On Monday, May 18, 2026, Zoom will change how meeting captions and transcriptions work. Zoom is making a clear distinction between live accessibility (captions) and saved records (transcripts).
Real-Time Updates
We will update this article with new details as they become available. Since many specific changes will only be visible after the May 18 launch, please check back here for the latest information.
What is Changing?
In the past, you could view live captions and then save them as a text file. This is no longer possible.
- Captions are now only for use during the meeting.
- They appear on the screen so everyone can follow along.
- You can scroll back to read what was said in the last 3 minutes, but you cannot save or download them after the meeting ends.
Saving Your Meeting Text
If you want a permanent, downloadable record of what was said, you must use the Meeting Transcript feature.
- Turned Off by Default: Meeting transcripts will not start automatically. A host must turn them on for each meeting.
- Requesting Access: If the host has transcripts turned off, participants can click a button during the meeting to ask the host to enable them. It is up to the host to approve or deny the request.
- Who Can See Them: Hosts can choose exactly who is allowed to view or download the transcript after the meeting (such as only the host, internal staff, or everyone).
If you have any questions, please submit a ticket to the OneIT Service Desk.