2 Quick Ways to Turn On YouTube Subtitles or Closed Captions

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Enable subtitles for YouTube videos

Written by Rain Kengly

Last Updated: October 18, 2024 Fact Checked

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• Using the Mobile App
|
• Using the Website
|
• Video
|
• Q&A

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Some videos on YouTube include official, community-contributed, or auto-translated subtitles/closed captions. You may be able to enable official or auto-translated subtitles in English or other languages in many videos. This wikiHow teaches you how to turn on YouTube subtitles using your iPhone, iPad, Android, or computer.

Quick Steps

1. Navigate to a YouTube video.
2. Tap a video to open player controls.
3. Tap the cog icon.
4. Tap Captions.
5. Tap an option.

Steps

Method 1

Method 1 of 2:

Using the Mobile App

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1. 1
   Open the YouTube app. The YouTube icon looks like a white play button in a red rectangle.

   • Not all videos have subtitles (captions) available. You'll only see subtitles if the uploader manually added them or if YouTube automatically generates them.
2. 2
   Navigate to a video. You can tap the magnifying glass icon to search for a specific video or browse your home feed.
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3. 3
   Tap the video. This will bring up the player controls.
4. 4
   Tap the cog icon. This is in the top-right corner.

   • Alternatively, you can tap CC to quickly toggle captions on.
5. 5
   Tap Captions. This is below Playback speed.
6. 6
   Tap a subtitle option. If the uploader has added multiple languages, you'll see them listed here.

   • If the uploader did not upload their own subtitles/captions, you'll see (auto-generated) next to it.
   • If the video's audio is in a different language, you may see Auto-translate. Tap it to allow YouTube to automatically translate the audio. Keep in mind it may not be completely accurate.
   • Your video will continue with subtitles on.
7. 7
   View the transcript (optional). If the creator uploaded a transcript of a video, you can find it in the video description. Do the following:

   • Navigate to a YouTube video.
   • Expand the description section.
   • Tap Show transcript at the very bottom.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 2:

Using the Website

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1. 1
   Go to https://www.youtube.com/ in a web browser. You can use any browser.

   • Not all videos have subtitles (captions) available. You'll only see subtitles if the uploader manually added them or if YouTube automatically generates them.
2. 2
   Navigate to a video. You can use the search bar at the top to search for a specific video or browse your home feed.
3. 3
   Hover over the video. This will open the player controls.
4. 4
   Click the cog icon. This is at the bottom-right corner of the video.

   • Alternatively, you can click CC to quickly toggle captions on.
5. 5
   Click Subtitles/CC. You can find this in the pop-up menu.
6. 6
   Click a subtitle option. If the uploader has added multiple languages, you'll see them listed here.

   • If the uploader did not upload their own subtitles/captions, you'll see (auto-generated) next to it.
   • If the video's audio is in a different language, you may see Auto-translate. Click it to allow YouTube to automatically translate the audio. Keep in mind it may not be completely accurate.
   • Optionally, you can click Options on the top-right of the "Subtitles/CC" pop-up, and change your subtitle font, color, size and format.
7. 7
   View the transcript (optional). If the creator uploaded a transcript of a video, you can find it in the video description. Do the following:

   • Navigate to a YouTube video.
   • Click ...more to expand the description section.
   • Click Show transcript at the very bottom.
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Community Q&A

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Add New Question

• Question

  When I click on the settings icon, no subtitle box springs up. Why isn't it there?

  

  Community Answer

  This means that there are no subtitles. This could mean that no one has decided to add subtitles, or it could mean that this video cannot be subtitled.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 4 Helpful 28
• Question

  When I select English CC in the settings, it works until I close the website and reopen it. Then I see that it was not saved. How can I make the setting so it's saved?

  

  Community Answer

  You have to access the subtitles every time you open a new YouTube page. If these steps are too long, press C on a computer keyboard. If you are on mobile, you will have to do the whole process every time.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 4 Helpful 9
• Question

  I don't see an English language option from mobile?

  

  Ruby

  Top Answerer

  That will be because they weren't added. You can request for the creator to add captions, but unfortunately, sometimes you have to "make-do" with the auto-generated captions, which are of significantly lower quality.

  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful.
  Thank you for your feedback.
  If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow

  Yes No

  Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7

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