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How to Watch YouTube with Audio Descriptions

Search YouTube in ViddyScribe, paste a video link, or use our URL shortcut to watch with audio descriptions. You can also check for a native audio description track on YouTube.

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A red YouTube play button with three wavy ribbons in navy, light blue, and green flowing out of it and widening across the page

Introducing ViddyScribe Realtime

Want to hear what is happening on screen? ViddyScribe Realtime adds AI audio descriptions to most public YouTube videos. You can search for a video directly in ViddyScribe, paste a YouTube link, or use the URL shortcut below. Some videos also have a descriptive audio track provided by their creator on YouTube.

Use ViddyScribe Realtime

You can search and try a two-minute preview without an account. Sign in to keep watching within your plan’s viewing limit. No browser extension or download is needed.

Search YouTube in ViddyScribe

  1. Open ViddyScribe Realtime.
  2. Type a video title, channel name, or topic into the “Search YouTube, or paste a video link” box.
  3. Press Enter or select “Search,” then choose a video from the results.
  4. Press play to watch with audio descriptions.
ViddyScribe Realtime showing a search for nature documentary and a grid of YouTube videos with titles, channels, and durations.
Search by title, channel, or topic, then choose a video from the results.

If search is unavailable, you can still paste a YouTube link to load a video.

Paste a YouTube link

Already know what you want to watch? Paste its YouTube URL into the same box and select “Load Video,” then press play.

A nature documentary open in the ViddyScribe Realtime player, with Fewer Pauses (Hybrid) and English (US) settings below the video.
Videos open in the same player whether you search or paste a link. Description settings sit below the video.

Add ViddyScribe to a YouTube URL

  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 to watch with audio descriptions.

Realtime starts with Fewer Pauses (Hybrid), which speaks in gaps in dialogue and pauses when a description needs more time. In Realtime settings, you can also choose With Pauses (Extended) or No Pauses (Standard).

Audio Description Type menu showing With Pauses (Extended), selected Fewer Pauses (Hybrid), and No Pauses (Standard), with an explanation of each mode.
Choose how descriptions fit around the video’s dialogue. Hybrid is selected by default.

Why use ViddyScribe Realtime?

  • 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. You can also search YouTube from that page instead of pasting a link, with or without an account.
See all FAQs

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