How to Translate YouTube in Real Time: Complete Setup Guide

You're watching a YouTube video in Japanese, but you only speak English. Without subtitles in your language, you're stuck pausing constantly or missing key moments. Seagull captures the audio from YouTube directly and displays real-time translations in a floating subtitle overlay, turning any video or live stream into something you can actually follow.

Install Seagull and Grant System Audio Permissions

Start by downloading Seagull from the official website and install it on your Mac, Windows, or Linux machine. The installation is straightforward and takes just a few clicks. Once installed, you'll need to grant Seagull permission to capture system audio, which is what allows it to hear YouTube's audio without requiring any browser extension or plugin.

On Mac, open System Preferences, go to Security and Privacy, then Microphone. On Windows, open Settings, go to Privacy and Security, then Microphone, and toggle Seagull on. Linux users will see a similar permissions prompt depending on their desktop environment. Once permissions are set, launch Seagull and you're ready to start translating YouTube content.

Configure Your Source and Target Languages

Open Seagull and you'll see a language selection menu. Choose the source language (the language the YouTube video or stream is in) and your target language from the 60+ supported options. If you're unsure what language a video uses, YouTube's player usually displays it, or you can check the video description. Once selected, these settings remain active until you change them, so you won't need to reconfigure for every video.

A common pitfall is selecting the wrong source language and wondering why translations seem garbled or irrelevant. Double-check the YouTube video's actual audio language before starting. If a video has multiple audio tracks, YouTube's player lets you switch between them. Seagull will capture whatever audio is currently playing, so make sure you're on the right track before hitting play.

Play YouTube and Position the Floating Subtitle Overlay

Open any YouTube video in your browser and start playback. Seagull immediately begins capturing the audio and displaying translations in a floating subtitle window. This overlay stays on top of your browser, so it won't disappear if you click or scroll, and it works with both on-demand videos and live streams. You can move and resize the subtitle box to position it exactly where you want it on your screen.

For live streams, Seagull's low latency ensures translations appear almost instantly, making real-time interaction possible even across language barriers. If the subtitle text is too small or too large, most systems let you adjust font size in Seagull's settings. If translations suddenly stop, check that system audio is still being captured and that your YouTube tab remains active or focused.

How to Get Started