How Do I Change the Captions Language on YouTube?

Whether you are a YouTube creator or a viewer, closed captioning or subtitles are a great way to share or enjoy content from around the world. Using the settings on YouTube, you can add subtitles in a number of different languages, and you can change the subtitles' size, color and font to best suit you or your viewer's needs.

Dec 9, 2022

YouTube has creators worldwide, allowing viewers to enable closed captioning so they can fully understand what is going on in a video, even when it is a language unfamiliar to the viewer. How do you change the caption's language on YouTube? You can find out more about the platform's tools by contacting customer support here, and below are steps to setting the caption language you want to use.

Closed Captioning/Subtitles on YouTube

Captions, sometimes called subtitles, help individuals know what is being said in a video. It's a useful tool for those who are hearing impaired or don't speak the language in the movie or clip. To set the language you want for subtitles on YouTube, follow these steps:

  1. Open the video you wish to watch.
  2. Select "CC" on the video to turn closed captioning on.
  3. Click on the "Settings" icon (the small "gear").
  4. Choose "Captions" to see the language options.
  5. Select from the options provided in the menu that options. Examples of options could include:
    • English
    • French
    • French (auto-generated)
    • Auto-translate captions
  6. Once you click the language you want, you will automatically be returned to the video.

There are multiple languages available using the "Auto-Translate" setting on YouTube. These include:

  • Arabic
  • Traditional Chinese
  • Dutch
  • French
  • German
  • Hindi
  • Indonesian
  • Italian
  • Japanese
  • Korean
  • Portuguese
  • Russian
  • Spanish
  • Thai
  • Turkish
  • Ukrainian
  • Vietnamese

You also have the option to change the size, color and font of the subtitles to best suit your needs in the "Settings menu."

Adding Subtitles as a YouTube Creator

If you are a YouTube creator and wish to add subtitles to your videos, you can do so by completing the steps listed here.

  1. Open YouTube Studio and log into your account.
  2. Select "Subtitles" from the menu options.
  3. Click on the video you want to add subtitles to.
  4. Click "Add language" and pick the language you want for the captions.
  5. Select "Add Subtitles" from the menu and make your selection.
  6. You can upload the subtitles from a file or type them out yourself while editing your video.

Adding captions and adjusting the language on YouTube videos helps you reach a more global audience and helps viewers from around the world enjoy YouTube content. For more information or assistance, contact user support here.

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How Do I Change the Captions Language on YouTube?

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Updated a year ago
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