YouTube is the most popular social media and video streaming platform globally, with over two billion users. It serves many purposes, including live news updates, video tutorials, vlogs, music videos, and more.

But have you ever watched a YouTube video and wondered how to add captions or subtitles to your videos? YouTube doesn’t show subtitles or closed captions by default.

Since many users rely on these essential features, first introduced in 2009, it’s surprising that not every video has them. So, let’s see how you can force them.

How Do Subtitles and Closed Captions Work on YouTube?

Let’s first distinguish the difference. Closed captions include non-verbal sounds and speaker changes in their display. While subtitles only include what is said so that viewers can understand, especially if the content is in a foreign language.

Having YouTube videos with closed captions and subtitles makes them accessible to those who are hearing impaired and non-English speaking. They are also helpful when you want to understand what the speaker(s) are saying.

Many videos generate closed captions and translate subtitles automatically. But since platforms like YouTube use speech recognition software to generate captions, there will be instances where it will not correctly match up with what is said, except when the creator added the subtitles manually.

Creators can add closed captions and subtitles to their videos even after uploading. However, there can be instances in which none of the options are available. So, let’s look at how you can force closed captions and subtitles to YouTube videos.

How to Add and Force Subtitles in Embedded YouTube Videos

Closed captions are disabled in embedded videos by default. Usually, YouTube will remember if you have turned on closed captions or subtitles and will keep them enabled until you turn them off. You can alter these in your settings.

Screenshot of the control bar settings for the closed captions and subtitles in a YouTube video

If you want to embed a YouTube video on your website with closed captions, you will need to add ?cc_load_policy=1 at the end of the URL source in the iframe code. The captions will turn on by default. The code below illustrates how it should look:

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rB9ql0L0cUQ?cc_load_policy=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

You can specify the language of the captions by using ?cc_lang_pref= and a 2-letter ISO 639-1 standard language code. You add the language before the caption code. The example below has the caption language set to French:

<iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/rB9ql0L0cUQ?cc_lang_pref=fr&cc_load_policy=1" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

If you have embedded code on your website, always test it to ensure it works.

If you want to share a YouTube video link with others, you can add code for different features, such as the language of the closed captions, and even disable the ability to watch the video in full-screen by adding fs=0 to the end of the URL code.

The URL source below illustrates what the embedded code will look like when you share the link. The video, however, will only appear as full screen with the applied features. Clicking Watch on YouTube will remove the code from the URL.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/rB9ql0L0cUQ?cc_load_policy=1&cc_lang_pref=en

One thing to remember is that it only works with embedded videos. Adding code to a regular YouTube video and reloading the page will not enable any features, as you can toggle the captions and subtitles within the video control bar.

But there is an exception. For instance, having the code ?start=15 in your embedded link will start the video from the 15-second mark. When you click on Watch on YouTube, the feature will work on the YouTube page and start the video at the duration you set.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/rB9ql0L0cUQ?rel=0&start=15 

Embedding the Easy Way

Once you understand the mechanics of embedding YouTube videos and adding features, such as specific languages and disabling full screen, you will notice that it is a straightforward process that will get easier over time.

Forcing captions and subtitles to embedded videos is just one of the many features YouTube has to offer. There are likely some hidden features that you have yet to discover.