Home / YouTube subtitles on Android
YouTube Dual Subtitles & Translation on Android
Live Subtitles adds a floating AI caption overlay to YouTube on your Android phone — the original spoken line and your translation, live, on top of the YouTube app or a browser. Works on regular videos, Shorts, and live streams, with or without YouTube's own captions.
Why this beats YouTube's own captions
- No translation. YouTube's auto-captions transcribe in the language spoken. They don't translate into another language, and the "auto-translate" caption option is only offered on some videos and some language pairs.
- No dual view. You get one caption line, in one language. There's no way to see the original wording and a translation at the same time.
- Depends on the video. Auto-captions aren't generated for every upload, and quality varies. Live Subtitles transcribes the audio itself, so it works the same way regardless of what YouTube generated for that video.
How it works
A floating overlay over the YouTube app or your browser
Once the overlay permission is granted, captions sit on top of the video — open the YouTube app, a mobile browser, or switch between tabs, and the subtitles stay visible, draggable, and resizable.
System Audio mode
YouTube playback — videos, Shorts, live streams — is ordinary media audio on the phone, so System Audio mode reads it directly through Android's screen/audio capture API. There's a one-time Android consent prompt each session; that's a standard Android requirement for any app reading screen/audio output, not something specific to Live Subtitles.
Dual subtitles, 50+ languages
See the original spoken line and your chosen translation together on screen, instead of a single caption track. Useful for following the actual meaning of a foreign-language video, and for picking up vocabulary from content you're watching anyway.
Setup: a few steps, once
- Install Live Subtitles from Google Play. Open it and try it free — no account required.
- Grant "Display over other apps." The app opens this Android settings screen for you the first time; turn the toggle on and go back.
- Pick System Audio as the source, and set your spoken and translation languages.
- Open YouTube and press play. The overlay appears over the video with dual subtitles running live.
Real-world use cases
Foreign-language videos and vlogs
Watch a creator you follow who speaks a language you're learning or don't speak, with the original line and a translation on screen together — rather than relying on whatever auto-captions YouTube happened to generate.
Live streams and premieres
Caption and translate a YouTube Live stream or premiere as it plays, without waiting for captions to catch up or for a creator-added translation track that may never arrive.
Lectures, courses, and long-form videos
Follow a recorded lecture, tutorial, or documentary in another language with a readable translated line next to the original, useful for study material that platforms like Coursera or university channels post only in one language.
Language learning
Set the recognition language to what you're learning and the translation to your native language — dual subtitles let you check comprehension against the original phrasing in real time.
Pricing and free minutes
Live Subtitles is free to install, and every new install gets free minutes you can use immediately — no credit card needed. After that, you can subscribe or buy one-time minute packs directly in the app; current pricing and plans are shown there and on the Google Play listing. The same account also covers the Windows, macOS, and iOS versions.
Get it on Google Play
Also available for Windows and iOS / macOS.
FAQ
Does this replace YouTube's own captions?
No, it runs alongside them. YouTube's auto-captions are same-language only and aren't available on every video. Live Subtitles transcribes and translates the audio itself, on any video.
Does it work in the YouTube app and in a browser?
Both — System Audio mode captures whatever the phone is playing either way.
Does it work on Shorts and live streams?
Yes, they're ordinary media playback, same as a regular video.
How many languages are supported?
50+ for recognition and translation, shown as dual subtitles.
Do I need an internet connection?
Yes — speech recognition and translation run in the cloud.
What if a specific video's audio isn't captured?
Rare on YouTube. If it happens, the app offers a one-tap switch to Microphone mode.
Can I try it for free?
Yes. New installs get free minutes, no credit card required.