How to Change Multi-Language Audio Tracks and Dubbing on YouTube

YouTube has rapidly evolved beyond traditional subtitles and closed captions by rolling out native support for multi-language audio tracks and AI-powered vocal dubbing. Leading international content creators and educational channels now upload multiple distinct spoken language tracks for a single video. When you launch a video, YouTube frequently chooses an audio track automatically based on your device’s system language or regional account settings. While convenient for many, this automatic behaviour can sometimes replace the creator’s authentic original voice with an automated or artificial-sounding translation.

Fortunately, YouTube provides granular controls allowing viewers to inspect available audio streams, switch between original voiceovers and localised dubs, or revert auto-translated soundtracks back to the creator’s native audio. In this guide, you will learn how to change multi-language audio tracks and dubbing on YouTube across desktop browsers, the YouTube mobile app (iOS and Android), and connected smart TVs.

How Multi-Language Audio Works on YouTube

Unlike video dubbing in the past—which required creators to upload duplicate video files for each language—YouTube’s modern infrastructure bundles multiple synchronised audio streams into a single video container. Key aspects include:

• Studio-Quality Voiceovers: Professional creators collaborate with international voice actors to record dedicated audio stems in Spanish, French, Hindi, Japanese, Portuguese, and other languages.
• Aloud AI Auto-Dubbing: Google’s automated dubbing technology analyses speech, translates dialogues, and synthesises natural-sounding speech matching the timing of the original speaker.
• Dynamic System Matching: If your phone or operating system is configured for Spanish, YouTube attempts to serve Spanish audio whenever that track exists on the channel.

Step 1: Switching Audio Tracks on Desktop Web Browsers

If you watch YouTube on Google Chrome, Safari, Microsoft Edge, or Mozilla Firefox, switching audio tracks requires only a couple of clicks inside the video player:

1. Navigate to YouTube.com and begin playing a video that supports multi-language audio.
2. Hover your cursor over the playback window to reveal the player controls.
3. Click the Settings (gear icon) in the lower-right corner of the video frame.
4. Look for the Audio track option in the pop-up menu. (If this option does not appear, the creator has not uploaded additional language tracks for that specific video).
5. Click Audio track to view all available languages. The creator’s native voice will typically be marked as Original (such as English (original) or Japanese (original)).
6. Select your preferred language. The player switches audio instantly without reloading the video stream or interrupting playback.

Step 2: Changing Audio Tracks in the YouTube Mobile App (iPhone & Android)

On mobile smartphones and tablets, audio track preferences are located in the playback settings sheet:

1. Open the YouTube app on your iPhone, iPad, or Android device.
2. Play the desired video and tap the screen to display on-screen overlays.
3. Tap the Settings (gear icon) located in the top-right corner of the player.
4. Tap Additional settings if your app version condenses player preferences.
5. Tap Audio track.
6. Select your preferred spoken language from the list. If you want to disable dubbed translations, select the track labelled with original.

Step 3: Adjusting Audio Tracks on Smart TVs and Streaming Devices

If you enjoy YouTube on an Apple TV, Android TV, Google TV, Roku, Fire TV Stick, or smart television console:

1. Launch the YouTube app on your TV and open a supported video.
2. Press the Up arrow or Select button on your remote control to bring up the playback toolbar.
3. Navigate to and select the Settings (gear icon).
4. Scroll to Audio track.
5. Use your remote’s directional pad to select your preferred language track.

Preventing YouTube from Automatically Forcing Dubbed Audio

If YouTube repeatedly forces translated dubbed audio instead of your preferred original language, you can adjust your primary account language settings:

1. Click your profile picture in the top-right corner of YouTube.
2. Select Language from the menu options.
3. Set your primary language to match the language in which you prefer to consume media.
4. Additionally, check your Google Account regional language preferences at myaccount.google.com/language to ensure secondary language preferences do not trigger unexpected automated dubs.