How to Add Captions to TikTok Videos (Auto and Styled, 2026)
How to use TikTok's free Captions button, edit the words, and get bold word-by-word captions instead of the plain grey box.
By the Capsubs team · Updated · 3 min read
To add captions in TikTok, record or upload your video, tap Captions on the side panel of the editing screen, check the transcript and tap Save. TikTok's built-in captions are free and accurate enough for clear speech, but they look like plain text on a grey box; for bold, highlighted captions you need to caption the video before uploading.
Method 1: TikTok's built-in captions
TikTok calls these creator captions.
- Tap + (Add post), then record or upload a video.
- On the preview screen, tap Captions on the side panel. The first time, TikTok asks you to turn the feature on.
- Wait while TikTok transcribes the speech. Longer videos take longer.
- Preview the lines and tap the edit (pencil) icon to fix any wrong words.
- Tap Save, then finish posting.
TikTok's help pages note that captions work on speech, not on songs added to the video. You can change the font style and color a little, but you can't get the per-word highlight popular on short-form video.
Auto-generated captions for viewers
TikTok also generates captions automatically for eligible uploads. On the post screen, tap More options, then Select video language so the captions use the right language. After posting, you can tap the caption on your video, then Edit captions to correct it.
Method 2: TikTok's Text tool (manual)
For a few short lines, you can type text yourself: on the editing screen tap Text, type the line, then drag the bar under the timeline to set how long it stays on screen. It gives you more fonts and colors, but timing every line by hand gets slow past a few sentences.
Method 3: Burn styled captions in before you upload
This is how most of the bold, word-by-word captions you see on TikTok are made. You caption the video in another tool, export it, and post the finished file.
In Capsubs: upload the video, choose Highlight (each line pops in and the spoken word lights up in yellow, green, cyan or pink), Boxed or Classic, pick top, middle or bottom, and download the MP4. Because the captions are part of the video, the same file works on Reels and Shorts too.
If you burn captions in, don't also turn on TikTok's captions for that video, or two sets of text will overlap.
Built-in vs burned-in at a glance
| TikTok Captions | Burned in before upload | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | Free to start in most tools |
| Look | Plain text on a box | Any style, including word highlight |
| Viewers can hide them | Yes | No, they're part of the video |
| Fix words after posting | Yes, via Edit captions | No, re-upload instead |
| Same captions on Reels and Shorts | No | Yes |
Keep captions clear of TikTok's buttons
TikTok's own ad template keeps about 240 px at the top, 660 px at the bottom and 120 px on each side free on a 1080×1920 video, plus a wider strip on the right where the like and share buttons sit. Captions placed in the middle third are the safest. See caption safe zones for TikTok, Reels and Shorts.
Captions not showing?
The usual causes are no clear speech (music only), the wrong video language, an old app version, or a video that already has burned-in captions. We cover each fix in TikTok auto captions not showing.
FAQ
Are TikTok captions free? Yes. TikTok's own captions cost nothing.
Can I edit TikTok captions after posting? Auto-generated captions can be edited from the video (tap the caption, then Edit captions). Burned-in captions can't; you would delete and re-post.
How long can a TikTok be? Up to 10 minutes recorded in the app and up to 60 minutes uploaded, per TikTok Support. Most short-form performs best far shorter; see video length limits.
Caption your next video in a minute
Upload a TikTok, Reel or Short, pick a style and get it back with word-by-word captions burned in. Free to start, no watermark.