Official documentation

Use live captions to better understand audio

Microsoft Support, 2026

Read on October 16, 2026

What it is: Microsoft's help page for live captions in Windows 11, the built-in feature that captions any audio playing on the PC and, optionally, speech picked up by the microphone. It explains how to turn captions on, which languages are supported, and how audio is processed.
How much weight it carries: Official documentation from the maker of Windows, so authoritative for what the feature does and where it processes audio. It does not report caption accuracy, and features change between Windows updates.

Facts taken from this source

Microsoft says the captions generated by Windows 11 live captions are not stored anywhere on the device or in the cloud.
“Generated captions are not stored anywhere on the device or the cloud.” (Introduction, Important note)
Microsoft says Windows 11 live captions can caption audio even when the PC is disconnected from the internet, and can include microphone audio to make in-person conversations easier to follow.
“Captions can be provided for audio even when disconnected from the internet. You can personalize how captions are displayed, and you can include microphone audio to make in-person conversations easier.” (Introduction)
Microsoft says all audio processing and caption generation in Windows live captions happens on the device, and audio, voice data and captions are not sent to the cloud or to Microsoft.
“All processing of audio and generation of captions from detected voice data occurs on-device. Audio, voice data, and captions never leave your device and are not shared to the cloud or with Microsoft.” (Introduction, Important note)

Official documentation

Microsoft Support, 2026

Read on October 16, 2026

What it is: Microsoft's help page for live captions in Windows 11, the built-in feature that captions any audio playing on the PC and, optionally, speech picked up by the microphone. It explains how to turn captions on, which languages are supported, and how audio is processed.
How much weight it carries: Official documentation from the maker of Windows, so authoritative for what the feature does and where it processes audio. It does not report caption accuracy, and features change between Windows updates.

Microsoft says the captions generated by Windows 11 live captions are not stored anywhere on the device or in the cloud.
“Generated captions are not stored anywhere on the device or the cloud.” (Introduction, Important note)
Microsoft says Windows 11 live captions can caption audio even when the PC is disconnected from the internet, and can include microphone audio to make in-person conversations easier to follow.
“Captions can be provided for audio even when disconnected from the internet. You can personalize how captions are displayed, and you can include microphone audio to make in-person conversations easier.” (Introduction)
Microsoft says all audio processing and caption generation in Windows live captions happens on the device, and audio, voice data and captions are not sent to the cloud or to Microsoft.
“All processing of audio and generation of captions from detected voice data occurs on-device. Audio, voice data, and captions never leave your device and are not shared to the cloud or with Microsoft.” (Introduction, Important note)