How to Fix YouTube Captions Not Working

Posted on the 31 March 2023 by Teragoodness

YouTube is the largest video-sharing platform in the world, with over 2 billion monthly active users. One of its key features is the ability to add captions to videos, which helps viewers to understand the content better, especially if they are deaf or hard of hearing, or if the audio quality is poor. However, sometimes YouTube captions don't work properly, and this can be frustrating for both creators and viewers. In this article, we'll show you how to fix YouTube captions not working so that you can enjoy your favorite videos with ease.

YouTube is one of the most popular video-sharing platforms in the world. It has millions of users who use the platform for entertainment, education, and various other purposes.

However, one of the most common problems faced by YouTube users is the issue with captions. There are times when captions on YouTube videos just stop working, leaving users in a state of frustration.

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What are YouTube Captions?

Before we delve into the issue of captions not working on YouTube, it is essential to understand what YouTube captions are. Captions, also known as subtitles, are text that appears on the video screen while the video is playing. They are used to provide a written version of the audio that is spoken in the video. Captions make videos more accessible to a wider audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing non-native speakers or those who prefer to read the text rather than listen to the audio.

Below are some reasons why YouTube captions stop working for you.

Why are YouTube Captions Not Working?

There could be several reasons why YouTube captions are not working. Here are some of the most common reasons:

  1. Incorrect Settings

One of the most common reasons why captions may not be working on YouTube is incorrect settings. It is possible that the captions are turned off or that the wrong language is selected. To fix this issue, go to the video settings and make sure that captions are turned on and that the correct language is selected.

  1. Poor Internet Connection

Another reason why captions may not be working on YouTube is due to a poor internet connection. If the video is buffering or taking a long time to load, the captions may not be able to keep up with the video, resulting in them not displaying correctly. In this case, try pausing the video and waiting for it to load completely before playing it again.

  1. Inaccurate Captioning

Sometimes, captions may not work because they are inaccurate or incomplete. This could happen if the captions were generated automatically using YouTube's speech recognition technology, which may not be 100% accurate. In this case, you can try manually adding or editing the captions to ensure they are correct.

  1. Technical Glitches

Technical glitches on YouTube could also be the reason why captions are not working. This could be due to a bug in the YouTube platform, which may require a fix from the YouTube development team. In this case, you can try restarting your device, clearing your browser cache, or using a different browser to see if the captions start working.

How to Fix YouTube Captions Not Working

Step 1: Check Your YouTube Settings

The first step in fixing YouTube captions not working is to check your YouTube settings. Sometimes, captions may be turned off by default or accidentally turned off. Here's how to check:

  1. Go to YouTube and sign in to your account.
  2. Click on your profile icon in the top right corner.
  3. Select “Settings” from the drop-down menu.
  4. Click on “Playback and performance” in the left-hand menu.
  5. Scroll down to the “Captions” section and make sure the “Show captions” option is turned on.

If the “Show captions” option is turned off, turn it on and check if captions work on the video you were having issues with. If captions still don't work, move on to the next step.

Step 2: Check the Video for Captions

If captions are enabled in your YouTube settings, the next step is to check if captions are available for the video you're watching. Not all videos have captions, and it's up to the creator to add them. Here's how to check if captions are available:

  1. Play the video you want to watch.
  2. Click on the “CC” button in the bottom right corner of the video player.
  3. If captions are available, they will appear on the screen.

If captions are not available, you can either contact the video creator and ask them to add captions or move on to the next video that has captions available.

Step 3: Clear Your Browser's Cache and Cookies

Sometimes, YouTube captions not working can be caused by your browser's cache and cookies. These are temporary files that your browser stores to speed up the loading of web pages. However, if these files become corrupted, they can cause issues with YouTube captions. Here's how to clear your browser's cache and cookies:

  1. Open your browser and go to the settings menu.
  2. Click on “Privacy and security.”
  3. Scroll down to “Clear browsing data” and click on it.
  4. Select the time range for which you want to clear your browsing data.
  5. Check the box next to “Cookies and other site data” and “Cached images and files.”
  6. Click on “Clear data.”

After clearing your browser's cache and cookies, restart your browser and try playing the video again to see if the captions work.

Step 4: Update Your Browser

If clearing your browser's cache and cookies didn't work, the next step is to check if your browser is up to date. Outdated browsers can cause issues with YouTube captions, so it's essential to keep your browser up to date. Here's how to update your browser:

  1. Open your browser and go to the settings menu.
  2. Click on “About” or “Help.”
  3. Look for an option to check for updates.
  4. If updates are available, install them and restart your browser.

After updating your browser, try playing the video again to see if the captions work.

Step 5: Use a Different Browser

If none of the above steps works, the final step is to try using a different browser. Sometimes, YouTube captions not working can be caused by compatibility issues between the browser and YouTube. Trying a different browser can help identify whether the issue is with your browser or YouTube. Here's how to use a different browser:

  1. Install a different browser on your computer (such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, or Safari).
  2. Open the new browser and go to YouTube.
  3. Try playing the video again to see if the captions work.

If captions work on the new browser, the issue is likely with your previous browser, and you may need to troubleshoot or reinstall it.

Conclusion

YouTube captions not working can be a frustrating issue, but there are several steps you can take to fix it. Start by checking your YouTube settings and making sure captions are enabled. Then, check if captions are available for the video you want to watch. Clear your browser's cache and cookies, update your browser, and try using a different browser if none of the previous steps work. By following these steps, you can enjoy your favorite YouTube videos with captions and ensure that everyone has access to the content.

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