At a glance
On a computer, install the LinguaCap extension for Chrome, open a YouTube video with subtitles and turn captions on: a translated line appears under the original. On a phone, open YouTube in the LinguaCap app’s built-in browser instead of the YouTube app. Any video with subtitles works, including auto-generated captions.
Where YouTube dual subtitles work
| Device | How to watch |
|---|---|
| Computer | Chrome, Edge, Brave, Opera or Yandex Browser with the LinguaCap extension |
| iPhone and iPad | The LinguaCap app from the App Store: open YouTube in its built-in browser |
| Android | The LinguaCap app from Google Play: open YouTube in its built-in browser |
| YouTube app, Safari or Firefox | Not supported: they cannot load LinguaCap |
Set it up on a computer
- Add LinguaCap to Chrome from the Chrome Web Store and sign in.
- Choose the language you are learning and your native language in the extension.
- Open a YouTube video in the language you are learning and switch on subtitles in the player.
- LinguaCap shows the original caption with a translation below. Use the LinguaCap button in the player to change tracks, order and style.
Set it up on iPhone, iPad or Android
- Install LinguaCap from the App Store or Google Play.
- Answer the short onboarding questions, choose your languages and sign in with the same account you use in Chrome.
- Open the built-in browser, find a video on YouTube and play it.
- Tap a word in the subtitles to translate and save it. Your dictionary is shared between the app and the extension.
The YouTube app itself cannot show LinguaCap subtitles, so open videos in the LinguaCap browser. The same browser works with TED and other video sites that have subtitles. Read more in our iPhone and iPad guide and Android guide.
Auto-generated or creator subtitles?
YouTube offers two kinds of captions. Subtitles uploaded by the creator are usually accurate and well timed. Auto-generated captions, marked as auto-generated in the subtitles menu, come from speech recognition: they exist on far more videos but can miss words, names and punctuation.
LinguaCap works with both. For dictation and close listening, prefer videos with creator subtitles in the original language. Auto-generated captions are fine for following a podcast or a vlog, but double-check a surprising word before you save it.
Find videos worth learning from
Search YouTube in the language you are learning, not in English: type the topic in Spanish, Japanese or German and filter for videos with subtitles. Channels made for learners speak a little slower and often add subtitles in the original language. The Easy Languages channels, such as Easy Spanish and Easy German, interview people on the street, and Dreaming Spanish sorts its videos by level.
- Beginners: learner channels, children’s shows and slow podcasts with video.
- Intermediate: vlogs, cooking, travel and interviews on topics you know well.
- Advanced: talk shows, news, lectures and comedy, where speech is fast and full of idioms.
Practise, not just watch
Every video with subtitles has a transcript in LinguaCap. Use it to replay a line, translate a whole sentence or practise with Dictation and Shadowing. On a computer you can also slow a video down while the speaker keeps a natural pitch.
Saved words and phrases go into your dictionary and come back as FSRS-6 flashcards in the app, so a ten-minute video can leave you with five expressions you still remember next week.
Frequently asked questions
Can YouTube show two subtitles at once?
Not on its own: YouTube shows one caption track at a time, even when it translates automatically. LinguaCap adds the second line in Chrome and in its iPhone and Android apps.
Does it work with auto-generated captions?
Yes. LinguaCap works with creator subtitles and auto-generated captions. Creator subtitles are usually more accurate, so prefer them for dictation.
Can I use it in the YouTube app?
No. The YouTube app cannot load extensions or overlays. Open YouTube in the LinguaCap app’s built-in browser instead.
Is it free?
Dual subtitles on YouTube are free. Word translation, flashcards and practice have a daily limit on the free plan; Pro removes the limits in the app and the extension.
What if a video has no subtitles?
LinguaCap needs a subtitle track to translate. Choose another video, or upload your own .srt or .vtt file for it in the desktop extension.
Sources and verification
This article was prepared by the LinguaCap team. Site and app features and plan terms may change; confirm current details at the official sources.
Watch YouTube with two subtitle lines
Get the app for iPhone or Android, or add the extension to Chrome on your computer.