No subtitles or CC track
Open Settings → Subtitles/CC. If there is no source caption track, YouTube auto-translate has no caption text to translate. Automatic captions may still be processing or unavailable for this video.
Try another video with known captions. If that works, return to the first video later or look for a transcript from its creator. TransParrot also needs an existing caption track.
Captions exist, but Auto-translate is missing
Select the available caption track, then reopen Subtitles/CC and look for Auto-translate. The menu and available options depend on the device and video; a missing option is not proof of an account problem.
Compare the same video in the desktop YouTube player if you were using a mobile app or embedded player. This checks whether the option is specific to that viewing surface.
The text stays in the original language
Check that Auto-translate has your intended target language selected, then play a different captioned moment. A creator-supplied subtitle track and an auto-translated track can have different language labels.
Refresh once and reselect the track if the setting did not stick. If only one browser fails, compare in a separate Chrome profile or temporarily disable a suspected caption extension, then restore it after the check.
YouTube captions work, but TransParrot is still preparing
Use the extension’s target language setting and confirm translation is enabled. YouTube’s native Auto-translate menu and TransParrot are separate controls.
Read the original transcript while translation prepares. If the panel shows an error, check the connection and retry once. A quota or sign-in message needs its stated account action. Repeatedly switching languages can start additional processing.
Before exporting translated text, wait for the required passages and check the beginning and end. Partly translated text should not be treated as a complete export.
Captions are translated, but the meaning looks wrong
Compare the original caption with the audio first. Incorrect source words, names or sentence boundaries can carry into the translation. A fluent translation is not evidence that the original caption was correct.
Use a creator-provided caption track when available, replay important lines and verify names or numbers before quoting. Reinstalling an extension will not correct a transcription error in the source.
Questions, answered
Does auto-translate create spoken audio?
YouTube’s caption Auto-translate setting changes the subtitle text. TransParrot’s translated audio is a separate feature with its own switch and voice settings.
Can an extension restore a missing source caption track?
TransParrot cannot. It reads captions already available on the video; it does not currently transcribe audio without captions.