Guide
How to translate a YouTube video or live stream on iPhone
If the video has captions, use YouTube's Auto-translate: CC or the settings icon, Captions, Auto-translate, your language. If it has none — common on live streams and smaller channels — YouTube has nothing to translate, and iOS will not translate the speech either. Then use an app that listens to the audio YouTube is playing: Hono Translate floats translated subtitles over the video on the same iPhone as it plays — no link to copy into another tool, no second phone, and free to try.
Start with YouTube's own captions
YouTube can translate a caption track into many languages, and that track can be one the creator uploaded or one YouTube generated automatically. When the option is there, it is the easiest route: tap CC or the settings icon in the player, open Captions, choose Auto-translate, then your language.
The option only appears when there is a track. Automatic captions do not exist for every language, every video or every live stream, and many live streams have none at all. No track, no Auto-translate.
Why iOS will not do it either
Live Captions writes down what is said in the language it is said in. Live Translation is for Phone, FaceTime and Messages. The generated subtitles in iOS 27 cover English speech only. The full comparison of every option has the details.
Translate YouTube with Hono Translate
- Start the video or live stream in the YouTube app.
- Open Hono Translate and choose the language being spoken and the language you read.
- Tap Start translating sound, confirm on the iOS sheet, then tap the empty space below the sheet.
- The subtitle window floats up on its own and the iPhone returns to the Home Screen. Go back to YouTube.
The subtitle window floats over the video and new lines appear as people speak. It works the same for a recorded video, a live stream, a Short or YouTube in Safari, because it reads the audio the iPhone is playing. Recognition and translation run on the device and nothing is uploaded.
The one YouTube setting that gets in the way
When you leave the YouTube app, it may shrink the video into its own picture-in-picture window. iOS allows only one picture-in-picture at a time, so YouTube's window takes over and the subtitle window closes. The audio is still being shared; tap Open Subtitle Window again and it comes back.
To stop it happening, turn off picture-in-picture in the YouTube app's settings, or pause the video before switching to Hono Translate and press play again when you return.
When Auto-translate is missing or only offers English
Auto-translate sits at the bottom of the Captions list, and only when the video has a caption track to translate. If the list shows a single English track and no Auto-translate, or nothing at all, work through these:
- Update the YouTube app. Caption options follow the app version.
- Look for a track first. No CC button, or an empty Captions list, means there is nothing to translate.
- Live streams often have no track while live. Captions may appear on the replay later, or never.
- If Auto-translate still is not there, YouTube is not offering it for that video. That is on YouTube's side, and no setting on the iPhone changes it.
In every one of those cases the speech is still there. Translating the audio with Hono Translate does not depend on a caption track.
What to expect
- Music and effects compete with the voice. Talking heads and interviews come through best; music videos least.
- A short delay. A phrase has to be said before it can be translated.
- Live chat is not translated. It translates the voice only.
- No iOS screen recording at the same time. iOS allows one broadcast session, and the app is using it. To keep a clip with the subtitles in it, use the app's own recording.
Questions
Why is there no Auto-translate option on this video?
Auto-translate translates a caption track, so it only appears when the video has one. If the creator uploaded none and YouTube did not generate any, there is nothing for it to work from.
Why does Auto-translate only show English?
The video has an English caption track, and YouTube is not offering Auto-translate for it on your device. Update the app and look again at the bottom of the Captions list; if it is not there, translate the audio instead.
Can I translate a YouTube live stream while it is live?
Yes. The app reads the audio as it plays, so a live stream works the same as a recording — with a short delay behind the speaker.
Why did the subtitle window disappear when I left YouTube?
YouTube opened its own picture-in-picture, and iOS allows only one. Tap Open Subtitle Window to bring yours back, or turn off picture-in-picture in the YouTube app's settings.
Can an iPhone app hear the sound another app is playing? Do I need a second phone?
Yes, and one iPhone is enough. Through screen sharing — the iOS sheet you confirm when you start — iOS hands the sound that is playing to the app you pick. Hono Translate takes that audio from iOS, not from the microphone, so headphones are fine, and its subtitles float in a Picture-in-Picture window over TikTok, YouTube or any other app.
For other platforms, see how to translate any livestream on iPhone.