Increase your chances of going viral by learning how to add captions on TikTok. Get step-by-step guides for auto and manual captions, plus industry tips.
You’ve just finished editing your TikTok video, and it’s almost perfect. The visuals are sharp, the audio is on point—but something’s missing. Maybe you’re trying to make your video accessible, engage your audience who scrolls on mute, or simply give your content that extra polish.
Adding captions seems like the obvious solution, but now you’re stuck.
But how do you add captions to a TikTok? Should you use auto-captions, manual captions, or an app? This guide has you covered, with clear steps and tips to make captioning a breeze so that your content works harder, reaches further, and gets you the most views.
Why Captions Are a Must-Have for TikTok Success
TikTok isn’t just another social platform—it’s a global phenomenon with over 1 billion active users every month averaging 58 minutes and 24 seconds on the app.
For creators, that’s a massive audience, but standing out takes more than flashy effects and catchy tunes. Video-to text-captions are one of the most powerful tools for making your videos accessible, engaging, and most importantly, discoverable.
Accessibility for a wider audience
Over 466 million people globally have disabling hearing loss, according to the World Health Organization. Adding captions means your content instantly becomes inclusive, allowing deaf or hard-of-hearing viewers to connect with your message.
Increased engagement (because people scroll on mute!)
A whopping 69% of people watch social media videos without sound—whether it’s because they’re in public, at work, or just scrolling before bed. Captions bridge the gap, ensuring your audience gets the full story, even when their volume is off. Videos with captions have been shown to increase view times by 12%!
Greater reach with algorithm-friendly content
TikTok’s algorithm thrives on understanding your content. Captions give the platform more data to work with, so your video is more likely to get shared across all platforms, which means your content travels further, faster.
Boosted discoverability with SEO power
Captions make your videos searchable, not just on TikTok but across the web. When you include relevant keywords in your captions, you’re improving your chances of being found by the exact audience you’re trying to reach.
3 Types of Captions
Since captions play a vital role in the viewer’s experience, choosing the right type is essential. The caption type will make a big difference in how your TikTok content is received.
Closed Captions
Closed captions allow viewers to toggle them on or off. They include dialogue, sound effects, and music cues so that anyone can view and understand your complete video.
Auto Captions
Auto captions are generated using speech recognition technology—which definitely saves you time. However, automated captions tend to have word/grammar errors and don’t align with the video’s timing. It’s important to review them before posting.
Manual Captions
Manual captions are created by the user, so you have full control over style, placement, and timing. You can create captions that align perfectly with your video content exactly as you envisioned it.
How to Add Captions to TikTok with 2 Easy Methods
There are two fairly easy ways to add captions to your TikTok videos within the app—auto-captions and manual captions. Let’s break it down:
Method #1: Auto Captions
TikTok’s auto-captioning feature is a fast and convenient way to add captions to your content. It’s quick, easy, and can be done directly within the app.
Step 1: Record or upload your video.
Open the TikTok app and create a new video by recording directly or uploading an existing file from your device. Ensure the audio quality is clear, as this will improve the accuracy of the auto-captions.
Step 2: Enable the auto-captioning feature in the editing menu.
After recording or uploading, head to the editing menu and select the “Captions” option. TikTok will automatically generate captions by processing the audio. This typically takes a few seconds.
Step 3: Review and edit the captions for accuracy.
Once TikTok generates the captions, review them carefully. Speech recognition isn’t perfect, so check for misheard words, incorrect spellings, or missing phrases. Use the editing tools provided to make adjustments directly within the app.
Step 4: Post your video with professional captions that match your audio.
When you’re happy with the captions, finalize your edits and post your video. The captions will appear automatically, enhancing accessibility and engagement for your audience.
Method #2: Manual Captions
For full control over your captions’ style and placement, manual captioning is the way to go. You’ll need to put in a bit more work on the front end, but the payoff is worth it.
Step 1: Record or upload your video.
Start by recording a new TikTok or uploading a pre-recorded video from your device. Ensure the audio is clear to make timing your captions easier.
Step 2: Use TikTok’s text tool to create captions.
After uploading or recording, select the “Text” tool from the editing menu. This feature lets you manually add text to your video.
Step 3: Type out the dialogue and time captions to the video.
Manually type each line of dialogue as it’s spoken in the video. Use the timeline feature to adjust when captions appear and disappear, ensuring they sync perfectly with the audio.
Step 4: Customize the font, color, and positioning to match your style.
TikTok’s text tool lets you choose the font, color, size, and placement of your captions. This is your chance to align the style of your captions with the tone of your content or your personal brand.
Step 5: Post your video with personalized, polished captions.
Once you’re satisfied with the look and timing of your captions, post your video. Manual captions not only boost accessibility but also give your video a polished, professional touch.
Auto Captioning vs. Manual Captioning: Which is Better?
When deciding how to add captions to your TikTok videos, it’s essential to weigh the benefits and drawbacks of auto-captioning and manual captioning. Each method has its strengths and limitations, depending on your needs for speed, accuracy, and customization.
Auto Captioning Pros and Cons
Auto captioning is TikTok’s built-in solution that uses speech recognition to generate captions.
