Getting Started with Closed Captioning in Zoom

Overview

Closed captioning allows you or another attendee within a meeting to add closed captioning in a meeting or webinar. You can type the closed captions directly via Zoom or you can integrate a third party service.

When adding captions with a 3rd party, Zoom offers an open API for integrating software and services. Read more about Closed Captioning with REST API. 

Learn how to view closed captions on desktop and mobile devices and in Zoom Rooms. 

This article covers:

• How to Enable Closed Captions for all users on your account
• How to Enable Closed Captions for a group
• How to Enable Closed Captions for your own meetings
• Starting Closed Captioning in a Meeting
• Entering Closed Captions as a Participant

Prerequisites

• Zoom PC or Mac version 3.5.37712.0111 or higher (enter or view caption)
• Zoom Rooms for Mac or PC/Touch version 3.6x and higher (view caption only)
• Zoom Rooms iPad controller version 3.6x and higher (view caption only)
• Zoom iOS or Android version 4.0.21521.0116 or higher (view caption only)

Instructions

How to Enable Closed Caption for all users on your account

To enable the Closed Caption feature for all members of your organization:

1. Sign into the Zoom web portal as an administrator with the privilege to edit Account settings, and click Account Settings.
2. Navigate to the Closed Caption option on the Meeting tab and verify that the setting is enabled.
   If the setting is disabled, click the Status toggle to enable it. If a verification dialog displays, choose Turn On to verify the change.
   
3. (Optional) If you want to make this setting mandatory for all users in your account, click the lock icon, and then click Lock to confirm the setting.
   

Enable Closed Caption for a specific group

To enable the Closed Caption feature for all members of a specific group:

1. Sign into the Zoom web portal as an administrator with the privilege to edit User groups, and click Group Management.
2. Click the name of the group, then click the Settings tab.
3. Navigate to the Closed Caption option on the Meeting tab and verify that the setting is enabled.
   If the setting is disabled, click the Status toggle to enable it. If a verification dialog displays, choose Turn On to verify the change.
   
   Note: If the option is grayed out,  it has been locked at the Account level, and needs to be changed at that level.
   
4. (Optional) If you want to make this setting mandatory for all users in this group, click the lock icon, and then click Lock to confirm the setting.
   

Enable Closed Caption for your own meetings

To enable the Closed Caption feature for your own use:

1. Sign into the Zoom web portal and click My Meeting Settings (if you are an account administrator) or Meeting Settings (if you are an account member).
2. Navigate to the Closed Caption option on the Meeting tab and verify that the setting is enabled.
   If the setting is disabled, click the Status toggle to enable it. If a verification dialog displays, choose Turn On to verify the change.

   
   
   Note: If the option is grayed out, it has been locked at either the Group or Account level, and you will need to contact your Zoom administrator.

   

Starting Closed Captioning in a Meeting

1. In a Zoom meeting or webinar that you are hosting, click Closed Caption.
   
2. Select if you will type the Closed Captions, if you would like to assign someone to type or if you are using a Third Party provider.
   
   • I will type: This will open up the closed captioning window.
   • Assign a participant to type: This will open up the participants window. Hover over the participant’s name and click on More. Choose Assign to Type Closed Caption.

     

   • Use a 3rd Party CC service: This will give you a URL that you can provide to the 3rd party service to enter captions.
3. If you are the host and you choose to type the Closed Captions, the Closed Caption box will open automatically. You will type the caption in the box and press Enter to submit it.

   

Entering Closed Captions as a Participant

1. Once the host assigns you the ability to type closed captions, a notification will appear in your meeting controls.

   

2. Click Closed Caption. 
3. This will open up the closed caption box. You will type the caption in the box and press Enter to submit it.