game, regardless of whether it comes with built-in subtitles or not. Enjoy gaming with clear and easily understandable narratives, even if English is not your first language or accents pose a challenge.