How to Add Subtitles & Captions on TikTok 2025 | 3 Quick Ways

Introduction

TikTok captions and subtitles are vital to boost engagement and accessibility of videos on a global scale. Almost every second, including people with hearing disabilities, users scroll through TikTok videos during their commute, traffic rush, boring lectures, or lengthy meetings. Captions allow consuming the content easily, even with the sound off. Here, we will explore the top ways to discover how to add captions on TikTok, and how to add subtiltes to a TikTok video. Whether you need to add the captions and subttiltes automatically or manually, we have tried and tested the steps to walk you through the guided process easily. Let's begin!

Why Add Captions and Subtitles on TikTok Videos?

TikTok is the most downloaded app, with over 773 million downloads, and is expected to reach 2.35 billion users by 2029. Around 900 million users used TikTok every day in 2024. Not only entertainment, TikTok has over 7 billion businesses and 225,000 business brands, marking the significance and impact that TikTok captions can have on consumers. 

Let's look at TikTok's statistics and how adding captions and subtiles can make a positive difference. 

• As of January 2025, there are over 5.24 billion social media users globally, with a global growth rate of 115.76%
• Among 82% of consumers using social media, 55% of Gen Z use TikTok 
• Approximately 48% of Gen Z consumers use TikTok and Instagram to discover new products 
• In 2025, the number of TikTok users worldwide is expected to rise by 4.2%

Concerning the subtitles and captions: 

• Approximately 80% of people prefer video subtitles for better engagement 
• Nearly 80% of viewers respond negatively to video ads that autoplay sound
• 37% of viewers said video subtitles encourage them to turn the sound on, increasing video engagement 

Now, we can assume how adding captions for TikTokcan affect our business and boost engagement, driving audience, consumers, and brands. 

Whether a content creator seeking ways to make more inclusive videos or a user looking to follow along with audio, TikTok makes it easy to enable captions. And for those looking to add more accurate subtitles to a TikTok video, AI tools like UniFab Subtitle Generator AI offer a smarter solution. Let's explore how to add subtitles to tiktok vidoe and how to get captions on TikTok for better accessibility and user experience.

How to Add Subtitles on TikTok Video Using UniFab AI Subtitle Generator

UniFab AI Subtitle Generator

Best For: Accurate and automatic subtitle generation and translation 

We tested a professional and reliable TikTok subtitle generator, UniFab AI Subtitle Generator. With its fast subtitle generation and precise multilingual translation, it allowed us to process multiple videos simultaneously. If you're looking for an efficient way to reach a global audience, this is one of the easiest solutions for how to add subtitles to TikTok video quickly and accurately.

Key Attractions of UniFab Subtitle Generator

• AI-powered automatic detection of the video's original language
• Generates subtitles in 30+ languages with 98% accuracy
• Natural, context-aware translation for clear and accurate subtitles
• Uses advanced AI speech recognition to transcribe audio precisely
• Delivers well-synced, clear subtitles without manual adjustments
• Exports subtitles as .srt files for flexible editing and upload

How to Add Subtitles to a TikTok Video with UniFab

Finally, we used the UniFab Video Converter to embed the generated subtitle file into our TikTok video. 

Our Experience on this TikTok Subtitle Generator

We enjoyed using the UniFab AI Subtitle Generator. UniFab's modern yet straightforward and intuitive interface was a breeze to use. It auto-detected our video's language and accurately transcribed the audio to generate time-aligned subtitles. What we loved the most was its ability to export the subtitles as a .srt file for use and further editing. 

How to Add Captions on TikTok - Recommended Ways

Captions have benefits beyond words for users with hearing disabilities and anyone interested in consuming video content more effectively, even in a noisy environment. We have tested some practical ways to learn how to add captions on TikTok. Here are the top 2 most effective techniques that helped us add captions in different scenarios. We have shared our experiences working with each method to help you gain insights into all the methods used. 

How to Add Captions on TikTok Using TikTok App

Way #1 Auto-Generate TikTok Captions

Best For: Reviewing and editing auto-generated captions for better accuracy and accessibility  

TikTok's auto-caption feature can automatically generate captions for videos in minimal time. It requires no skills or technical expertise and is a boon for adding captions in lengthy videos. 

Challenges with this method 

• May lack accuracy for lengthy videos, misinterpreting technical terms, accents, or slang 
• Limited editing options with no advanced customization, like timing adjustments 
• It doesn't allow for multiple subtitle tracks or translations in the same video
• Requires using the TikTok app to access and edit captions and does not permit exporting them for use elsewhere 
• Captions often overlap important visuals, requiring manual adjustment for visual clarity

How to Add Captions to TikTok Automatically 

Step 1: We first uploaded a one-minute video we had already filmed to the TikTok app. It was pretty easy. Open the app, click the + icon, and tap the thumbnail in the lower right to upload it. 

However, TikTok allows recording videos directly. Tap the Plus sign to open the camera and choose the video length. Then, press the round button to start recording. After importing the video to the TikTok platform, we tapped the check mark and proceeded with editing. 

Step 2: Next, on the right-hand sidebar, we looked for a toolbar with various icons, including the Captions icon. TikTok uses AI to generate captions depending on the video's audio, appearing in sync. Once our audio was processed, our captions were ready to review and edit. We then hit the automatic captions denoted by a rectangular box with text lines inside.

Step 3: We double-checked our captions since AI is not always perfect. We tapped Play to play the video and read along with the subtitles, focusing on the names, slang, and technical terms to catch any mistakes.

