How to add Urdu subtitles to a YouTube video
Most subtitle tools get Urdu wrong: they write it in Hindi script or invent words. Here is how to get accurate Urdu subtitles in Urdu script, for free, in about ten minutes.
Open the Urdu tool
Go to Urdu audio to text. Urdu is already selected as the spoken language. Choose your video file; for a video already on YouTube, download it first from YouTube Studio (Content, the three dots, Download).
Switch on Cloud mode
Tick Cloud mode. It uses a much larger AI that understands Urdu far better than the small one that runs on your device. Only the sound is sent to be transcribed, and nothing is stored.
Generate and check
Start the transcription. When it finishes, read through the lines and correct names, places and any English words the speaker mixed in. Then choose Download SRT.
Upload in YouTube Studio
In YouTube Studio open Subtitles, pick the video, choose Add language and select Urdu. Next to it choose Add, then Upload file, With timing, and select your SRT file. Check the preview and publish.
Add English subtitles as well
Set Output to Translate to English and run it again to get an English subtitle file, then add it as an English track. Translation from Urdu is rougher than the Urdu transcript itself, so read it through before publishing.
Why choose Urdu instead of automatic detection
Spoken Urdu and Hindi sound almost the same, so automatic detection often says Hindi and writes Devanagari. Choosing Urdu gives you Urdu script every time.
Captions inside the video
For Shorts, Reels and TikTok, burn the Urdu captions into the video with Add subtitles to video so everyone sees them.