How to add captions on TikTok: a beginner’s guide

If you are a beginner on TikTok, the variety of its features may confuse you and even scare you because it seems like there are so many possibilities.

TikTok captions are one of those features, and the question of how to add captions on TikTok is a problem for many.

However, they are a fantastic feature, so everyone should know how to use them to their advantage.

We wrote this blog article to make things a bit easier for you and help you learn how to add captions to your TikTok account with just a few steps.

5 reasons you should add captions to your TikTok

1. If you’re not a native speaker and speak with an accent, captions will help your audience understand you more easily.
2. If you speak a different language (French, Italian, etc.) but want people who don’t speak those languages to be able to understand you, you can add captions. If you record your video in a language other than English, you can add captions in English to help your video reach a wider audience.
3. Most viewers watch videos without sound, so videos with captions help them to understand what’s happening, and the algorithm preferences these videos, too.
4. Captions will make sure that people with hearing impairments can enjoy your content without any obstacles.
5. Captions (and subtitles) are the only way to add text to a TikTok video, and they greatly help the algorithm and the SEO.

What types of TikTok captions are there?

There are 3 types of TikTok captions you can use on your account:

• Closed captions
• Auto-captions
• Subtitles

Let’s explore how these features work and when you are supposed to use them.

Closed captions

Closed captions are mainly used when the audio quality is poor or if the creator has an accent and wants to ensure everyone who sees their videos will understand them well.

You will see that someone has added closed captions when there is a CC sign in the lower left corner, and you will be able to turn them on and off whenever you like.

This also makes your video more accessible to people with hearing impediments or to those who don’t have the option to turn on the sound when listening to your video.

Auto-captions

Auto-captions streamline the captioning process by automatically generating captions for a video. You can activate auto-captions during the editing phase after uploading or recording a video.

Once generated, you have the flexibility to edit the auto-caption text for accuracy and clarity.

Viewers have the option to disable auto-captions if they want to, offering flexibility and customization to their viewing experience.

Subtitles

Subtitles are mainly used by TikTok creators who speak another language and want people worldwide to understand them. So, they add subtitles in English (or another language, as the example above shows).

Subtitles usually can’t be turned off, and the creator manually adds them to the video.

Some of the best TikTokers use them all the time, and if you plan on becoming a content creator on this platform, this is one of the TikTok features you must use.

How to enable captions

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to enable auto-captions on your TikTok videos.

1. Record your video as usual, but don’t go past the editing screen, as this is where the caption feature is located.
2. On the top right corner of the editing screen, find the group of options and tap “Captions,” which is at the bottom of the list.
3. To enable auto-captions, check the option near the bottom of the screen to agree to the terms of use.
4. Tap “Turn On Captions” to activate the auto-captioning feature. After a brief moment, you’ll see the text captured from your video displayed at the bottom of the screen.
5. Scroll through the auto-generated captions and hit “Save” at the top to continue.
6. If you prefer to make adjustments, tap the pencil icon to access editing options when the auto-captions display at the bottom of the screen.
7. Select the caption line you want to edit and make the necessary changes. You can also listen to the caption by tapping the play button next to it.
8. Once you’ve made your edits, hit “Save” at the top of the screen to apply the changes.
9. Once you’re satisfied with the captions, post your video as usual. Let’s look at the pros and cons of this method.

Pros

• Streamlined process for adding captions directly within the TikTok app.
• Uses automation tech to generate captions quickly.

Cons

• Auto-captions can occasionally misinterpret words, requiring manual editing for accuracy.
• Limited customization options compared to manually added captions.
• Depends on the audio quality of the video, which can impact caption accuracy.

How to add captions

If you prefer to add captions manually, here’s how:

1. Record or upload your video.
2. Once your video is complete, tap the checkmark button.
3. Locate the Add Text button (the “Aa” icon).
4. Manually type your captions.
5. Tap on the text, then select the Edit duration button from the pop-up menu. Use the slider to control when the captions appear and vanish. Repeat this process for each caption until you’ve finished captioning your video.
6. Design your caption text to match your desired style.
7. Click on “Play” to preview.
8. When everything looks good, click “Done” and make the video ready to publish.

While this is a good way to add captions to your TikTok videos, it may not be the best, and there are pros and cons.

Pros

• Gives you more control over your captions’ look and timing
• Lets you write captions in languages other than English

Cons

• Takes more time than auto-captions
• It can’t sync with the timeline perfectly every time

How to add subtitles

Adding subtitles on TikTok is very similar to adding captions. The only difference is the text that you add. When captioning, you’ll add the exact text that you’re saying in the language you’re speaking in. When adding subtitles, you’ll first need to translate them into your target language. Add the translated text as you would add captions like we described above.