Step 4: After reviewing the captions, we customized their look. We just tapped the "A in a box" icon and selected a font, color, and alignment. We also moved the text around the screen so it didn’t cover anything necessary for a clean video look. After finishing, we clicked Save to finalize our video. 

Our Experience 

Adding captions to our TikTok video was surprisingly smooth. While we uploaded a pre-recorded video, TikTok also offers a direct recording feature. Locating the 'Captions' tool was pretty easy, and it barely took a few seconds for TikTok to generate captions based on our video's audio. Caption timing in TikTok is automatic and impressively accurate, making it easy to review and customize the text. We suppose this method can be helpful for new creators who need to boost accessibility and reach a wider audience with engaging content. 

Way #2 Manually Add TikTok Captions

Best For: Greater creative control over the captions and adding extra commentary for perfect accuracy

Another fruitful method we found compelling was adding captions to TikTok videos manually. It helps gain precise control over the captions and is fruitful for videos with a shorter duration.

Challenges with this method 

• It is a time-consuming process, especially to sync captions in longer videos 
• Does not align the caption with the audio automatically 
• TikTok's interface limits adjusting the duration and exact placement of the text
• Human errors are prone to happen due to mistime and missing parts of the dialogue
• It does not work where you need to post videos frequently, as manual captioning can slow down 

How to Put Captions on TikTok Manually 

Step 1: First, we clicked the + icon to upload a one-minute pre-recorded video to the TikTok app. Then, we clicked the red Next button to proceed. 

Step 2: The next screen had a right menu with several options. We clicked the Aa icon (Add Text button) to add the manual captions.  

Step 3: We typed all the subtitles manually, emphasizing emphasis, emojis, and certain words differently.

We then set the time and duration of our captions' appearance. Then, we clicked the text and tapped Edit duration from the pop-up. A slide was available to control when the captions appear and disappear.  

Step 4: Next, we clicked the bottom checkmark and continued with the next caption until finished. We settled for high-contrast colors for more recognition, accessibility, and a style for consistency. Finally, we clicked Done to save our captions. 

Our Experience

We personally liked the manual method, as it gave us the freedom to add more drama to our captions. We could add extra comments besides the ongoing audio. Plus, we could also use several languages for different audio groups, a feature lacking in TikTok's auto-caption tool. The flexibility of the manual method made our content feel more personalized and inclusive. However, the process was tiring and time-consuming. It took over an hour to hear the audio and transcribe it perfectly. So, this method alone may not work for lengthy video files. 

Comparison of all Ways to Add Captions for TikTok 

We have seen how to add subtitles to a TikTok video.However, sticking with the 'best' way can be dicey. Let's compare and evaluate the three methods discussed above for a well-informed decision. The table below compares all the methods based on common parameters to identify which best aligns with your needs. Let's look.

How to Choose the Best TikTok Subtitle Generator

When picking the best TikTok subtitle generator,we were mindful of a few points. We considered some key factors to derive the best techniques to add subtitles to video. Here are the crucial factors.

• User-friendliness: We prioritized the usage process to cater to the needs of new users who want to upload, generate, and export subtitles quickly.

• Accuracy of Speech Recognition: Select a tool with high transcription accuracy to transcribe different accents, slang, and background noise effectively.

• Customization Options:Good caption tools help tweak and style captions, such as font and color. They can also set the timing and placement to suit users' video needs.

• Supported Languages and Translations: We prefer a TikTok captions generator that offers multiple languages.

• Flexibility of Export: Opt for a tool that helps export subtitles in SRT format for use on any platform.

• Cost vs. Features: Free tools can often be limited in functionality. Weigh a tool's features against the price to learn the actual benefits.

For example, UniFab Subtitle Generator helps deliver accurate results at a rapid speed. 

Final Wrap Up

TikTok Captions are helpful to improve TikTok SEO. They can provide explicit textual references to your videos to enhance visibility within TikTok's algorithm. We have discussed the three most wholesome ways on how to add subtitles and captions on TikTok to increase your video's discoverability and viewership. While each method has its own perks and challenges, we most enjoyed using the UniFab AI Subtitle Generator. Not only was it easy to use, but it also blended the automatic and manual ways for clarity and precision. Plus, it can process bulk videos simultaneously to maintain the frequency of uploading videos on TikTok. 

FAQs about TikTok Captions

Are TikTok captions important? 

Adding captions to TikTok videos can have immense benefits. It can create engaging and impactful content that improves your content's overall impact and success. Let's look at its advantages.

• Enhance accessibility for users with hearing disabilities
• Boost viewer engagement and allow watching whole videos
• Improve reach and video impressions by more than 55 percent
• Aid comprehension to understand the background noise, accents, and fast-paced speech 

How to add subtitles to a tiktok video?

To add subtitles to video on TikTok with more accuracy and flexibility, you can use UniFab Subtitle Generator AI. This AI-powered tool automatically detects your video's original language, transcribes the audio with high precision, and generates natural, context-aware translations in 30+ languages.

How can I use captions on TikTok to enhance viewership?

Well-timed, styled, and placed captions help boost the video's reach and engagement. Here are some practical tips to elevate your video content effectively.

• To get correct captions, make sure you speak clearly.
• Adjust the language settings for a wider reach
• Use a caption style and spot that keeps things easy to see
• Use the fonts and colors of captions that match your video's mood
• Check twice and proofread your captions before posting to avoid any errors

How to turn on captions on TikTok?

You can turn captions on or off while watching, based on whether they're embedded or auto-generated. However, ensure you use an updated TikTok app, as older versions lack this functionality. Take a look at both types.