Switch Back to Original Audio on One Video
If a YouTube video starts with an AI-translated voice instead of the creator’s recorded audio, you can change the audio track from the video player. This is the fastest fix when you only want to change the video you are watching.
These steps apply to YouTube in a desktop browser, including a PC, MacBook, or Chromebook. You can select the original audio or another available language directly from the video’s settings.
Video Tutorial
Change the Audio Track for the Current Video
YouTube can offer more than one audio track on a video. When auto dubbing is active, the player may select a translated track. Choose Original to hear the language used in the original upload instead.
- Open the YouTube video that is playing with dubbed audio.
- Hover over the video player to show its controls.
- Select the gear icon.
- Select Audio track.
- Select Original.
The video should now play with its original audio track. If you do not want the original track, select the language you prefer from the same Audio track menu.
This method changes the audio for that video. It is useful when a video starts playing in an unexpected language and you want to correct it right away without changing your account settings.
Set Your Preferred Languages for Future Videos
You can also tell YouTube which languages you prefer. This is the setting to use if you want YouTube to keep using original audio when the video’s original language is one of your selected languages.
For example, if you only want to hear videos originally recorded in English, add English to your preferred languages. You can add more than one language if you understand and want to hear content in several languages.
- Go to YouTube in your desktop browser.
- Select your profile icon in the top-right corner.
- Select Settings.
- On the left side of the Settings page, select Playback and performance.
- Find the Preferred languages section.
- Select Add or edit.
- Check each language you want YouTube to treat as a preferred language.
- Select Confirm to save the selection.
After you save your choices, YouTube will play the original audio when that original language is included in your preferred languages. This avoids having to open the gear menu and switch to Original as often.
What Preferred Languages Change
The Preferred languages setting covers more than audio. YouTube explains that some videos can offer audio, titles, and descriptions in additional languages. Your selected languages help YouTube decide which available version to use.
The key part for auto dubbing is the original language rule. If the original audio language of a video is one of your preferred languages, YouTube will always play the original audio. Add every language you want to hear in its original form.
If you speak multiple languages, select all of them before choosing Confirm. That way, YouTube can keep original audio for videos made in each of those languages rather than switching to an available dubbed track.
Use the Right Option for the Problem
Use Audio track from the gear icon when one specific video is using the wrong audio. It is the quickest option because you can make the change while the video is open.
Use Preferred languages in Playback and performance when the issue happens repeatedly. Add the languages you want to hear, then save with Confirm. YouTube can then favor original audio on future videos when the original language matches your list.
You can use both options together. Set your preferred languages for regular viewing, then use the player’s Audio track menu anytime you want a different available track for a particular video.
If You Still Hear a Dubbed Track
First, open the video player settings and check Audio track. Select Original if it is available. This confirms the current video is using the track you expect.
Next, return to Settings, Playback and performance, and Preferred languages. Make sure the video’s original language is checked, then select Confirm if you made a change. The preferred language setting works when the original audio language is one of the languages you selected.
With those two controls, you can change the audio on the video in front of you and set YouTube to favor original audio for the languages you understand.
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