Can I add accessibility features to my Control Center?

Yes, we have a step-by-step guide on how to add accessibility features to your Control Center so they're easy to find and use.

Can I customize accessibility features on an app-by-app basis?

Yes, you can customize accessibility features for each app , and add things like bold text, larger text, and much more!

Can I change the display settings and text size on my iPhone and iPad to make it easier to see?

Yes, you can make text larger, change button shapes and on/off toggles , and more!

How to Set Up & Use Live Captions on iPhone

By Amy Spitzfaden Both Updated 02/27/2025

What to Know

To turn on Live Captions on iPhone, open Settings, tap Accessibility, tap Live Captions, and toggle on Live Captions.
You can use Live Captions on iPhone in many apps, including FaceTime, YouTube, and more.
Live Captions can also help you with conversations if you turn on Live Captions and use the microphone button.

Live Captions on iPhone are a helpful tool for the Deaf and hard of hearing, or anyone who wants to read captions off a screen. Here's how to add captions to videos on your iPhone for apps like FaceTime or supported video players and how to turn off Live Captions on iPhone.

How to Turn On Live Captions on iPhone

Live Captions is a feature that lets your iPhone automatically transcribe audio in real-time and puts it on screen in caption format. Here's how to turn on Live Captions on your iPhone. This will also teach you how to turn off Live Captions on iPhone: simply reverse the steps.

Open the Settings app.
Tap Accessibility.

Scroll down and tap Live Captions under Hearing.
Toggle on Live Captions. The slider will be to the right, and the bar will be green when it's on.

Toggle on Live Captions in FaceTime to show captions while you're on a FaceTime call.

How to Use Live Captions on iPhone

Note

Unfortunately, we can't show screenshots for this section: the Live Caption controls do not appear in screenshots.

Once Live Captions are enabled, you'll see a box at the bottom of your screen. Tap it, and you'll see Live Captions and "Listening..." at the bottom. This means your microphone is listening for internal sounds to caption.

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If you want to stop it from listening temporarily but not fully disable the feature, tap the pause button.
To listen for external sounds, tap Live Captions, then tap the microphone button.
To transcribe iPhone audio, tap Live Captions, then tap iPhone Audio.
To fullscreen the Live Captions box, tap the arrows on the far right.
To minimize the Live Captions box, tap the arrow on the left.
If your Live Captions are blocking the way or a keyboard or something you want to see, just drag it to a different part of your screen, and it will stay there.

Once your iPhone begins picking up Live Captions, you'll see them displayed in this box. There is currently no way to edit or scroll through them, but choosing the full-screen option allows you to see more at once before they disappear

How to Change Live Captions' Appearance on iPhone

In your Settings app, tap Accessibility.
Scroll down and tap Live Captions under Hearing.

Tap Appearance.
From here, you can choose when to bold text, your text size, your text color, your background color, and the opacity of the background the text appears on.

Now you know how to set up and use Live Captions on your iPhone! For more ways to get the most out of your iPhone's accessibility features, check out our Tip of the Day.

FAQ

Can I add accessibility features to my Control Center? Yes, we have a step-by-step guide on how to add accessibility features to your Control Center so they're easy to find and use.
Can I customize accessibility features on an app-by-app basis? Yes, you can customize accessibility features for each app and add things like bold text, larger text, and much more!
Can I change the display settings and text size on my iPhone and iPad to make it easier to see? Yes, you can make text larger, change button shapes and on/off toggles, and more!

Top image credit: B art / Shutterstock.com

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Author Details

Amy Spitzfaden Both

Amy Spitzfaden-Both is the Managing Editor for iPhone Life magazine and an award-winning novelist, with over 10 years of experience in the publishing industry. She specializes in Apple news and rumors, health and fitness tech, and parenting in the digital age. She graduated from MIU with a BA in Literature and Writing.
Amy lives in New Hampshire with her husband and daughter. When she’s not writing or glued to her iPhone, she enjoys hiking, traveling, and creating her own tea blends.