YouTube's auto-dubbing creates audio in your language, but you control which version plays
When you watch a video on YouTube, the platform may offer an auto-dubbed version in your language alongside the original audio. YouTube's automatic dubbing feature translates and re-records dialogue, so you hear speech in your chosen language instead of the original. You can switch between the dubbed version and the original audio using the audio track menu — it takes two clicks and works on desktop, mobile, and the YouTube app.
Not every video has auto-dubbed audio available. The feature depends on the video's original language, your account language settings, and whether YouTube's system has processed that particular video. If you don't see a dubbed option, the video either hasn't been auto-dubbed yet or the creator disabled the feature.
Key Takeaways
- Auto-dubbed audio appears in the audio track menu, accessed through the three-dot menu (desktop) or the audio icon (mobile app).
- YouTube labels dubbed tracks with the language name followed by "(auto-generated)" to distinguish them from creator-uploaded audio.
- Switching between original and dubbed audio does not affect captions or subtitles, which remain independent.
- Your choice of audio track is saved per video but does not change your default language settings across YouTube.
- If auto-dubbed audio is not available, the video's creator may have disabled the feature or the video language is not supported yet.
How to access the audio track menu on desktop
Open the video on YouTube in your web browser. In the bottom right corner of the video player, you'll see a three-dot menu icon (sometimes called the "more options" menu). Click it to open a dropdown list.
Look for the option labeled "Audio track" or "Change audio." Click that option, and a submenu will appear showing all available audio versions for that video. The original audio is usually listed first, often labeled with the language name. Below it, you'll see any auto-dubbed versions, marked with the language name followed by "(auto-generated)." Click the version you want to hear.
How to switch audio on the YouTube mobile app
Start playing the video in the YouTube app on your phone or tablet. In the top right corner of the video player, tap the audio icon — it looks like a speaker with sound waves. This opens the audio track menu directly.
The menu shows the original audio at the top and any auto-dubbed versions below. Tap the audio track you want to use. The change takes effect when ready, and the app remembers your choice for that video if you pause and resume.
Switching audio on YouTube's mobile website
If you're watching YouTube in a mobile browser rather than the app, tap the three-dot menu in the top right corner of the video player. Scroll down and tap "Audio track" or "Change audio." Select the version you want from the list that appears.
The mobile website layout is similar to the app but uses the browser's menu system. If the three-dot menu doesn't appear, make sure the video player is in full-screen or expanded view, as the menu may be hidden in compact mode.
Understanding which audio tracks are available
YouTube shows you only the audio tracks that exist for that specific video. The original audio is always available. Auto-dubbed versions appear only if YouTube has processed the video and created them. The language of the dubbed audio depends on your YouTube language setting, but you can see other dubbed versions if they've been created for different languages.
Some creators turn off YouTube's auto-dubbing feature for their videos. If you see only the original audio and no dubbed options, the creator has disabled auto-dubbing, or the video's language is not yet supported by YouTube's dubbing system. YouTube currently supports auto-dubbing for a limited set of languages, and this list expands over time.
How auto-dubbed audio differs from captions and subtitles
Auto-dubbed audio is a separate re-recorded soundtrack, not the same as captions or subtitles. When you switch to dubbed audio, you're changing what you hear — the actual sound coming from your speakers. Captions and subtitles are text overlays that appear on the video and are controlled separately through the CC button or subtitle menu.
You can use dubbed audio with or without captions. For example, you might watch with Spanish auto-dubbed audio and English captions, or with the original audio and Spanish subtitles. Each setting is independent, so changing the audio track does not automatically change your captions.
Troubleshooting when audio tracks don't appear
If you don't see an audio track menu at all, check that you're using a supported browser or app version. YouTube's audio menu works on current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge on desktop, and on the official YouTube app for iOS and Android. If you're using an older browser or a third-party app, the menu may not be available.
If the menu appears but shows only one audio option, auto-dubbed audio has not been created for that video. Wait a few hours or days — YouTube sometimes takes time to process and generate dubbed versions. Alternatively, the video's creator may have disabled the feature. There is no way to request dubbing or force YouTube to create it for a specific video.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does switching to auto-dubbed audio affect the video's subtitles?
No. Audio tracks and subtitles are separate. Changing the audio does not change which subtitles appear. You control subtitles independently using the CC button or subtitle menu, so you can mix and match — for example, watch dubbed audio with original-language subtitles if you prefer.
Will YouTube remember my audio choice the next time I watch the same video?
YouTube remembers your audio choice for that specific video while you're logged in. If you return to the same video later, it will play the audio track you selected last time. However, this preference does not carry over to other videos — each video's audio choice is separate.
Can I change the default audio language for all videos?
Your YouTube language setting determines which dubbed versions are created and offered to you, but it does not automatically play dubbed audio on every video. You must manually select the dubbed audio track for each video. There is no global setting to auto-play dubbed audio across all videos.
What languages does YouTube auto-dubbing support?
YouTube auto-dubbing is available for a growing list of languages, but the exact list changes over time. Common supported languages include Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and several others, but availability varies by region and video. If you don't see a dubbed version in your language, YouTube may not yet support dubbing for that language.
If a video has auto-dubbed audio, is it always good quality?
Auto-dubbed audio is machine-generated, so quality varies. Some videos sound natural and straightforward to follow; others may have timing issues, awkward phrasing, or mismatched lip-sync. If you find the dubbed audio distracting, switch back to the original audio using the same audio track menu.