How to Add Captions on TikTok (with 10 Best Practices)
For creators, offering a seamless TikTok viewing experience depends on high video quality, engaging content, and clear captions. The last element is the final touch that enhances the overall experience, and is key to making your content accessible.
In this blog, we will:
- Explain why TikTok captions are crucial
- Share how to add captions on TikTok step-by-step
- Guide you through how to add TikTok captions with Maestra
- List 10 best practices for generating TikTok captions
Let’s get started.
Why do TikTok captions matter?
TikTok captions are a significant part of the social media platform as they can provide a more engaging and inclusive experience for viewers while also boosting a creator’s reach. Let’s quickly take a look at their key benefits:
| Benefits for Creators | Benefits for Audiences |
| -Can increase engagement by making content more interactive and relatable. –Enhance discoverability, as the TikTok algorithm favors content that includes relevant keywords. -Connect with more viewers and foster a more inclusive community. |
-Makes TikTok content accessible to users with hearing impairments. -Help viewers understand the content, especially in noisy environments or when sound is muted. -Can aid in learning a new language or improving language skills. |
In short, learning how to add captions on TikTok will not only elevate your content but also broaden its appeal to a more diverse audience.
How to Add Captions on TikTok Mobile
The following steps will guide you on how to add captions on TikTok on mobile.
1. Open the TikTok app on your phone and tap the “+” sign in the navigation bar.
2. Upload the video from your camera roll.
3. You will be directed to the video editor. To add captions, select the “Captions” option from the right-side menu.
4. TikTok will automatically generate captions from your audio. You can then:
-Change the language of the captions.
–Edit the captions using the pencil icon.
–Style captions (color, font, alignment) using the “A” icon.
–Delete all captions using the trash icon.
5. Once ready, tap “Save”, and you will be directed back to the editing interface.
6. Continue editing as needed, then tap “Next” to share your video.
*Wondering how to add captions on TikTok desktop? As of August 2024, you can upload videos to TikTok from your desktop but adding captions is only available on the mobile app.
How to Add Captions to TikTok Videos with Maestra
TikTok captions are incredibly useful, but they can occasionally contain errors. For higher accuracy and better control over your captions, you can use a third-party tool like Maestra.
Furthermore, Maestra is now on TikTok Business App Center, where you can directly access its AI caption generator and sync the final video to your Ads Manager account.
Here is how to add captions to your TikTok videos with Maestra:
- Go to TikTok Business App Center and log in to your Business account.
- Once logged in, select Maestra, which can be found under the “Creative” section.
- You will be directed to Maestra’s page, which includes information on the software’s specific features and pricing plan. Click “Install”.
- After accepting TikTok’s Anti-Discrimination Ad Policy, give permissions and click “Confirm”. This will link your TikTok Ads Manager account to Maestra. You will now be directed to Maestra’s main interface.
- To add captions, select “Subtitles” from the left-side menu and click “+New Subtitle”.
- Upload your video file and select its audio language. Then click “Submit”.
- Maestra will instantly transcribe your video. Once ready, click on it to access the editing interface.
- If you want to make changes, you can edit captions on the left side.
- Click “Format” (pencil icon) to adjust the font type, font size, font color, background type, background color, and opacity. You can also change the position and direction of captions, and determine the number of characters per line.
- Once ready, click “Export” and then “MP4”. Choosing “Download Video” will direct you to the final version of the video with captions. Click the three dots in the bottom right corner and then select “Download”.
*To sync the video to your Ads Manager Account, first upload the file to a shareable link. Then, just copy the link and paste it into the address bar. Select the video and click “Sync to Ads Manager”.
10 Best Practices for Adding Captions to TikTok
Before finalizing our blog, let’s list 10 tips for creating effective and engaging TikTok captions. These best practices range from the importance of styling to experimentation and quality checks.
- Synchronize with speech. Make sure that captions appear and disappear at the right time to match spoken content.
- Do not obscure video content. Place captions in a way that doesn’t cover up significant visual elements.
- Describe non-verbal sounds with closed captions. Convey auditory elements that might not be easily understood without visual cues.
- Avoid overly long captions. Aim for short, snappy texts that are simple to follow and understand.
- Use high-contrast colors. Choose colors that are easy to read against the video’s background.
- Emphasize important words. Use bold, italics, or different colors to highlight key phrases within your captions.
- Include a call to action. At the end of the video, encourage viewers to like, comment, and share, and follow your account.
- Experiment with font styles. Try different font types, sizes and colors to see what resonates best with your audience.
- Proofread carefully. AI caption generators are highly accurate but they can still make occasional mistakes, so always check your captions before sharing.
- Test on different devices. Ensure that your captions look and function correctly on various screen sizes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why can’t I get captions on TikTok?
If you’re a creator, this might happen due to several reasons. Check your app is updated, and the language spoken in your video is supported by TikTok’s auto-caption feature. Sometimes there can be technical glitches that may cause the feature to malfunction. In that case, try restarting the app or your device.
Can you add TikTok captions to a video after posting?
As of August 2024, TikTok does not allow you to add captions to a video after posting. To fix this, you have to delete the original video and reupload it with the desired captions. It’s always best to double check your video before posting to guarantee everything is in place.
Where do you put captions on TikTok?
Positioning your video captions strategically will make sure that they do not interfere with the video content. You can have them at the bottom-center or top-center of the screen, however they should not overlap with your username or video description. Plus, stay away from corners as this will make your message harder to read.
How do you add subtitles to TikTok live?
If you’re wondering how to add captions on TikTok live, as of August 2024, TikTok does not support adding captions directly during live streams. The feature might be offered in the future, so keep an eye on TikTok’s updates.
Why are my TikTok captions off?
If you’re a viewer, first check if captions are enabled in your app settings. Still, sometimes your app may need an update so make sure you have the latest version. If issues persist, restarting the app or your device might help resolve the problem.
Summary
This blog covered how to add captions on TikTok mobile, and recommended Maestra as a third-party tool for improved accuracy and control. While TikTok’s captioning abilities may evolve with future updates, it’s essential to adhere to best practices to ensure your captions are accurate, clear, and well-placed. Meanwhile, keep an eye on new features and technologies to further enhance your content’s appeal. Happy TikToking!
