How to add captions to a TikTok video
By the maker of Captions Cut. Facts checked on from the pages listed under Sources.
The short answer
TikTok makes automatic captions for the videos you upload and lets you edit them after posting; viewers can switch them off. For captions that follow every word in a style you choose, and that stay on the video wherever it is shared, burn them in with Captions Cut before you post, and keep them clear of TikTok’s buttons on the right and its caption at the bottom.
TikTok video limits
| TikTok | |
|---|---|
| Length | Up to 10 minutes recorded in the app; up to 60 minutes uploaded. |
| Shape | Vertical 9:16 is what TikTok recommends in its ads guide (at least 540 × 960). |
| File size | Up to 500 MB for ads; up to 4 GB through TikTok’s posting API. |
| Formats | .mp4, .mov, .mpeg, .3gp and .avi (ads guide); MP4, WebM and MOV (API). |
Captions built into TikTok
- TikTok generates auto-generated captions for videos you upload. You choose the language on the post screen under More options › Select video language; only eligible videos show them.
- After posting, tap the caption on your video, then Edit captions, to fix or remove lines.
- Creator captions are a separate tool on the preview screen (Captions in the side panel): the speech is transcribed and you can change the font style and colour.
- Viewers can turn captions off: Share › Captions › Show captions.
- TikTok’s help pages do not list which languages auto captions support.
Caption files. TikTok’s help pages do not mention uploading SRT or VTT files.
Where captions are safe
TikTok publishes its ad safe zones only as downloadable templates. In practice the right edge holds the like, comment and share buttons and the bottom holds the username and caption, so keep captions in the middle band. Captions Cut keeps captions inside the area the vertical apps leave clear: below the top bar and above the caption, buttons and username at the bottom. Drag them anywhere if your shot needs it.
Burn captions into a TikTok video with Captions Cut
- Open captionscut.com/edit in a browser, or the Captions Cut iPhone app, and add the clip.
- Choose the spoken language or leave it on Auto detect (53 languages), check the cost (1 credit per second of audio) and create the captions.
- Read the transcript and tap any word to fix it.
- Pick one of 48 styles and place the captions clear of the app’s buttons.
- Export in 1080p or 4K and post it to TikTok.
The video stays on your device: only the audio is sent for transcription, and it is deleted right after.
Platform captions or burned-in captions?
| Built into TikTok | Burned-in captions | |
|---|---|---|
| Who sees them | Viewers who have captions on | Everyone, including on reposts and downloads |
| Style | The platform’s | Yours: font, colour, word-by-word highlight |
| Fixing mistakes | In the platform, after posting | Before posting, word by word |
| Search and accessibility tools | Readable as text by the platform | Part of the picture; add a caption file too where the platform takes one |
How we checked
Every TikTok fact on this page comes from the platform’s own help, ads or developer pages, read on 22 October 2026. Where a page says nothing (a language list, a safe zone), this page says so rather than guess. Ads-guide numbers are for ads; organic posts have the same buttons in the same places.
Questions
Can I upload an SRT file to TikTok?
TikTok’s help pages do not describe one. To have captions that you control, burn them into the video before uploading.
Do TikTok auto captions show for everyone?
Only on eligible videos, and each viewer can turn them off. Burned-in captions are part of the picture, so everyone sees them, including on reposts and downloads.
Sources
- TikTok: video length
- TikTok: captions for creators
- TikTok: captions for viewers
- TikTok Ads: in-feed ad specs
- TikTok for Developers: media transfer
Each page read on .