What creators control
Studio settings for reviewing and turning off auto-dubbing per video
YouTube dubbing guide
YouTube auto dubbing: how it works and how to turn it off
YouTube's automatic dubbing generates AI voice tracks in other languages for eligible videos, currently covering 27 languages, and marks dubbed videos as 'auto-dubbed' in the description. Viewers can switch back to the original audio from the player's Audio track menu, and creators can review or turn off auto-dubbing per video in YouTube Studio.
What viewers control
The player's Audio track menu, to switch back to the original language
Common quality signal
Auto-dubbed tracks are labeled 'auto-dubbed' in the video description, and YouTube's own help pages note dubs may contain errors from mispronunciation, accent, dialect, or background noise.
Decision points
What YouTube auto dubbing actually is
The feature (built on a tool originally called Aloud) launched from Google's in-house incubator in 2023 and is now open to all creators, covering 27 languages. It automatically generates a translated voice track for eligible videos without the creator recording anything themselves.
How to switch back to the original audio as a viewer
On desktop, open the player, select the gear icon, choose Audio track, then pick the language marked (original). On mobile, tap Settings in the top right, then Audio track. On Shorts, use the three-dot menu instead of a gear icon. If you're casting to a TV or using AirPlay, you may need to stop casting and switch the language on the source device first — YouTube's help documentation confirms the switching capability exists but doesn't spell out these exact steps, which is the most common source of confusion.
What creators should check before enabling or disabling it
Auto dubbing can noticeably change which audiences a video reaches, because YouTube may surface a dubbed video to speakers of that language as a distinct audience pool — several creators have reported reach or revenue shifting after toggling the setting. Before deciding either way, check Analytics for language/geography breakdowns rather than judging purely by audio quality.
Practical workflow
- 1
Open the video you want to watch in its original language.
- 2
On desktop, select the gear icon in the player, then choose Audio track.
- 3
On mobile, tap the Settings icon in the top right, then Audio track.
- 4
On Shorts, use the three-dot menu, then Audio track.
- 5
Choose the track marked (original) rather than a language name alone.
Product boundary
This guide explains YouTube's own automatic dubbing feature and the viewer/creator controls YouTube provides. TimedSubs does not control, generate, or manage YouTube's auto-dubbed audio tracks.
Related guides and tools
FAQ
Is there one setting that turns off auto dubbing for every video I watch?
YouTube's own controls work per video from the player's Audio track menu rather than as a single global viewer toggle. Some viewers work around this by setting every relevant language as a preferred language in their account settings.
Why did YouTube add a dubbed track to a video that's already in English?
This can happen when YouTube misdetects the video's source language. If you're the creator and this happens on your own video, check your channel's language settings in YouTube Studio.
Should creators turn auto dubbing off?
There's no universal answer. Some creators keep it for expanded reach, others turn it off after audio quality complaints. Check your Analytics language and geography breakdown before deciding, since reach for your existing audience can be affected either way.
Does auto dubbing affect background music or sound effects?
It's meant to replace only the spoken voice track, but some creators have reported the audio processing affecting the overall mix. If your video relies heavily on music or sound design, it's worth checking a dubbed version yourself.