Customize Closed Captions in Windows 10

Starting with Windows 10 version 1803, code name "Redstone 4", you can change the options for the "Closed captions" feature. Closed captions in Windows 10 will allow reading the words spoken in a video, TV show, or a movie. The feature has a number of options you can customize.

To change options for the Closed Captions feature, you can use Settings or Registry. We will review both methods.

To customize Closed Captions in Windows 10, do the following.

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Go to Ease of access -> Closed Captions. 
3. On the right, change the caption font, caption background, and dim window content settings to the desired values.

Alternatively, you apply a Registry tweak.

Customize Closed Captions using Registry Editor

It is possible to change the Closed Captions options using a Registry tweak. It can be useful when you need to export them to a Registry file and apply to another Windows 10 instance or copy to another computer.

1. Open the Registry Editor app.
2. Go to the following Registry key.

   HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ClosedCaptioning

   See how to go to a Registry key with one click.

3. On the right, modify the 32-Bit DWORD values shown above. Note: Even if you are running 64-bit Windows you must still use a 32-bit DWORD value.

Caption Color

To change the caption color, modify the 32-bit DWORD value CaptionColor. It is possible to set its value data to one of the following values:

• 0 = Default
• 1 = White
• 2 = Black
• 3 = Red
• 4 = Green
• 5 = Blue
• 6 = Yellow
• 7 = Magenta
• 8 = Cyan

Caption Transparency

The parameter CaptionOpacity is responsible for caption transparency. Set its value data to a value from the following list.

• 0 = Default
• 1 = Opaque
• 2 = Translucent
• 3 = Semitransparent
• 4 = Transparent

Caption Style

To change the font style of captions, modify the DWORD value named CaptionFontStyle. It accepts the following values.

• 0 = Default
• 1 = Mono Serif
• 2 = Proportional Serif
• 3 = Mono Sans Serif
• 4 = Proportional Sans Serif
• 5 = Casual
• 6 = Cursive
• 7 = Small Caps

Caption Size

To change the caption size, change the DWORD value CaptionSize according to the following list:

• 1 = Default
• 1 = 50%
• 2 = 100%
• 3 = 150%
• 4 = 200%

Caption Effects

To change the caption effect, change the DWORD value CaptionEdgeEffect according to the following list of values:

• 0 = Default
• 1 = None
• 2 = Raised
• 3 = Depressed
• 4 = Uniform
• 5 = Drop shadow

Caption Background Color

You can change the caption background color by changing the DWORD value BackgroundColor to one of the following values.

• 0 = Default
• 1 = White
• 2 = Black
• 3 = Red
• 4 = Green
• 5 = Blue
• 6 = Yellow
• 7 = Magenta
• 8 = Cyan

Caption Background Transparency

The caption background transparency can be set by changing the value BackgroundOpacity. The supported value data is as follows.

• 0 = Default
• 1 = Opaque
• 2 = Translucent
• 3 = Semitransparent
• 4 = Transparent

Window Color

You can change the window color using the DWORD value RegionColor. Set the value data according to the following list.

• 0 = Default
• 1 = White
• 2 = Black
• 3 = Red
• 4 = Green
• 5 = Blue
• 6 = Yellow
• 7 = Magenta
• 8 = Cyan

Window Transparency

Modify the RegionOpacity DWORD to set the window transparency level. Use one of the following values.

• 0 = Default
• 1 = Opaque
• 2 = Translucent
• 3 = Semitransparent
• 4 = Transparent

That's it.