Start translating YouTube subtitles with Mono: from installation to your first video
You do not need technical knowledge to begin. With a subtitled video and a few setup steps, the original and translation appear together on screen.
- Choose a YouTube video with subtitles before translating.
- Fast Translation needs no key; Professional Translation uses your Gemini key.
- Make both lines easy to read, then continue learning once translation finishes.
In this article
1. Start with a video that has subtitles
Choose a short video about something you enjoy: cooking, travel or a tutorial. Check YouTube’s subtitle button first. Mono uses creator-uploaded or YouTube-generated captions to translate; a video without a suitable subtitle source cannot be translated this way.
2. Install the extension and sign in to Mono
Follow the Chrome Web Store link on the Mono website, add the extension to Chrome and pin its icon to the toolbar. Sign in to the website with the Mono account you will use with the extension. Your plan syncs, so check that you are using the correct account.
- Install through the official link on monotranslatepro.com.
- Pin Mono’s icon to open the panel more quickly.
- Reopen or reload your YouTube tab after installing.
3. Choose a mode that suits the video
Fast Translation is useful for getting the gist with little setup: it does not need a Gemini API key. Professional Translation uses Gemini through your own key to process more context, helping connected sentences, forms of address and terminology stay consistent.
For Professional Translation, create a key in Google AI Studio and paste it into Mono’s Gemini field. The extension saves it for next time. Availability still depends on your key and the limits Google grants your project.
4. Choose a language, then select Translate
Open Mono’s panel or its button in the player bar. Choose the language you want to read, select a mode and start translating. Enable both the original and translation to watch bilingually.
5. Make small adjustments for comfortable viewing
In subtitle styling, adjust the original and translation’s sizes and colors separately. Add background, outline or shadow when bright scenes make text hard to see. Place subtitles away from faces and important information in the video.
6. Keep useful sentences and check any problems
Once translation finishes, continue with the video in Mono Workspace and the Learning Map. Choose a sentence you actually want to use rather than studying every line. Revisit its context, listen to the speaker and try expressing an idea of your own.
If no translation appears, check whether the video has captions, the language is correct, the mode needs a key and what the connection status says. For support, send the video link and a screenshot of the message; never send your API key.
Keep this in mind
Your first video need not be perfect. Pick an easy-to-hear clip, enable both subtitle lines and get familiar with Mono’s button; you will soon know which mode suits each viewing session.
The MonoTranslatePro team shares extension guides and ways to learn from real videos.