Chrome desktop · Research guidance. Instructions are based on publisher guidance; a UK IPTV account was not tested on this platform.
Transcription and translation have different jobs
Live Caption turns spoken audio into written words. Live Translate changes caption text into another language. A viewer can want the first without wanting the second. Similar names and a shared caption bubble do not mean that the controls have identical processing paths or that every language choice is only an offline recognition pack.
Read both publisher statements
Google describes Live Caption audio and captions as processed locally. Its separate translation instructions say captions can be sent to Google for translation. A blanket statement that every caption-related feature stays on the computer would omit that second path. The accurate privacy description depends on which function is actually enabled.
Identify the language question
Recognising the language spoken in a clip and translating those recognised words into another language are separate operations. Inspect the control’s label. A speech-language preference should match the audio being transcribed; a translation destination identifies the language you want to read. Confusing them can lead to a poor test and an inaccurate description of the selected feature.
Use an ordinary public sample
There is no need to test the controls with a private support call or confidential recording. A short public spoken clip can show whether text appears and which language is selected. Choosing a low-sensitivity sample lets you learn the interface without sharing material unrelated to the diagnosis.
Name the enabled function in a report
Say whether Live Caption alone was on or translation was enabled too. Do not call the generated result a broadcaster-approved subtitle track. Publisher documentation explains browser processing, while the programme’s own subtitle options and service terms remain separate. This distinction supports an informed choice without promising perfect transcription or universal website compatibility.
Questions, answered
Does local transcription prove translation stays local?
No. Google documents captions being sent for Live Translate.
Is recognition language the same as translation destination?
No. They answer different questions.