Windows 11 has a magic function, being able to automatically display French subtitles on a video, but also during an audio call or a videoconference. Convenient so you don’t miss anything that’s being said!
This is one of the most innovative – and undoubtedly the most stunning – new features of Windows 11. With the Moment 3 update deployed since May 24 via Windows Update (read our article), the operating system of Microsoft is now able to display subtitles in French – but also in English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, etc. – of what is said during a voice call, a video call or even during the playback of a video, including on YouTube! Magic, this automatic subtitling function can be very practical, for example when you make an audio or video call from your PC while in a noisy environment or for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
And Microsoft has taken care of the concept rather well. Subtitles are processed live and locally on the PC. According to the publisher, no data passes through the cloud on its servers. In addition, it is possible to integrate your own voice into the transcription. In this case, it is better to be careful that the interlocutors do not speak at the same time. Finally, it is possible to define the size and color of the subtitles as well as their location on the screen. Be careful though. Although several subtitle languages are available, Windows does not perform a translation. If the video you are watching or your contact during a videoconference speaks English, you will only be able to benefit from English subtitles.
How to enable automatic subtitles in Windows 11?
Just applied Windows 11 22H2 Moment 3 Update on your PC? Good news, you can now benefit from automatic French subtitles directly in Windows.
► Start by pressing the keyboard shortcut Win + CTRL + I. A bar appears on the screen accompanied by a tooltip. You are invited to download the language module that corresponds to your country (here, France) so that the device works best. Normally, the English language is installed by default for this option. So click on the button Download.
► The download of the French language pack starts and installs automatically.
► If it is not activated by default, click on the toothed wheel then choose Subtitle language and finally French France).
► Live Caption feature is ready to work. For example, launch a video on YouTube or start a voice or video call with Skype, Google Meet or WhatsApp for example. As soon as the first sentences begin, the subtitles are activated and displayed in the floating window.
► To change their appearance, click on the toothed wheel of the subtitle bar. From the pop-up menu, choose Preferences Then Subtitle style.
► The Windows settings window related to subtitles appears on the screen. Click on the button Edit section Subtitle style.
► Here you can completely change the appearance of the subtitles by changing the font size, its color or that of the background, the opacity of it, etc. so that they adapt as best as possible to your needs. All your new settings are automatically saved as Default Copy. But you can give them another name. When you’re done, close the settings window.
► You can also set a default location of the on-screen subtitle box. To do this, click on the toothed wheel and choose Position. Three choices are possible.
► above the screen : the subtitles bar then occupies a wide band at the top of the screen; Below the screen : the subtitles bar takes place just above the taskbar; Superimposed on the screen : This is the default setting which presents the subtitles in a floating window.
► Finally, you can include your own voice to the subtitle transcription. In this case, the computer microphone will be used to pick it up. Click on the toothed wheel and choose Include microphone audio.
► Windows tells you that you need to activate the PC’s microphone for this. Click on the link Sound Settings present in the tooltip.
► Parameters Her windows are displayed. To section Entrance, choose the microphone you want to use. Then close the settings window.
► From now on, what you say in front of the microphone or near it will appear in the subtitle box. Note that to the chaste Windows ears, by default, “inappropriate” language is not transcribed. Leading words are replaced by stars.
► However, you can do without this parameter. Click on the toothed wheel and choose Preferences. Uncheck the option Filter inappropriate language.
► When you no longer want to use live subtitles, simply close the subtitle boxes by clicking on the cross. Note that the next time you activate the option, the recording of your voice by the microphone will be disabled for privacy reasons. It will therefore have to be reactivated manually if necessary.