Because captions are for people who don’t hear the audio of TikTok, they should provide a comprehensive description of all audio elements present in the video, including dialogue, music, and sound effects, to ensure viewers completely understand the content. On the other hand, subtitles focus solely on translating spoken dialogue into a different language, so you can leave out the non-verbal audio cues.

Captioning with 3rd party apps

How to caption TikToks on the official app is quite time-consuming, especially if you want everything to look perfect and well-adjusted. For that reason, plenty of third-party apps you can download to the mobile phone will make the process of adding captions to TikTok straightforward.

Here are some of the pros and cons of these apps so you can decide which option is better for you.

Pros

• Automatic transcribing is the main reason people choose these apps; it works fast and accurately.
• You can use the app through TikTok, so you don’t have to constantly switch between apps.
• Learning how to edit how to edit TikTok videos through these apps is very easy.
• Editing the misspelled parts is easy; you only need to rewrite the wrong parts.

Cons

• There are no customization options, so if you want to add something. Interesting to your text or choose another font, you will need to do it through TikTok.
• The video quality created and saved through this app can be bad.
• Most of these apps are not free to use.

Best captions apps for TikTok

As you can see, these apps have some good and bad sides, and we have decided to list some of the best caption apps for TikTok.

InShot

InShot is probably the most popular captions app for TikTok editing. If you are struggling with learning how to add captions to TikTok, you will easily do it for free. It also preserves video quality, so you don’t need to worry about blur.

CapCut

This video editor is made mainly for editing TikTok videos. It has most of the features available on the platform, so you can do everything much faster but still feel like you are on TikTok.

Splice

Splice is a fantastic editing app that allows you to do pretty much anything with your video and still keep the highest quality of it. Mastering how to caption TikTok is easy with this app’s features. It will enable you to experiment until you create the desired video.

Some of the best TikTokers use these apps to create original content and make money on TikTok, so you should try them if you want a successful experience.

It can also be used to add captions to TikTok Live and any other TikTok format

Tips for better captions

When done right, captions can make your video more accessible, engaging, and valuable for viewers. Here are some tips to help you create better captions:

• Make sure that your captions accurately represent the audio content of your video, including dialogue, sound effects, and background noises.
• Keep your captions concise and easy to read, with each caption appearing for long enough to allow viewers to follow along comfortably.
• Proper punctuation helps convey tone and pacing, so use it to enhance the clarity and flow of your captions.
• When multiple speakers are present, label each caption with the corresponding speaker’s name or role to minimize confusion.
• Adjust the timing of your captions to align with the pace of the spoken dialogue, making sure that captions appear and disappear at the right intervals.
• Place captions strategically to avoid obstructing important visual elements or distracting viewers from the main content of the video.
• Double-check your captions for spelling errors, grammatical mistakes, and timing inconsistencies before finalizing them.

Caption inspiration

Most people indeed use captions to sum up their video or write down everything mentioned in the video. However, some prefer to use it to catch people’s attention and often add captions that don’t have much to do with the video but are just fascinating.

If you want to go viral on the For You Page and attract millions of people to your account, here are some TikTokers giving you TikTok caption ideas:

If you want to go viral on the For You Page and attract millions of people to your account, then these are some of the captions you could use, depending on the type of your video.

• Dance till you drop.
• So, do you want to learn how to make a TikTok?
• On my way to your #FYP.
• Assignment understood.
• How much time till I become a TikTok star?
• This is like, hard?
• The party starts when I TikTok.
• Not the best – but learning every day.
• A bit of craziness keeps life interesting.
• Not sure what I was supposed to do here…
• I’m not crazy, just authentic.

Wrapping up

As you can see, learning how to add captions on TikTok brings a lot to your video, and sometimes they can make or break it, especially if you are trying to go viral.

With our guides and hacks, you can add the perfect captions and make your video visible to millions of users.

FAQs

What’s the difference between auto-captions and manual captions in TikTok?

Auto-captions on TikTok are automatically generated by the platform. Manual captions are added manually by the creator, offering more control and accuracy over the captioning process.

Can you fix auto-captions?

Yes, you can edit auto-captions on TikTok to correct inaccuracies or improve clarity by accessing the editing tools within the app.

Can you add captions on TikTok after the video is live?

Since July 2022, you can add captions to a TikTok video after it’s live. However, you can’t edit captions after posting them.

When should you use captions in your videos?

Captions should be used in your videos whenever you want to enhance accessibility, improve comprehension, or reach a broader audience, especially in noisy environments or for viewers with hearing impairments.