Guide
Accessible captions for videos on iPhone
Updated
To make a video more accessible to deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers and to people watching with the sound off, add accurate captions before you share it. On iPhone, CaptionAddr transcribes the English speech on the device, lets you correct every word, and burns high-contrast captions into a new copy of the video, free for videos up to 2 minutes.
Who captions help
Captions let deaf and hard-of-hearing viewers follow speech, and they help anyone watching with the sound off, in a noisy place, or in a language they are still learning. Burned-in captions are part of the picture, so they show in every app and player, including ones that ignore caption tracks.
Burned-in captions also have trade-offs: viewers can’t switch them off, resize them or change their style, and screen readers can’t read them. Where a platform lets you add a separate caption track, using one as well gives viewers more control. CaptionAddr doesn’t create caption files, so that track would come from the platform or another tool.
Make accessible captions on iPhone
- Start with clear audio. Record close to the speaker and reduce background music and noise; the cleaner the speech, the more accurate the transcription.
- Let the captions generate. Open the clip in CaptionAddr with Select Video; captions start automatically. The English speech is transcribed on your iPhone.
- Correct every word. In Edit Captions, play through the whole clip and fix names, technical terms and misheard words. Accuracy matters more than speed for viewers who rely on captions.
- Choose a high-contrast style. Pick a plain, legible font, and a large size, and turn on the tinted background so the white, outlined words stay readable over bright and busy footage.
- Place captions where nothing covers them. Drag captions away from faces, on-screen text and the areas where apps draw their buttons.
- Export and review. Save the captioned movie to Photos and watch it once with the sound off to check that the words are complete and easy to follow.
Accessibility tips
- Describe important sounds in the video itself. CaptionAddr captions speech only. If music, a doorbell or laughter matters to the story, say it aloud or show it on screen.
- Identify speakers. CaptionAddr doesn’t label speakers, so keep the person talking visible, or have each person say their name when several people speak.
- Use the accessibility features in your post. Describe the video in your post text, and use any alt-text or caption options the platform offers.
- Give readers time. Word-by-word captions follow the pace of speech, so speaking at a steady pace makes them easier to follow.
Honest limits
- Not a compliance tool. Using CaptionAddr doesn’t by itself make a video meet WCAG, broadcast standards or accessibility law. Review the result for your audience’s needs.
- Single-word captions. Captions appear one word at a time; full-sentence caption layouts aren’t available, and some viewers prefer longer lines.
- No caption files. There is no SRT, VTT or text export, and timing is automatic, with no manual per-word timing.
- English speech only. Other languages and translation aren’t supported.
- Not perfect. Music, noise, overlapping voices and strong accents can cause mistakes or missing words, so always review before you share.
- Length. Free covers videos up to 2 minutes; CaptionAddr Pro covers up to 30 minutes.
Frequently asked questions
How do I make my videos accessible to deaf viewers on iPhone?
Add accurate captions before you share. CaptionAddr transcribes the English speech on your iPhone, lets you correct every word and burns high-contrast captions into the video. Also describe important sounds and, where a platform supports it, add a separate caption track.
Are burned-in captions or closed captions better for accessibility?
Each has strengths. Burned-in captions show in every app, while closed captions can be turned off and restyled by the viewer. Using both, where a platform allows, covers more viewers. CaptionAddr makes burned-in captions only.
Does CaptionAddr make my video compliant with accessibility law?
No tool does that on its own. CaptionAddr helps you add accurate captions, but compliance depends on your whole video, including sound descriptions, speaker identification and timing, and on the rules that apply to you.
Can CaptionAddr caption sound effects or music?
No. It transcribes spoken English. Describe important non-speech sounds aloud or show them on screen.
Is it free?
Yes, for videos up to 2 minutes, with every caption style and no required watermark. Longer videos, up to 30 minutes, need CaptionAddr Pro.