Posting TikTok videos that heavily rely on audio might alienate some viewers, many of whom watch them on their mobile devices with the sound turned off.
Adding captions makes your content accessible to hearing-impaired viewers as well as those who prefer to view TikTok’s short, snappy videos in mute mode. TikTok captions, similar to movie subtitles, are lines of text that appear on the screen as the video plays to help tell the story or communicate information. The captions might be lines of dialogue or descriptions of what’s happening in the video.
Learn how to add and edit high-quality captions to your TikTok videos so your content is accessible to everyone.
How to write captions on TikTok before posting
There’s more than one way to create TikTok captions. The best method for you will depend on the type of TikTok video you plan to share and how many lines of text the video requires. Below are three common ways to add text to TikTok videos:
Manually add captions in TikTok
To access TikTok’s manual text tool, launch the app and upload or record a video in the same way you would begin a standard post. After you tap “Next,” the app will display a menu with several editing options on the right-hand side. You can also use these tools to add effects or music.
Select the “Aa” icon to bring up the text tool. Choose from the variety of font styles that appear above your keyboard, then type your TikTok caption. When you’re finished, tap “Done.” Your text is now visible on your TikTok video. Tap on the text and use the slider bar at the bottom to adjust the duration and timing of the caption, giving viewers enough time to read the text. Repeat this process to add additional captions.
This method is best suited for videos that require only a few captions, as manually typing large amounts of text on a mobile device can be time-consuming. Also, setting the duration and placement for each individual TikTok caption creates opportunities for errors and typos.
If you can explain your content with just one to three lines of text, manually adding captions is a great option.
Use a third-party editing tool
Third-party editing tools let you add captions to a video file before you upload it to TikTok. Popular options include video editing software like Adobe Premiere or social media-focused tools like Canva. The exact process depends on the service that you choose.
If you add captions using a computer, preview the video on a mobile device before you publish it to ensure the text is still legible on the smaller screen. This method may make the most sense if you already edit videos in a separate program with captioning abilities.
Use TikTok auto captions
The TikTok auto-captions feature generates subtitles using speech-to-text technology. This tool may be helpful for videos that are primarily dialogue, such as a makeup tutorial in which the subject speaks directly to viewers about their process.
To access the auto-caption tool, upload or record a video and tap “Next.” Scroll through the effects menu on the right-hand side of the screen; the option to add captions is located near the bottom. Tap the button and wait for your video to process. The auto-generated captions will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Read through the transcription to double-check it for accuracy, and tap the pencil icon to correct any mistakes. Tap the letter A to change the font color or style.
Can you edit TikTok captions after posting?
You can’t edit TikTok captions once you’ve posted a video. If you notice a critical mistake in a caption, swiftly delete the video and repost it. Deleting your post will also remove the comments and views, so aim for accuracy before you post.
To remove the video you posted, tap the three-dot button again and choose “Delete” from the list of options. This removes the post from your feed. If you’d like to re-upload your video, start the posting process over again with your original, uncaptioned video file. Write a new caption and incorporate your edits before posting.
If you’d like to keep a record of your content before you re-upload a revised version, first download your current video from the TikTok app. To do this, launch the app on your mobile device and tap the profile icon in the bottom right corner of the screen. Navigate to the post you want to download. Select the three-dot button on the right-hand side and tap “Save video” from the list of options. This downloads your entire video, including the effects, captions, and music to your camera roll. Be aware that the downloaded file loses quality.
Tips for high-quality captions on TikTok
Consider these tips for writing effective TikTok captions:
Be strategic
TikTok captions can be a direct transcription of the dialogue in your video or a short script that explains the post. The best strategy depends on the nature of your content. Speech-heavy videos that rely on a person speaking to tell the story are well suited to transcriptions. Alternatively, you can summarize posts that focus on visual storytelling.
For example, a video demonstrating multiple cleaning methods could display the name of each technique. A day-in-the-life video in which an influencer speaks directly to the camera about their emotions may be better suited to subtitles.
Use spell-check
TikTok does not have a native spell-checking tool. If you enter your captions directly into the app, you’ll have to rely on your own proofreading skills to catch any spelling mistakes. Drafting your script in a separate word processing app, such as Google Docs or your phone’s Notes app, can reduce the risk of typos and grammatical errors.
Pay attention to timing
If you manually create captions in TikTok or a third-party app, you’ll have to set each caption's duration and placement within the video. Choosing the correct duration ensures viewers have enough time to read the text.
Place each caption so that the text on the screen corresponds with the action or speech in the video. Make sure two captions don’t appear on screen at the same time, as this makes them difficult to read. The TikTok auto-captions feature takes care of timing for you—the subtitles will automatically appear at the same time as the spoken words.
Add a hook
Some videos use captions to add a hook or encourage participation. Adding text to the very beginning of your video can capture a viewer’s attention, even if you choose not to caption the entire video.
For example, some videos use the phrase “Watch until the very end” as an opening caption. This text tells viewers something exciting is coming up and creates suspense. The caption “Vote for your favorite” toward the end of your video could serve as a call to action (CTA), encouraging users to leave a comment.
How to edit caption on TikTok FAQ
Why are captions on TikTok important?
TikTok captions make video content more accessible and easier to consume. Adding a video description as a caption makes it easy for viewers to understand your content, even if they watch the video without sound.
What makes a good caption on TikTok?
A high-quality TikTok caption is short, easy to read, timed well, and helps explain the content of your video without sound. The best examples also include a hook or CTA to encourage engagement.
Do captions impact how many views a TikTok video gets?
TikTok captions matter a great deal to hearing-impaired viewers and those who like to watch without sound. By adding captions to your TikTok content, your video might gain more views.
