YouTube Music introduces real-time lyric translation for Premium users

YouTube

YouTube Music is quietly testing a new lyric translation feature, giving users a way to understand songs from around the world in their preferred language. The feature, currently in limited rollout, was first spotted by Android Authority and relies on Google’s machine translation technology.

The feature enables users to translate song lyrics directly within the YouTube Music app. For now, translation is limited to the device’s system language, meaning if your phone’s language is set to English, the app will automatically translate lyrics into English. While it is still an early experiment, the feature represents a major usability boost for global listeners who enjoy international music but struggle with language barriers.

YouTube Music already boasts a wide catalogue of global artists and genres, and this feature could help expand its appeal beyond local audiences. From Korean pop and Japanese jazz to Spanish rap and French rock, users can now understand what they’re singing along to, without leaving the app or switching to external translators.

However, the feature is currently available only to YouTube Premium subscribers. Free users won’t see the translation option under the Lyrics section for now. That exclusivity makes sense for Google, which continues to use small but useful updates to make the paid tier more attractive.

It’s a practical upgrade that complements other recent improvements in YouTube Music’s interface. Instead of manually searching for lyrics online and using Google Translate, users can now access translated text in a single tap. The translation toggle appears directly under the Lyrics section, where users can switch between original and translated text while listening to the track.

Although this feature has yet to expand to more languages or regions, its introduction signals YouTube Music’s growing focus on user accessibility and global inclusivity. Google hasn’t officially announced a rollout timeline for all users, but given its success with similar AI-based features in other products, broader availability seems likely.