You click a video from MrBeast or a popular tech reviewer. Suddenly, they’re speaking Spanish. Or maybe Portuguese. It's jarring. You know they're American, you know they speak English, but YouTube has decided, in its infinite algorithmic wisdom, that you’d rather hear a dubbed AI voice or a professional voiceover artist instead of the original audio. It’s annoying. Honestly, most people just want the creator’s real voice, even if it’s not their native tongue.
The feature is officially called Multi-Language Audio, but most of us just know it as that weird setting that keeps changing our videos. YouTube rolled this out globally to help creators reach a wider audience. It makes sense for growth, but for the viewer, it feels like losing control over the experience. If you've been searching for how to turn off auto dubbing YouTube, you aren't alone. It’s a common gripe in 2026 as more creators lean into automated localization.
Why Does YouTube Keep Changing the Language?
YouTube uses your IP address, your Google Account settings, and your browser's "preferred language" list to guess what you want to hear. Sometimes it guesses wrong. Or, it guesses "right" based on your location, but ignores the fact that you might be an expat, a language learner, or just someone who prefers the original performance.
Creator-led dubbing isn't just a simple toggle; it's baked into the video file now. When a creator like Mark Rober or a massive media outlet uploads a video, they can attach multiple audio tracks. YouTube’s system is designed to default to what it thinks is most "relevant." Unfortunately, "relevant" often translates to "translated."
The "Auto-Dub" vs. "Multi-Audio" Confusion
There is a slight nuance here that matters. Some videos are dubbed by actual humans—this is what MrBeast famously pioneered. Others are being experimented with via AI-generated dubbing that matches the creator's tone. If it sounds a bit robotic but remarkably like the YouTuber, you're likely hearing an AI track. Regardless of how the audio was made, the method to kill it remains the same.
How to Turn Off Auto Dubbing YouTube on Desktop
Fixing this on a computer is usually the most straightforward path, though the setting is tucked away in a place you might not expect. You don’t find it in the main "Settings" menu of your account. Instead, it’s video-specific, yet it often "sticks" once you change it.
First, open any video that is currently playing in the wrong language. Click the Settings gear icon in the bottom right corner of the player. Look for the option labeled Audio track.
It’ll show you a list. Usually, it says something like "English (Original)" or "Spanish (Dubbed)." Select the original version.
Here is the catch: YouTube should remember this preference for future videos from that creator, but it doesn't always apply globally to every channel. If you find it resetting, you need to check your actual Google Account language settings. Navigate to your Google Account "Personal Info" tab and scroll down to "General preferences for the web." If you have multiple languages listed there, YouTube might be cycling through them. Delete everything except your primary language.
Stopping the Dubs on Mobile (iOS and Android)
Mobile is where it gets trickier because the UI updates so frequently. On the YouTube app, the process is similar but requires a few extra taps.
- Tap the video to bring up the overlay.
- Tap the Settings gear in the top right.
- Tap Additional settings.
- Select Audio track.
- Choose the original language.
If you’re using an iPad, the layout might look slightly different, but the "Audio track" terminology is the standard. If you don't see "Audio track," the video simply doesn't have multiple languages, and you might be hearing the "original" audio that the creator uploaded (some creators upload a dubbed version as the primary track, which is a whole different headache).
The Role of Global Settings
Sometimes the issue isn't the video player. It’s your account’s "App Language." If your phone is set to English but your YouTube app is somehow set to another language, it will trigger the dubs.
Go to your profile picture -> Settings -> General -> App Language. Ensure this matches what you actually want to hear. If this is set to "System Default," and your system is doing something funky with regional localization, manually set it to your preferred tongue.
Why Can’t I Find the Audio Track Option?
It’s frustrating when you know a video is dubbed but the option isn't there. There are three reasons for this. One, the creator might have uploaded the dubbed version as a separate video on a separate channel (like "MrBeast en Español"). Two, you might be watching a YouTube Short—the multi-audio feature has had a rocky rollout on the Shorts player. Three, you might be using an outdated version of the app.
Seriously, update the app. The multi-audio API is relatively new in the grand scheme of YouTube's codebase, and older versions often default to the primary track without giving you a choice.
Browser Extensions: A Modern Workaround?
For those on Chrome or Firefox, there are community-made scripts and extensions designed to force YouTube to play the "Original" track. While these aren't official, they are lifesavers for power users. Extensions like "YouTube Language Selector" (check the Chrome Web Store for the latest high-rated version) attempt to intercept the player's request and force the original audio stream.
👉 See also: How to Live in YouTube PC: Mastering the Desktop Experience for Maximum Productivity
Just be careful with extensions. They can break when YouTube updates its site layout, which happens about every three seconds.
Dealing with AI-Generated "Auto-Translate"
YouTube is currently testing a feature that automatically translates audio using AI for millions of videos, not just the big creators. This is different from the manual "Audio tracks" we discussed. If you're part of a test group, you might see a "Voiceover" toggle in your settings.
If you hate the sound of AI voices, you'll want to disable "Transmissions and Translations" in your playback settings. This is found under Settings -> Playback and performance. Toggle off anything that mentions "Auto-translate" or "Help me understand."
Actionable Steps to Fix Your Feed Right Now
To get your YouTube experience back to normal, follow this checklist. It covers the most likely culprits.
- Purge your Google Account languages: Remove any secondary languages from your Google Profile settings to stop the "guessing" game.
- Set the player preference once: Change the "Audio track" on a major channel like MrBeast; this often sets a cookie that tells YouTube you prefer original audio.
- Disable "Always play translated titles": If you see titles in English but the audio is in another language, your browser is translating the text, which confuses the audio engine. Turn off Chrome's auto-translate for YouTube.com.
- Check your VPN: If you’re VPN-ing into Germany, YouTube is going to try to give you German audio. It’s trying to be helpful. It’s not. Turn off the VPN or set it to a region that matches your language.
The reality is that YouTube wants a borderless platform. They want a kid in Tokyo to watch a creator in New York without a language barrier. It’s great for the creators' bank accounts, but it’s okay to admit it ruins the "vibe" of the content for you. Following these steps ensures you hear the creator exactly as they sounded in the studio.
To ensure these changes stay permanent, keep your app updated and occasionally clear your YouTube app cache. This clears out old "preferred" settings that might be stuck from a time you accidentally clicked a translated link. You’re now back in control of your ears.