How to Add Captions in CapCut

Captions are one of the highest-impact, lowest-effort changes you can make to a video — most viewers watch with sound off, especially on Shorts and Reels. Here’s how to add them in CapCut, from auto-generation to styling.

Step 1: Auto-Generate Captions

1. Import your clip into the CapCut timeline.
2. Select the clip, then tap "Captions" in the toolbar.
3. Choose "Auto captions" and let CapCut transcribe the audio — this takes a few seconds for most clips.

Step 2: Review and Fix Errors

Auto-generated captions are good but not perfect — always scrub through and fix misheard words, especially names, brand terms, and slang. Tap any caption segment to edit its text directly.

Step 3: Style Your Captions

Select the caption layer, then use the "Style" panel to set font, size, color, and an outline or background — a bold sans-serif font with a thick outline reads best on busy backgrounds.

• Keep font size large enough to read on a phone screen at arm’s length.
• Use a consistent caption style across all your videos — it becomes part of your brand.
• Add a subtle bounce or pop-in animation under "Animation" for extra retention, but don’t overdo it.

Step 4: Position and Export

Drag the caption box to sit in the safe zone — usually lower-middle of frame, clear of platform UI (likes, captions, profile icons). Once happy, export at your platform’s recommended resolution and you’re done.