---
title: "Subtitle Mode: Understanding Full and Forced Subtitles"
description: Learn how to control whether translated subtitles appear when a speaker is already speaking your target language.
---

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# Subtitle Mode: Understanding Full and Forced Subtitles

## Learn how to control whether translated subtitles appear when a speaker is already speaking your target language.

**Subtitle Mode** controls whether translated subtitles are displayed when the speaker is already speaking the target translation language. For example, if you translate into English, you can choose whether English speakers also receive English subtitles.

Subtitle Mode is set separately for each translation language, under **Advanced Settings** in [Step 4: Translation - How do I enable Translation for my Service using the new UI?](https://help.syncwords.com/live/how-do-i-enable-translation-for-my-service-using-the-new-ui-step-4-translation?hsLang=en)

#### How to Set Subtitle Mode

1. In [**Step 4: Translation**](https://help.syncwords.com/live/how-do-i-enable-translation-for-my-service-using-the-new-ui-step-4-translation?hsLang=en), click the **Settings** icon next to the translation language.
2. Select **Subtitles**.
3. Click the **Advanced Settings** dropdown.
4. Under **Subtitle Mode**, select [**Full**](https://help.syncwords.com/live/subtitle-mode-understanding-full-and-forced-subtitles#Full) or [**Forced**](https://help.syncwords.com/live/subtitle-mode-understanding-full-and-forced-subtitles#Forced).
5. Click **Update Translation** to save your settings.

![](https://help.syncwords.com/hs-fs/hubfs/image-png-Nov-02-2026-08-21-19-8602-PM.png?width=548&height=590&name=image-png-Nov-02-2026-08-21-19-8602-PM.png)

#### Full (Default)

Displays translated subtitles for all speakers, including those already speaking the target translation language.   
Use this option when you want subtitles on screen at all times, for example for accessibility, so viewers can follow every speaker in the same way.

#### Forced

Suppresses translated subtitles when the speaker is already speaking the target translation language, so the subtitles don’t repeat what viewers can already hear.  
Use this option when you only want subtitles for speech that viewers don’t understand.

**NOTE:** Subtitle Mode only controls translated subtitles. It does not change which languages appear in your original-language captions. For that, see [**Soniox Transcription: Choosing Between a Specific Language and Multilingual Captions**](https://help.syncwords.com/live/soniox-transcription-choosing-between-a-specific-language-and-multilingual-captions?hsLang=en)

### Examples

The examples below use:

- **Soniox Transcription:** set to Greek or Multilingual
- **Gemini Translation:** set to English
- **Target Output:** English subtitles and English dubbing

The examples include speakers:

- **EL Speaker:** Speaking Greek
- **EN Speaker:** Speaking English
- **FR Speaker:** Speaking French

#### Scenario 1: Forced Subtitle Mode / Greek Transcription

| **Speaker** | **Original Captions** | **English Subtitles** | **English Dubbing** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Greek | Greek | Yes | Yes |
| English | No | No | Original English audio |
| French | No | Yes | Yes |

#### Scenario 2: Full Subtitle Mode / Greek Transcription

| **Speaker** | **Original Captions** | **English Subtitles** | **English Dubbing** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Greek | Greek | Yes | Yes |
| English | No | Yes | Original English audio |
| French | No | Yes | Yes |

#### Scenario 3: Full Subtitle Mode / Multilingual Transcription

| **Speaker** | **Original Captions** | **English Subtitles** | **English Dubbing** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Greek | Greek | Yes | Yes |
| English | English | Yes | Original English audio |
| French | French | Yes | Yes |

#### Scenario 4: Forced Subtitle Mode / Multilingual Transcription

| **Speaker** | **Original Captions** | **English Subtitles** | **English Dubbing** |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Greek | Greek | Yes | Yes |
| English | English | No | Original English audio |
| French | French | Yes | Yes |

#### Choosing the Right Settings

| **Requirement** | **Soniox Setting** | **Subtitle Mode** |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Original-language captions in one language only | Specific language (e.g. Greek) | Full or Forced |
| Original-language captions for multiple languages | Multilingual | Full or Forced |
| Always display translated subtitles, including for speakers already speaking the target language | Specific language or Multilingual | Full |
| Hide translated subtitles for speakers already speaking the target language | Specific language or Multilingual | Forced |

 

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