Filter Profane Words in Microsoft Teams Captions
Filtering profane words in Microsoft Teams live captions hides inappropriate language. This setting automatically replaces offensive words with asterisks, keeping meeting captions professional and inclusive.
For example, if someone swears during a call, the word will appear as ‘****’ in the live captions instead of the actual word. This helps everyone focus on the meeting content without being distracted by unsuitable vocabulary.
You can turn on this feature in Microsoft Teams version 1.5.75.0 and newer.
Enable the “Offensive language” setting in Microsoft Teams Accessibility settings. Navigate to Settings, then Accessibility, and toggle “Filter out profane words in live captions” to On. This masks inappropriate words with asterisks for your view.
Latest Update
You can turn on this feature in Microsoft Teams version 1.5.75.0 and newer. It is now generally available.
What happens when you enable the filter?
Turning on the filter to filter profane words in Teams means the AI checks the meeting’s audio live.
How to toggle profanity filtering
You can filter profane words in Microsoft Teams by turning on the profanity filter in your settings. This helps keep conversations clean by automatically hiding curse words in live captions. To find this option, open your Teams app, click the three dots next to your profile picture, select Settings, and then go to the Accessibility tab. You will see a toggle switch for Show profanity in captions.
- Launch the Microsoft Teams app from your Start menu or Taskbar.
Microsoft Teams in Start menu 
Turn on or off automatically starting Microsoft Teams - Click the Settings and more (...) icon located near your profile picture.
- Select Settings from the drop-down menu.
Microsoft Teams settings button for filtering captions - Navigate to the Accessibility tab on the left sidebar.
- Under the Captions section, locate Filter out profane words in live captions.
- Toggle the switch to On to mask words, or Off to see all text.
Filter out profane words in live caption with Teams
Latest Update
Supported platforms and limitations
The profanity filter in Teams works on Windows, Mac, and the web, but it's mainly for English and only affects live captions.
Latest Update
The profanity filter in Teams works on Windows, Mac, and the web, but it's mainly for English and only affects live captions. The filter is constantly being updated to better understand slang and regional variations, but may not catch all offensive terms.
Summary
Filtering profane words in Teams is a straightforward way to make your meetings more professional and accessible for everyone.
Can administrators enforce profanity filtering for an entire organization?
Currently, Microsoft Teams does not provide a global policy for administrators to force this setting on all users. It is designed as an individual accessibility preference. Users must manually enable or disable the filter within their own app settings to suit their personal or professional requirements during meetings.
Administrative Controls
Currently, Microsoft Teams does not provide a global policy for administrators to force this setting on all users. It is designed as an individual accessibility preference. Users must manually enable or disable the filter within their own app settings to suit their personal or professional requirements during meetings. However, IT administrators can use organizational policies to manage other Teams meeting settings.
Does the profanity filter work in all languages supported by Teams?
The profanity filter is primarily designed for English-language captions. While Microsoft continues to update its accessibility features, the masking technology may not reliably detect or filter offensive terms in other supported languages. For the best results, ensure your meeting language settings are correctly configured in the Teams app. The filter does not affect audio quality. If you find the filter misses words or incorrectly flags words, you can report inaccuracies through the Teams feedback mechanism.
User Scenarios and Benefits
Filtering profane words in Teams live captions helps create a more inclusive and professional meeting environment. It's particularly useful in large meetings, external-facing calls, or when employees from diverse backgrounds are present. By automatically replacing offensive language with asterisks, it ensures that all participants can focus on the discussion without distraction or discomfort. This feature supports Teams accessibility options, making live captions more usable for a wider audience.
Limitations and Accuracy
The profanity filter is not perfect. It relies on AI to detect and mask offensive words, which means it may not catch all instances of inappropriate language. Slang, coded language, acronyms, and regional variations can be challenging for the filter. While Microsoft continually improves the AI, there might be false positives (masking non-profane words) or false negatives (missing profane words). The filter is mainly effective for English and may not work reliably in other languages.
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About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard, a writer for Geek Rewind, is a tech enthusiast who loves breaking down complex IT topics into simple, easy-to-understand ideas. With years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, he’s developed a knack for offering practical tips and solutions. Richard aims to make technology more accessible and actionable. He's deeply committed to the Geek Rewind community, always ready to answer questions and engage in discussions.
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