- Last year, Google removed the Live Caption toggle from under the volume slider in Android.
- While the change primarily affected Pixel users, Google is now testing a reversal of the original design.
- With the latest Android Canary build, Google is testing the same placement for the Live Caption toggle as before the change last year.
Android’s Live Caption is a useful accessibility feature that enables subtitles for virtually any audio playing on your phone or tablet. It even works when the device’s volume is turned down to zero, allowing you to experience sound — while also emphasizing expressions — without needing to raise the volume. Its placement right under the volume slider makes it easy to access, unless you’re using a Pixel device, where accessing the toggle takes an additional step. Google now appears to realize that placement may not be intuitive and is working to improve it.
While the toggle for Live Caption typically sits under the volume bar on most devices, Google relocated it with the Android 15 beta 2 update. Instead of its regular placement, the Live Captions control was shifted to the expanded volume control sheet that appears when you tap the three-dot button under the volume slider. Specific to Pixel phones, this change introduced an additional step to enable the feature, resulting in frustration among users.