YouTube's auto dub creates dubbed versions of your videos in other languages automatically

YouTube can generate dubbed audio tracks in multiple languages and add them to your video without your permission. This feature, called auto dub, uses artificial intelligence to create new audio in languages like Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, and Hindi. If you upload a video in English, YouTube may create Spanish and French versions on its own and make them available to viewers in those regions.

You can turn this off in your video settings before or after upload. The setting is called "Allow YouTube to create dubbed versions of this video" and sits in the monetization and restrictions section of each video's details page. Disabling it prevents YouTube from generating and distributing these dubbed tracks.

Key Takeaways

  • Auto dub is enabled by default on most videos and creates dubbed audio in multiple languages without asking you first.
  • You disable auto dub by unchecking a single box in each video's details page under the "Monetization" or "Advanced settings" tab.
  • The setting applies to one video at a time — you must change it for each video you want to protect.
  • Disabling auto dub does not affect subtitles, captions, or other YouTube features, only the automatic audio dubbing.

Where to find the auto dub setting in YouTube Studio

Open YouTube Studio and go to your Videos library. Click on the video you want to change. On the left side menu, click "Monetization" (if you have monetization enabled) or scroll down to find "Advanced settings" (if you do not have monetization). The auto dub checkbox appears under a section labeled "Video restrictions" or "Restrictions and permissions."

If you see a checkbox that says "Allow YouTube to create dubbed versions of this video," that is the auto dub control. It will be checked by default. Uncheck it to disable auto dub for that video. Click "Save" at the bottom right of the page. The change takes effect when ready, though YouTube may take a few hours to remove any dubbed versions already created.

How to disable auto dub before uploading a new video

When you upload a new video to YouTube Studio, you can disable auto dub before the video goes live. After you select your video file and fill in the title and description, click "More options" at the bottom of the upload form. Scroll down until you see the monetization section or advanced settings section.

Uncheck "Allow YouTube to create dubbed versions of this video" before you click "Publish." This prevents YouTube from ever creating dubbed audio for that video. You can still change this setting later by going back to the video's details page and following the same steps as above.

What happens to dubbed versions already created

If YouTube has already created dubbed versions of your video before you disable auto dub, those versions do not disappear when ready. YouTube removes them gradually over time, usually within a few hours to a few days. Viewers in other language regions may still see the dubbed versions briefly after you disable the setting.

If you want to remove dubbed audio faster, you can contact YouTube Support through the Help Center and request manual removal. Provide the video URL and the languages you want removed. Response times vary, but YouTube typically handles these requests within one to two weeks.

Why you might want to disable auto dub

Auto dub can change how your message comes across. The AI-generated voices may mispronounce names, miss context, or translate phrases in ways you did not intend. If you have a specific tone or delivery style, dubbed audio loses that entirely. Creators who work with professional voice actors or translators often disable auto dub to maintain control over how their content sounds in other languages.

Some creators disable auto dub because they want to create their own dubbed versions or hire translators. Others do it because they want viewers to use subtitles instead, which preserves the original audio and lets viewers read translations at their own pace. If your video contains music, sound effects, or audio that is important to the message, auto dub can interfere with that experience.

Auto dub vs. automatic captions and subtitles

Auto dub is different from YouTube's automatic caption and subtitle features. Captions and subtitles are text overlays that translate or transcribe what is being said — they do not change the audio itself. You can disable auto dub while keeping automatic captions on, or vice versa. Many creators keep captions enabled because they help accessibility and do not change the original audio experience.

If you want to disable captions as well, that setting is in a different place. Go to the video details page, click "Subtitles," and uncheck "Allow YouTube to automatically generate captions for this video." This is separate from the auto dub setting and requires its own change.

Checking which videos have auto dub enabled

You can see the auto dub status of all your videos at once by using YouTube Studio's filtering tools. Go to your Videos library and look for the column headers. You may not see an "Auto dub" column by default, but you can customize which columns appear by clicking the settings icon (three dots) in the top right of the videos table.

If your account has many videos, checking each one individually takes time. YouTube does not offer a bulk setting to disable auto dub across all videos at once. You must change the setting for each video separately. Prioritize videos where the original audio quality or message is most important.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does disabling auto dub affect my video's reach or recommendations?

No. Disabling auto dub does not change how YouTube recommends your video or how many views it gets. YouTube may show your video to fewer viewers in non-English regions if those viewers prefer dubbed content, but the algorithm does not penalize you for disabling the feature. Your video remains may be able to access for all the same promotion and monetization as before.

Can I disable auto dub for just one language?

No. The setting is all or nothing — you either allow YouTube to create dubbed versions or you do not. You cannot choose to allow Spanish dubs but block French dubs. If you want to allow dubs in some languages but not others, you would need to disable auto dub entirely and create those specific dubbed versions yourself.

Will viewers see a message that auto dub is disabled?

No. Viewers will not know whether auto dub is enabled or disabled. They will straightforward see the audio and subtitle options available for your video. If auto dub is off, they will only see the original language and any subtitles you or YouTube have created.

Can I re-enable auto dub after I disable it?

Yes. You can change the auto dub setting at any time by going back to the video's details page and checking the box again. YouTube will begin creating dubbed versions once you re-enable it, though this may take a few hours. There is no limit to how many times you can toggle this setting on and off.

Does auto dub work for videos in languages other than English?

Yes. YouTube can create dubbed versions of videos in any language it supports. A Spanish-language video can be dubbed into English, French, German, and other languages. The auto dub setting controls this for all videos regardless of the original language.