Subtitles and captions

Subtitles and captions are the on-screen text of what is said in a video. Captions are written for viewers who can't hear the audio and include sounds; subtitles translate or transcribe the dialogue. Either can be closed (a separate file such as SRT or VTT that viewers switch on) or open (burned into the picture). What you need to know is which file to make, how to add it on each platform, and how to fix it when the text won't show or drifts out of time. These guides cover subtitle file formats, adding captions to YouTube, TikTok, Reels, Facebook and LinkedIn, transcripts, translation into other languages and scripts, and the fixes for common subtitle problems.

38 guides in this topic

Start here

Captions vs Subtitles: What's the Difference?Captions vs subtitles: captions show speech and sounds in the same language for viewers who can't hear; subtitles translate speech for view…
SRT vs VTT: Differences and Which to UseSRT vs VTT explained: the header, timestamp and styling differences, which one YouTube, websites and editors want, and how to convert betwe…
How to Make an SRT File (By Hand or Automatically)How to make an SRT file: the exact format with an example, writing one in Notepad or TextEdit, converting a script, and generating one from…
How to Burn Subtitles Into a Video (3 Ways)How to burn subtitles into a video so they always show: HandBrake, FFmpeg or an online tool, plus open vs burned captions and styling tips.
How to Translate Subtitles to Another LanguageHow to translate subtitles to another language without breaking the timing: manual, machine and AI methods, quality checks, and uploading t…

What is the difference between captions, subtitles, open and closed captions?

Captions assume the viewer can't hear and include sound cues; subtitles assume they can hear but need the words, often in another language. Captions vs subtitles explains when each is the right word, and open vs closed captions covers burned-in text versus a separate track viewers can switch off. If you are choosing between text and a new voice track for another language, compare AI dubbing vs subtitles.

Which subtitle file format should you use: SRT, VTT or ASS?

Use SRT unless a player asks for something else: it is the most widely supported plain-text subtitle file. SRT vs VTT shows when the web format is the better choice. To work with the files themselves, see how to make an SRT file, how to edit an SRT file, how to open an SRT file, how to convert ASS to SRT, how to convert SRT to plain text and how to export SRT from CapCut.

How do you add captions on YouTube, TikTok, Reels, Facebook and LinkedIn?

Upload a closed-caption file where the platform accepts one, and burn captions in where it doesn't or where viewers watch muted. Step-by-step guides: add subtitles to a YouTube video, add captions to TikTok videos, add captions to Instagram Reels, add an SRT file to a Facebook video and add subtitles to a LinkedIn video. For short-form looks, see the best caption styles for Reels and TikTok. Elsewhere: add subtitles to a Vimeo video and import an SRT into Premiere Pro.

How do you burn subtitles into a video permanently?

Burning in renders the text into the picture, so it shows on every player and can't be turned off. How to burn subtitles into a video covers free and fast methods, and adding subtitles to an MP4 permanently focuses on that file type. On a Mac or iPhone, follow how to add subtitles in iMovie. Keep lines short and on screen long enough to read: subtitle reading speed gives the characters-per-second and line-length rules.

How do you get a transcript of a video?

Run the audio through speech-to-text, then correct names and terms by hand. How to transcribe a video to text compares free and fast ways. For YouTube, you can see a YouTube video's transcript on desktop and mobile, or get the transcript of a YouTube video as text. A transcript also makes editing faster: remove filler words from a video and remove silence and dead air by cutting the text. For meetings, get a transcript of a Zoom or Teams recording; for short-form, get a transcript of a TikTok video.

How do you translate subtitles into other languages?

Translate the subtitle file line by line, keep the timings, and check the result with a native speaker. How to translate subtitles walks through it, and subtitles in multiple languages on one video shows how to ship several tracks. Some scripts need extra care with fonts and direction: Arabic subtitles (right to left), Hindi subtitles (Devanagari) and Bengali subtitles.

Why are subtitles not showing or out of sync?

Subtitles that don't show are usually a track that is off, a file name that doesn't match or an encoding the player can't read; text that drifts is a timing offset or frame-rate mismatch. VLC subtitles not showing lists the fixes for SRT and MKV, and how to fix out of sync subtitles covers a fixed offset, gradual drift and partial errors. Small timing fixes can also be made directly in the file: see how to edit SRT timings.

Every guide in this topic

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between SRT and VTT?

Both are plain-text subtitle files with timestamps. SRT is the most widely supported; VTT is the web standard, used by HTML5 video players, and supports basic styling.

Should captions be burned in or closed?

Burn them in for social feeds where viewers scroll with the sound off. Use closed captions (a separate file) for YouTube and your website, so viewers can turn them off and search engines can read them.

Product

Company