- Pros: It’s quick and convenient, providing captions in seconds without much effort. It’s perfect for creators looking to save time or handle high-volume content.
- Cons: Auto captions often misinterpret poor audio quality, accents, or technical terms. Customization options for style and placement are also limited, which can make the captions feel less polished.
Manual Captioning Pros and Cons
Manual captioning involves using TikTok’s text tool to create and style captions yourself.
- Pros: This method offers complete control over the timing, font, color, and placement of your captions. It ensures maximum accuracy and allows you to align captions with your brand’s style.
- Cons: Manual captioning is time-consuming, requiring you to type out each line and sync it perfectly with the video. It’s not ideal for creators under tight deadlines or handling multiple videos.
Third-Party Apps Great for Adding TikTok Captions
CapCut
CapCut is a powerful video editing app designed with TikTok creators in mind. It offers an auto-caption feature and lets you fully customize font, color, and timing.
InShot
InShot provides a user-friendly interface for creating captions manually. It’s perfect for styling captions with different fonts, animations, and effects.
Splice
Splice combines simplicity with robust editing tools. You can add captions, adjust timing, and export directly for TikTok uploads.
Pros & Cons of Third Party Captioners | ||||
App | Price | Use Case | Pros | Cons |
CapCut | Free (with paid features) | Auto and customized captions for TikTok videos | Built-in auto-captioning, robust editing tools, fully customizable captions | Some advanced features are locked behind a paywall |
InShot | Free (with premium options) | Stylish captions with animations and effects | User-friendly interface, creative styling options, easy video export | Manual captioning can be time-intensive |
Splice | Free trial, $4.99/month | Professional-grade captions and video edits | Precise control over caption timing, seamless TikTok integration | Subscription required for full access to advanced features |
Tips for Better TikTok Captions
Captions can make or break the impact of your TikTok videos—no seriously. People aren’t going to stick around if your captions are sloppy, hard to read, and don’t make sense. Here are some tips to get the most out of your captions.
1. Keep Captions Short and Clear
Avoid long sentences—stick to a concise, easy-to-read text that viewers can quickly process.
2. Synchronize Captions with the Audio
Make sure captions appear at the right time, matching the flow of speech or music in your video.
3. Position Captions Thoughtfully
Place captions where they won’t obstruct visuals or distract viewers. Test placements on different devices.
4. Use Readable Fonts and Colors
Choose fonts that are legible and contrasting colors to ensure visibility against the background.
5. Add Style Consistent with Your Brand
Use colors, effects, or animations that align with your video’s tone and your overall style.
How to Edit and Add Captions to TikTok Video After Posting
TikTok doesn’t currently allow you to edit captions on a video that’s already posted directly. However, there’s a workaround:
- Download the Video: Save your original video to your device.
- Re-Upload the Video: Start a new TikTok post and upload the saved video.
- Add or Edit Captions: Use TikTok’s text tool or auto-captioning feature to fix or add captions as needed.
- Post Again: Share the updated video with your audience.
How to Turn Off Captions When Watching Videos on TikTok
If captions are distracting—and let’s face it, they often are— you can easily hide them while watching a TikTok video.
- Simply tap on the captions displayed on the screen, and a “Hide Captions” option will appear.
- Tap “Hide Captions,” and the captions will be removed.
If you’re watching the video without audio and need them back, refresh the video, and the captions will reappear. We love an app with user experience versatility!
Mistakes to Avoid When Captioning Your TikTok Videos
There’s a right and wrong way to add captions to your video. These common errors can diminish your video’s impact. Here’s what to watch out for and how to fix them:
1. Relying Solely on Auto-Captions
Auto-captioning is convenient but often inaccurate, especially with technical terms or poor audio quality. Always review and edit auto-captions to ensure they accurately represent your message.
2. Poor Caption Placement
Captions placed over crucial visuals can distract viewers or obscure key information. Test your videos on different devices to find the best position. Keep them at the bottom or top of the screen for clarity.
3. Ignoring Font and Color Readability
Using fonts or colors that blend into the video’s background makes captions hard to read. Opt for bold fonts and high-contrast colors to improve visibility across all screen sizes.
4. Failing to Proofread
Misspellings, grammar mistakes, or timing issues can make captions look unprofessional. Proofread every caption to catch errors, even if you use TikTok’s editing tools.
5. Overloading Captions with Text
Long-winded captions can overwhelm viewers. Break text into shorter segments and synchronize them with audio to make them more digestible.
How Captions Influence TikTok Algorithms
Captions are a secret weapon working with TikTok’s algorithm to get your content seen by more people. TikTok relies heavily on engagement and content relevance to determine which videos land on the coveted For You Page. Captions help with both!
- When you add captions with keywords related to your content, you give TikTok’s algorithm valuable text to understand and categorize your video.
- For example, a lawyer explaining legal tips can include keywords like “contract law” or “small business” in the captions, making their content discoverable by users searching for those terms.
- Many TikTok users scroll with the sound off, relying on captions to understand the content. Captions keep these viewers engaged longer, increasing watch time and interaction rates—two metrics the algorithm loves.
The more time people spend on your video, the more likely TikTok will push it out to even more users.
