How to Burn Captions Into a Video (Hardcode Subtitles)
Burned-in captions are part of the picture and show everywhere. Three ways to do it, from a one-click tool to FFmpeg, and when to use a caption file.
By the Capsubs team · Updated · 3 min read
To burn captions into a video, you render the text onto the video frames so it becomes part of the picture: either with a caption tool that transcribes and exports in one step, an editor like Premiere Pro or CapCut, or the free command-line tool FFmpeg with a subtitle file. Burned-in (also called hardcoded or open) captions show on every platform and player, but viewers can't turn them off and you can't edit them after export.
Burned-in vs a separate caption file
| Burned in | Caption file (SRT/VTT) | |
|---|---|---|
| Shows without the viewer doing anything | Yes | Only if captions are switched on |
| Works on TikTok, Reels and Shorts feeds | Yes | Platform-dependent |
| Custom fonts, colors, word highlight | Yes | No, the player decides the style |
| Viewer can resize or turn off | No | Yes |
| Fix a typo after posting | Re-export | Edit the file |
| Translations | One language per video | Many tracks per video |
For short-form social video, burned-in is the norm because the feed autoplays muted. For long YouTube videos, courses and anything needing accessibility compliance or translation, add a caption file too. More in open vs closed captions.
Option 1: A caption tool (one step)
Caption tools transcribe the speech, let you style the text, and export a new video with the captions rendered in.
With Capsubs:
- Upload the video (MP4, MOV, WEBM, MKV or AVI).
- Choose a style: Highlight, Boxed or Classic; a highlight color; and top, middle or bottom.
- Optionally check the words before rendering.
- Download the new MP4, up to 1080p, with the captions burned in.
Capsubs renders with FFmpeg on the server, so you don't need a powerful computer. Free accounts get 1 video every 2 weeks with no watermark; paid plans start at $5/month.
Option 2: A video editor
In Premiere Pro, DaVinci Resolve, Final Cut Pro or CapCut, generate or import captions, style them, and export. Captions added as text or caption tracks are rendered into the video when you export with "burn in" (Premiere calls it Burn Captions Into Video in the export settings; Resolve has Burn into video under subtitle settings). Use this route if you're already editing the video there.
Option 3: FFmpeg (free, command line)
If you already have an .srt file, FFmpeg can render it:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -vf "subtitles=captions.srt" -c:a copy output.mp4
For full control over fonts, outline and position, convert the SRT to an .ass file (Advanced SubStation Alpha) and style it there; that's how word-by-word highlighting is done with FFmpeg. The trade-off is time: you have to produce and time the subtitle file yourself.
Tips before you burn in
- Proofread first. Burned-in text can't be edited without re-exporting. See how to fix wrong words.
- Stay inside the safe zone so app buttons don't cover the captions: safe zones guide.
- Use a heavy font with an outline so it survives compression on social platforms.
- Keep the original uncaptioned file in case you need a different language or style later.
- Turn off platform auto-captions on posts that already have burned-in captions, to avoid double text.
FAQ
Does burning in captions reduce quality? Any re-encode loses a little, but at sensible settings it isn't visible. Capsubs exports up to 1080p, which is the most TikTok, Reels and Shorts display anyway.
Can I burn captions into a horizontal video? Yes. Capsubs sizes captions to the video's own shape, vertical or horizontal.
Is "hardcoded" the same as "burned in"? Yes, along with "open captions" and "hard subs". They all mean the text is part of the image.
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.