# Captioning with YouTube

#### Auto Generating Captions for a New Upload

Make sure you are signed into YouTube, otherwise you will not be able to upload/edit videos. Once you are logged in, click **Create > Upload Video** in the top right corner.

[![An arrow pointing to the button to upload a video](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/yt1.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/yt1.png)

This will pull up a dialog box in the middle of your screen. Drag and drop or select a file to upload. After it has finished uploading, YouTube will supply a video link.

You will then be prompted to add details to your upload such as a title, description, etc. Once satisfied, click **Next** (bottom right) to progress to video elements.

[![The Video Elements dialogue box with arrows pointing to the button to add captions, and where to track progress.](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/yt2.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/yt2.png)Click **ADD** on the right-hand side of the top bar to add captions**.**

Another screen will appear asking how you would like to add captions. Ensure the video language is set to English.

**You do not have to do anything else; close this window**.

You will have to wait, maybe for several minutes, for this stage to be completed.

Once your video has finished processing (check the progress in the bottom left):

1. Ensure there is a blue dot with a checkmark under **Checks**.
2. Click **Visibility** and set who can see your video. We recommend setting it as ‘Private’ until your captions are complete. You can change this setting at any time.
3. Return to **Video elements**.

[![Video elements dialogue box with arrows pointing to the "Checks" completion marker and the caption language drop-down menu.](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/yt3.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/yt3.png)

You will see the auto-generated captions (as shown above) are finished. Click **Edit** to review timing, grammar, spelling, etc. **This is a necessary step to ensure accuracy**.

Your screen should now look like the image found below. Click **Done** in the upper right corner when edits are complete.

**Remember to review your video after completion to ensure accuracy of captions.**

**[![Caption editing workspace with an arrow pointing to the "Done" button in the top right corner.](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/yt4.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/yt4.png)**

#### Auto Generating Captions for Videos Already on YouTube

Make sure you are signed into YouTube, otherwise you will not be able to upload/edit videos.   
Once you are logged in, click **Your Videos** on the left side of the screen.

[![Menu with an arrow pointing to where to find your videos on YouTube.](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/yt5.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/yt5.png)

Hover over the video needing to be captioned and click the **Details** button. It will look like a little pencil. Your screen should now look like the image below.

On the right-hand side of the screen, select the **Subtitles** option. This will bring up the video editor as pictured in the end of the last section. Click **Done** in the upper right corner when edits are complete.

**Remember to review your video after completion to ensure accuracy of captions.**

[![Video Details workspace with an arrow pointing to the Subtitles button.](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/scaled-1680-/yt6.png)](https://kb.astate.edu/uploads/images/gallery/2025-10/yt6.png)