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How to Watch YouTube with Audio Descriptions

Two easy ways to hear audio descriptions on YouTube: 1) Instantly using ViddyScribe by putting viddyscribe.com/ in front of any YouTube link, and 2) Native YouTube audio description tracks (available on very few videos).

ViddyScribe
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Introducing ViddyScribe Realtime

ViddyScribe Realtime brings instant audio descriptions to YouTube in 53 languages, making descriptive narration available across a platform with more than 20 billion videos. If you want narration of on‑screen action, there are two options. The first works on almost any video using ViddyScribe Realtime. The second relies on YouTube’s native descriptive audio tracks, which only exist on a very small number of videos.

Use ViddyScribe Realtime

Graphic reading Add viddyscribe.com/ before any YouTube link, that's it, with a browser address bar showing viddyscribe.com/ typed in front of a YouTube URL and a preview of the ViddyScribe Realtime player playing a Mr. Bean video with a Start Watching button

ViddyScribe can speak high‑quality audio descriptions for most YouTube videos right away. No installs, no account required to try.

  1. Copy your YouTube link (for example: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID).
  2. Put https://viddyscribe.com/ directly in front of the link and go:
    https://viddyscribe.com/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VIDEO_ID
  3. Press play, ViddyScribe will pause at smart moments and read concise, natural descriptions. ViddyScribe currently supports Extended Audio Description (AD) by default, which pauses the video to accommodate comprehensive descriptions, ensuring clarity even when the original video has limited silent moments.

Prefer pasting a link into a page? Use ViddyScribe Realtime, paste your YouTube URL, and click “Load Video.”

Why this is the easiest option

  • Works with almost any public YouTube video.
  • No need to wait for the creator to publish a separate descriptive track.
  • High‑quality voices and multiple languages.

YouTube’s Native Audio Description Tracks

A small subset (less than 1% of YouTube videos) include an additional descriptive audio track uploaded by the creator.

On desktop/web:

  1. Open the video and click the Settings gear.
  2. If available, choose Audio track and select something like English (Audio Description).

On mobile (YouTube app):

  1. Tap the gear or three‑dot menu during playback.
  2. Look for Audio track and select an AD option if present.

Important: Captions/CC are not audio descriptions. If you do not see an Audio track option, that video likely does not have a native descriptive track.

FAQ

Does every YouTube video have audio description?
No. Only a small number of YouTube videos include a native descriptive audio track. ViddyScribe Realtime can generate descriptions for most public YouTube videos instead. See our YouTube audio-description guide.
Do I need a browser extension to use ViddyScribe Realtime?
No. Add viddyscribe.com/ before a YouTube URL, or paste the URL directly into the Realtime page.
See all FAQs

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53 languages · Standard & Extended AD · VTT, audio, and video