How to Add Captions to YouTube Shorts (2026)
Four ways to caption a Short, from YouTube's free automatic captions to styled burned-in captions, with steps for each and when to pick which.
By the Capsubs team · Updated · 3 min read
There are four ways to add captions to a YouTube Short: the Captions tool in the YouTube app's Shorts editor, autocaptions in YouTube Studio's Clips and Shorts tool, a closed-caption track in YouTube Studio, or captions burned into the video before you upload. The first three are free and built into YouTube; burning captions in gives you full control of the look and works the same on TikTok and Reels.
Method 1: Captions in the Shorts editor (YouTube app)
- In the YouTube app, tap Create, then Short.
- Record, or import a video from your gallery, and tap Done to open the editor.
- Tap Captions. YouTube transcribes the speech.
- Change the font and color and correct any wrong words.
- Tap Next, add a title, and upload.
YouTube says these captions are only available in certain languages and on certain devices, so you may not see the button. The fallback is Text, which lets you place lines by hand on the timeline.
Method 2: Clips and Shorts in YouTube Studio
If you are cutting a Short from one of your long videos, YouTube Studio can caption it for you.
- In YouTube Studio, open Content, pick the long video, then Clips and Shorts.
- Click Create clip or Short, choose Short, and select the part you want from the transcript or timeline.
- Click Preview Short. Where available, autocaptions are added automatically; click Captions to change color, font, style and position.
- Click Create Draft and finish the upload.
YouTube builds these captions from the video's transcript, so check names and numbers in the preview.
Method 3: A closed-caption track in YouTube Studio
YouTube creates automatic captions for Shorts as it does for long videos, in the video's default language. To fix them:
- In YouTube Studio, choose Subtitles in the left menu and click your Short.
- Next to the language, select Edit. For automatic captions choose Duplicate and edit.
- Correct the lines and click Publish.
You can also upload a file (.srt and others), use Auto-sync to time a transcript you paste in, or type captions manually. A caption track only shows for viewers who turn captions on, which is why most Shorts creators also put text on screen.
Method 4: Burn captions in before uploading
Burned-in captions are part of the picture: every viewer sees them, in the feed, with no tap needed. In Capsubs you upload the Short, pick a style and a position, and download the captioned MP4, then upload that to YouTube. The same file works on TikTok and Reels.
Which should you use?
| Goal | Best method |
|---|---|
| Free captions while editing on your phone | Shorts editor Captions |
| A Short cut from your own long video | Clips and Shorts in Studio |
| Accessibility captions viewers can switch | Caption track in Studio |
| One styled file for Shorts, TikTok and Reels | Burned in before upload |
Many creators combine two: burned-in captions for the look, plus YouTube's caption track for accessibility and translation.
Placement on Shorts
Google's vertical ad template keeps about 288 px at the top, 672 px at the bottom, 48 px on the left and 192 px on the right clear on a 1080×1920 frame. Keep captions inside that box so the subscribe button and title don't cover them. See safe zones for TikTok, Reels and Shorts.
FAQ
How long can a YouTube Short be? Up to 3 minutes for videos uploaded since October 15, 2024, if they're square or vertical. More on length limits.
Can I use an SRT file on a Short? Yes, through YouTube Studio's Subtitles page. YouTube only supports basic .srt files with no styling.
Do Shorts get automatic captions? Yes, in supported languages, though they may take a while to appear after upload.
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.