Sunday 3 May 2020

How to Edit Auto-Generated Captions in YouTube

Captions are beneficial for many when watching any kind of video file.  We know that they are essential for those who are deaf/hard of hearing, but they can benefit many people in a variety of ways - for example, I always watch TV with captions on in case I miss something so I don't have to rewind.

My friend Noa reached out this morning to ask how to create caption in YouTube.  I explained that captions are auto-generated in YouTube and that the video create can edit them. 

I made this 3 minute video explaining how you can edit the auto-generated caption in YouTube.   Written directions are below.



  1. Sign in to YouTube Studio.
  2. From the left menu, select Subtitles.
  3. Click the video you’d like to edit.
  4. For the language you’d like to edit, in the “Subtitles” column, select Options (the timbits)  --> Edit in Classic Studio.
  5. At the top right, click Edit.
  6. Click on the caption track you want to edit - for me this is usually English (automatic).
  7. Click inside any line in the caption track panel and edit the text.
  8. When you’ve finished making changes, click Publish edits, at the top right.
(instructions are mostly from Google Support)