Prepare translated subtitles for YouTube

Before generation: use the final edit

Choose the same edit you uploaded. An extra introduction, a removed silence or a cut halfway through can shift SRT timing. Keep a reference copy of the MP4 and name the translated file so you can identify both the video version and the subtitle language later.

The file must meet both limits: 1 hour and 400 MiB. Choose the target for the audience you want to reach. The target language must be different from the source language; there is no monolingual export. This workflow therefore does not replace a same-language captioning tool.

Create the translated track in XoloLingua

1. Open the studio and select your MP4. Check the preview and listen to a few seconds to confirm the version and the quality of the speech.
2. Identify the language and select a target. Correct a mistaken source-language detection and choose a pair available in the interface.
3. Segment the audio and generate subtitles. Wait for transcription and translation to complete, then download the resulting SRT file.
4. Proofread outside the studio. Check names, numbers and meaning with someone who understands the target language. Review the timing against the final video before uploading the track.

Upload manually in YouTube Studio

This part is handled by YouTube, not XoloLingua. Consult the official instructions for adding subtitles and captions if your interface differs.

1. Sign in to YouTube Studio, open Subtitles and select the relevant video.
2. Add the language that matches the SRT, then open the subtitle-adding option for that language.
3. Choose the file-upload option and select your SRT. When asked, use the option with timing, because your file already contains timestamps.
4. Check the preview and save using the available controls. Then verify the track’s status and its availability on the video; selecting a file is not proof that viewers can already see it.

Check what your viewers will see

Watch several passages with the translated track selected, especially after edits and near the end. A constant offset suggests different starting points; a shift appearing after a cut calls for a comparison of the edits. Do not rewrite an accurate translation to hide a timing problem.

A translated track does not guarantee complete accessibility. Review information needed for understanding, including speaker identification and important sounds, rather than assuming speech translation covers everything. After changing the video or replacing the subtitle file, repeat your playback checks.