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Google Live Transcribe: What It Does and What You Need

Checked November 10, 2026. Next full check February 2027.

Email to a family member

Turns speech around you into text on an Android phone.

At a glance

MakerGoogle LLC
GroupLive captions
Works onAndroid
CostNo cost. The Google Play listing shows no price.
Good forAndroid users who want captions in the room.

What it does

  • Writes real-time text of conversations in over 80 languages and dialects.
  • Lets you add custom words.
  • Vibrates when someone says your name.
  • Lets you type a reply.
  • Works with wired, Bluetooth and USB microphones.
  • Can save transcripts for 3 days. This is off until you turn it on.
  • Includes Sound Notifications for sounds such as smoke alarms.

What you need

  • An Android phone with Android 12 or later.

Good to know

  • The Google Play listing says the app now has a sign-to-text feature that uses the camera to turn American Sign Language into English.
  • Google's listing names the app Live Transcribe & Notifications.
  • Pixel phones and some other phones have the app already installed.
  • A different app with a similar name, Live Transcribe by Mighty Fine Apps, is for iPhone.

This guide is general information. It does not diagnose hearing loss and it does not replace a hearing evaluation. An app cannot tell you why you hear less. An audiologist can.

More in live captions

  • Live Transcribe (Mighty Fine Apps)

    Mighty Fine Apps LLC

    An iPhone app that writes speech as text, with several caption modes.

    No cost to download, paid optionsiPhone, iPad

  • NALscribe

    National Acoustic Laboratories

    A live captioning app from a hearing research laboratory.

    No costiPhone, iPad

  • Ava

    Transcense, Inc.

    Captions group talk and shows who is speaking.

    No-cost tier and paid plansiPhone, iPad, Android

  • Live Captions (iPhone)

    Apple

    Captions audio on your iPhone and talk around you.

    Built iniPhone, iPad

Where Google Live Transcribe fits

Compare Google Live Transcribe with another app

Read more on our site

Questions to bring to your visit

Write these on your phone or print this page. Bring them to your hearing evaluation.

  • Which captions can I read at a glance in a group?
  • Can my hearing aids stream sound while I read captions?
  • Which places near me have a loop system or Auracast?

Sources

We read these pages on November 10, 2026. Prices and phone requirements change, so check the listing before you install.

Need help with this app?

Using captions all day? Your hearing may need a closer look. Call 650-342-9449.

California Hearing Center has offices in San Mateo and San Carlos. One phone number reaches both: 650-342-9449.

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