How to Put a Subtitle on TikTok

Adding subtitles to your TikTok videos is an effective way to boost views, increase watch time, and make your content accessible to a wider audience. This guide explains how to add captions using TikTok's built-in tools and shares professional tips to make your subtitles engaging.

Why Subtitles on TikTok Are a Game-Changer

Understanding why you should add subtitles is essential. Subtitles directly impact your video's performance and your brand's perception. Here are the main reasons to make subtitles a key part of your TikTok strategy:

• Most Video is Watched Without Sound: Up to 85% of videos on social media are viewed with the sound off. Subtitles keep viewers engaged, conveying your message regardless of their listening situation.
• Huge Accessibility Gains: With an estimated 430 million people worldwide experiencing disabling hearing loss, subtitles make your content inclusive, broadening your potential audience.
• Improved Comprehension and Retention: Subtitles help clarify spoken words and improve understanding and retention of the message.
• Longer Watch Times and Better Engagement: Clear subtitles reduce friction and encourage longer viewing times, signaling to the TikTok algorithm that your video is high-quality.
• TikTok "Reads" Your Text: Subtitles help TikTok's algorithm understand your video's content, improving discoverability and helping reach a more relevant audience.

Subtitles transform your videos from sound-dependent clips into universally understood content. It's a small effort that yields major results.

The Best and Easiest Method: Using TikTok's Auto-Captions

The simplest way to add subtitles is with TikTok's automatic captions feature. It uses speech-recognition technology to transcribe your audio into text. While it's not always perfect, it handles most of the work for you.

Here's a step-by-step guide:

Step 1: Record or Upload Your Video

Open TikTok and record your video or upload a clip. Once your video is ready, tap the red checkmark to go to the main editing screen.

Step 2: Find the 'Captions' Feature

On the editing screen, look for the Captions icon, usually a small square with lines of text. Tap it.

Step 3: Let TikTok Transcribe Your Audio

After you tap "Captions," TikTok will start processing the audio. A progress indicator will appear, and once finished, you'll see the generated text over your video timeline.

Step 4: Edit for Accuracy

Editing is essential as auto-generation is rarely flawless. Unedited captions with errors can look unprofessional and confuse your message. Tap the "Edit" icon next to the captions, review each line, and correct any errors:

• Spelling: Correct misspelled words.
• Punctuation: Add necessary punctuation for clarity and tone.
• Capitalization: Correct capitalization errors.

Make the copy more engaging by breaking long sentences into shorter ones.

Step 5: Style Your Subtitles

After editing, style your text. Tap on the text to bring up styling options. You can change:

• Font: Choose a style that fits your brand or the video vibe.
• Color: Select a contrasting text color to ensure readability.
• Background/Highlight: Add a background to enhance text readability.

Tap "Done" or "Save" once satisfied with the look.

Step 6: Review and Post

Give your video a final review. Ensure subtitles are readable and timed well. When satisfied, add your description, hashtags, and post your video.

For Maximum Creative Control: Adding Text Manually

If the auto-caption flow lacks the control you need, consider adding subtitles as timed text boxes for more customization.

Step 1: Start with Your Video on the Editing Screen

Record or upload your video and open it in TikTok’s editor.

Step 2: Add Your First Line of Text

Tap the Text (Aa) icon to add the first subtitle. Style it and maintain consistency across subtitles.

Step 3: Set the Duration

Tap the text and select Set duration to time your subtitles with spoken words. Adjust the red bar handles to match the timing perfectly. Tap the checkmark when complete.

Step 4: Repeat for Every Line

Repeat the process for all subtitles. Copy previous text boxes, edit the text, and adjust durations as needed. This method creates dynamic, timely subtitles ideal for various video styles.

Final Thoughts

Adding subtitles to your TikToks significantly impacts how many people can engage with your content. Whether you use the auto-captions tool or prefer manual control, making your videos more accessible and viewer-friendly is always smart for growth.

As you consistently create subtitles, you'll need a way to manage your content pipeline efficiently. At Postbase, we aim to simplify managing and scheduling content, especially short-form videos. Our tool features a visual calendar and reliable publishing, allowing you to focus on creating engaging content.