Change caption size in three steps

Open any YouTube video on your computer and turn on captions by clicking the CC button in the bottom right of the player. Once captions are on, click the settings icon (the gear) in the same corner, then select Subtitles from the menu. A second menu will appear with a Font size option — click it and choose from nine sizes, ranging from 50% to 200% of the default. Your choice saves automatically and applies to all videos you watch going forward.

The entire process takes about five seconds. YouTube remembers your preference, so you won't need to adjust it again unless you want to change it later. If you ever want to return to the default size, the middle option in the font size menu is the standard setting.

Key Takeaways

  • Turn on captions first by clicking the CC button in the bottom right corner of the video player.
  • Click the settings gear icon, then select Subtitles to access the font size menu.
  • YouTube offers nine caption sizes from 50% to 200%, and your choice saves automatically across all videos.
  • The middle option in the font size menu is the default size if you want to reset later.
  • Caption size changes explore only to your account and do not affect what other viewers see.

Where to find the settings gear icon

The settings icon looks like a small gear and sits in the bottom right corner of the video player, next to the CC button. It appears only when you move your mouse over the player controls — if you don't see it, move your cursor over the video and wait a moment for the controls to appear. On a desktop or laptop, the gear is always in that same spot, whether you're watching in full screen or in a window.

If you're using a very small browser window, the gear icon may be hidden behind a three-dot menu instead. Click the three dots and you'll see the same settings options, including Subtitles and Font size.

All nine caption size options explained

YouTube's font size menu shows percentages from 50% up to 200%. The 100% option in the middle is what YouTube shows by default — this is the size most viewers use. Sizes below 100% (50%, 75%) make captions smaller and take up less space on your screen. Sizes above 100% (125%, 150%, 175%, 200%) make captions progressively larger, which helps if you sit far from your screen or have vision concerns.

There's no "wrong" choice — pick whatever size lets you read comfortably. Many people who sit close to their monitor use 100% or 125%, while viewers watching from across a room often prefer 150% or higher. You can change it at any time, so feel free to experiment.

Your caption size preference saves across devices — with one catch

When you change the caption size on your computer while signed into your YouTube account, that preference syncs to other devices where you're signed in with the same account. If you watch YouTube on your phone or tablet using the same Google account, your caption size choice will follow you there too.

The catch: if you watch YouTube without signing in, or if you use a different account on another device, that device won't have your saved preference. Each account stores its own caption settings separately. If someone else uses your computer with their own YouTube account, their caption size choices won't affect yours.

What to do if captions won't change size

If you click the font size option and nothing happens, first check that captions are actually turned on — the CC button should be highlighted or show a checkmark. If captions are on but the size won't change, try refreshing the page by pressing F5 or Ctrl+R on your keyboard, then turn captions back on and try again.

If the problem persists, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then sign out of YouTube and sign back in. Cached data sometimes interferes with settings. If you're using an older browser version, update it — YouTube's caption controls work best on current versions of Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.

Caption size doesn't affect video playback or other settings

Changing the caption size changes only the size of the text you see — it doesn't slow down the video, change the audio, or affect any other playback settings. You can adjust caption size without worrying about accidentally changing something else. The font size menu is separate from other options like caption background color or language, which you can adjust independently if your browser supports them.

Your caption size choice is purely visual and personal. It doesn't change what the video creator uploaded, and it doesn't affect what other people watching the same video see on their screens.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make captions even bigger than 200%?

No, 200% is the largest size YouTube offers through the standard settings menu. If that's still too small, you can try zooming your entire browser window using Ctrl+Plus (or Cmd+Plus on Mac), which enlarges everything on the page including captions, though this also makes the video player and other elements larger.

Do I have to change caption size every time I watch a video?

No. Once you pick a size, YouTube saves it to your account. Every video you watch will use that same size until you change it again. You only need to adjust it once.

What if I want different caption sizes for different videos?

YouTube doesn't let you set different sizes for individual videos — your choice applies to all videos. However, you can quickly change the size whenever you want by going back to the settings menu, so if you need a bigger size for one video and a smaller size for another, you can switch between them.

Will changing caption size work on YouTube's mobile app?

The steps in this guide are for YouTube on a computer. The mobile app has its own caption settings, which you access by tapping the three-dot menu during playback and selecting Captions. The mobile app's size options may look different from the desktop version.

Can I change the font style or color of captions, not just the size?

Yes, but it depends on your browser. Some browsers let you adjust caption background color, font style, and transparency through the Subtitles menu. Not all browsers support these options — Chrome and Firefox offer more caption customization than some others. If you don't see these options, your browser may not support them.