How to Add Subtitles/Captions to Videos in CapCut for FREE, by Netverse Guides on YouTube. 7 min 1 s.
- Video length
- 7 min 1 s
- Time to do it
- 15 minutes
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Steps
- 10
What you need
Steps
Download CapCut desktop from the official website and install it. Open the app and sign in if it asks you to.
Click New project, then Import and pick your video file. Drag the clip onto the timeline so it fills the track.
Select the clip on the timeline, open the Text tab at the top and click Auto captions.
Choose the spoken language in the Auto captions panel, then click Generate and wait for the caption blocks to appear on the timeline.
Drag the caption text in the preview window to reposition it. Keep it clear of the bottom edge so app buttons do not cover it.
Fix the timing by dragging the left or right edge of a caption block on the timeline until the words match the speech.
Double-click any caption on the timeline to edit the text. Correct names, numbers and punctuation, then click outside to save.
Style every caption at once in the Text panel. Set the font, size and colour, then add a stroke or shadow so the words stay readable.
Break long captions into shorter blocks by splitting them at natural pauses, keeping roughly three to six words per block.
Add an animation to the captions if you want movement, then click Export, choose 1080p and save the video with captions embedded.
Tips and common mistakes
Always proofread auto captions by hand, since names, brands and technical words are often wrong.
Use a stroke or shadow on the text so captions stay readable over bright or busy footage.
Keep captions to one or two lines and place them in the same spot for the whole video.
Auto captions need an internet connection, so generate them before you go offline.
Questions
Are CapCut auto captions free?
Yes, generating auto captions in the CapCut desktop app is free. Some fonts, stickers and effects in the editor are paid, but the basic caption tools are not.
Do the captions stay on the video after export?
Yes. Once the caption blocks are on your timeline, they are burned into the exported video file, so viewers see them on any player or platform.
Why are my auto captions wrong or missing?
Poor audio, background music or an incorrect language setting cause most errors. Clean up the audio, set the right language and generate again, then fix the rest by hand.
This guide was drafted from the video's details and general task knowledge. It has not been checked against the full video. Check the video and relevant product instructions before following a procedure. Report a correction.
