YouTube has rolled out two platform-wide changes that affect how people watch videos and how creators make Shorts. One update quietly changes caption behavior for all users. The other introduces an AI-powered way to animate photos into short-form videos.
Both updates are already live for most regions, and neither requires manual opt-in.
Auto-captions now activate when you mute a video
YouTube has changed how captions behave on mobile and tablets.
From now on:
- Captions automatically turn on when you mute your device
- Captions automatically turn off when you unmute
- The change applies to regular videos, not Shorts
- The setting is enabled by default for every user
This removes the need to open caption settings every time you want silent viewing.
The behavior is designed for real-world use cases:
- Watching videos in quiet public spaces
- Scrolling during commutes
- Multitasking without audio
YouTube treats muting as a signal that you still want to consume content, just without sound.
You can disable it, but per device
If you don’t like captions auto-appearing when muted, the option can be turned off directly from the player.
Steps:
- Open any video
- Tap Settings
- Go to Captions
- Toggle off “Show when muted”
Important detail:
- This preference saves per device, not per account
If you turn it off on your phone, it stays on for tablets or other devices unless you change it there too.
This makes the feature flexible without forcing a global choice.
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You can disable it, but per device
If you don’t like captions auto-appearing when muted, the option can be turned off directly from the player.
Steps:
- Open any video
- Tap Settings
- Go to Captions
- Toggle off “Show when muted”
Important detail:
- This preference saves per device, not per account
If you turn it off on your phone, it stays on for tablets or other devices unless you change it there too.
This makes the feature flexible without forcing a global choice.
New AI Shorts feature: “Add Motion”
Alongside the caption update, YouTube has introduced a new AI-powered Shorts creation tool called Add Motion.
What it does:
- Turns a single photo into an animated 8-second Short
- Uses preset motion styles
- Designed for quick creation, not editing complexity
Where to find it:
- Create
- Tap the ✨ icon
- Select Make Me Move
YouTube recommends uploading a full-body photo for better results.
New AI Shorts feature: “Add Motion”
Alongside the caption update, YouTube has introduced a new AI-powered Shorts creation tool called Add Motion.
What it does:
- Turns a single photo into an animated 8-second Short
- Uses preset motion styles
- Designed for quick creation, not editing complexity
Where to find it:
- Create
- Tap the ✨ icon
- Select Make Me Move
YouTube recommends uploading a full-body photo for better results.
Availability is limited for now
The Add Motion tool is rolling out globally, but with regional exclusions.
Currently not available in:
- European Union
- Switzerland
- United Kingdom
YouTube says a broader rollout is planned, but no timeline has been shared yet.
The captions update, however, is already live worldwide.
What creators and viewers gain
For viewers:
- Faster silent viewing
- Fewer interruptions
- More accessible playback by default
For creators:
- A low-effort way to turn photos into Shorts
- Built-in AI compliance
- Faster content output without editing tools
These updates reflect YouTube’s direction: reduce friction for viewers and lower the barrier to short-form creation.
Small changes. Broad impact.
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