App directory

Google Live Transcribe

Google

Displays speech as text during in-person conversations.

Official information

Features

Captions

  • Supported: Live conversation captions
  • Conditional: Offline live captions8
  • Supported: Custom vocabulary
  • Supported: Pause caption display
  • Conditional: Caption history9
  • Supported: Typed replies
  • Supported: Spoken typed replies
  • Conditional: External caption display10
  • Supported: Caption engineAutomatic speech recognition

Transcripts & notes

  • Not supported: Audio recording
  • Conditional: Searchable transcripts9
  • Conditional: Transcript export11

Audio input & output

  • Supported: Audio inputsDevice microphone · External microphone
  • Supported: Live outputsOn-screen text

Compatibility

  • Supported: Required hardwareAndroid phone (Android 12 and up)Android 12 or later

Availability & access

  • Not supported: Hearing device required
  • Conditional: Internet required1
  • Conditional: Initial model download2Android 12 or later

Accessibility

  • Supported: Caption text size
  • Conditional: Screen-reader support3
  • Supported: Caption display controlsText size

Privacy & data

  • Conditional: Audio processing4Device and cloud
  • Conditional: Data storage5Device
  • Conditional: Audio sent off device6
  • Supported: Delete transcripts

Research & evidence

  • Supported: App-specific study7
  1. An Internet connection is needed unless the selected language has been downloaded for offline use on a device that supports offline languages.
  2. Only for offline transcription: each language must be downloaded first, on select Android devices and all Pixel devices on Android 12 or later (English only on select devices running Android 8-11). Online transcription needs no download.
  3. Documented for Dual Screen mode on foldable phones, where the user can communicate with TalkBack or text-to-speech while the partner reads captions on the outer screen. General TalkBack support is not separately documented.
  4. Downloaded offline languages are transcribed in offline mode (turned on automatically, can be switched off); other languages need an Internet connection. Google's launch blog describes the online path as cloud ASR.
  5. Applies to saved transcriptions when transcription history is turned on (kept for 3 days). The listing says transcriptions are not saved by default. The Data safety label separately declares collection of audio, app activity and diagnostics but does not say where they are stored.
  6. The developer's Play Data safety label declares that voice or sound recordings are collected for app functionality and analytics. It does not say whether this applies when offline transcription is used.
  7. Small preliminary lab study (Pragt et al., 2022) of four ASR apps using Dutch speech tests; Live Transcribe was tested on a Samsung A3, app version not stated; not randomized as described.
  8. Requires a supported Android device, OS and downloaded recognition language.
  9. History is temporary: up to three days when enabled, or 24 hours when disabled.
  10. Dual Screen mode on foldable phones shows captions on the outer screen; documented for Pixel Fold, Pixel 9 Pro Fold, Pixel 10 Pro Fold and Pixel 11 Pro Fold (outer-screen font sizing needs Android 14+). Not a separate monitor.
  11. Stored caption text can be exported or copied before the history expires.

Google Play ratings & reviews

276,267 ratings

Praise

  • Live text helps some users follow conversations and meetings.

Complaints

  • Accuracy, transcription gaps and transcript-management limitations concern reviewers.
  • Some users describe unwanted activation, overlays or preinstalled-app friction.

Google Play rating for the US store as of Nov 9, 2026. Review themes come from 37 sampled reviews. Read reviews on Google Play