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Understand duplicate subtitles on YouTube

Learn why two subtitle lines can appear together, and which line can be controlled.

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Two subtitle sources

Burned-in subtitles are part of the video picture. YouTube captions are a separate layer that the player can show or hide. When both display the same dialogue, you may see two lines of subtitles.

Which line can be turned off?

The player’s CC control changes the separate YouTube caption layer. It cannot remove words already embedded in the picture. If you turn captions off and one subtitle line remains, that line may be part of the video itself.

Illustration of duplicate captions before and after the YouTube layer is turned off.
Illustration: “Before” shows two subtitle lines; “After” keeps the text embedded in the video. “Restore captions” brings back the YouTube layer. This is a product illustration, not a recording of a live test.

How subtitle.im helps

subtitle.im manages existing YouTube captions. It can detect burned-in subtitles locally, handle duplicate captions according to your preferences, and let you restore YouTube captions. It does not translate or generate subtitles, download videos, or remove burned-in text.

Keep the choice in your hands

  • Use the player controls when you need captions.
  • Review your duplicate-caption preference in subtitle.im.
  • Restore captions if you want to see the separate YouTube layer again.

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