Guide
How to add subtitles to a video on iPhone
Updated
To add subtitles to a video on iPhone, use CaptionAddr to transcribe the English speech on your device, correct the words, pick a legible style and save a subtitled copy to Photos. The subtitles are burned into the picture, so they appear the same in every app and on every screen.
Subtitles or captions?
People use the words interchangeably. Strictly, subtitles show the dialogue for viewers who can hear but may not understand or can’t play the sound, while closed captions also describe sounds and can be switched on and off. On social video, “subtitles” usually means the on-screen words that let people follow along with the sound off. CaptionAddr makes those: English words from the speech in your clip, shown on screen and saved into the video.
Add subtitles step by step
- Open your video in CaptionAddr. Tap Select Video and choose the clip from Photos. If it’s stored in iCloud, CaptionAddr downloads it first, which can take a moment.
- Transcribe the speech. Captions start automatically. CaptionAddr transcribes the English speech on your iPhone with its built-in model.
- Proofread every line. In Edit Captions, play the clip and correct names, numbers and misheard words. Delete words you don’t want shown.
- Make them legible. Choose a clear font and a size that reads on a small screen; turn on the tinted background for extra contrast.
- Place them. Drag the subtitles where they don’t cover faces or on-screen text.
- Save the subtitled copy. Export to save the new video to Photos, then share it.
Make subtitles easy to read
- Size for phones. Many viewers watch on a phone held at arm’s length. Preview at full screen and go larger if you squint.
- Contrast beats color. Captions are white with a dark outline, and the tinted background adds more contrast; both keep words readable over sky, snow and bright clothing.
- Pick a plain typeface. Plain sans-serif and rounded fonts are usually easiest to read. Save decorative fonts for short, punchy clips.
- Spell it the way you say it. Fix product names and people’s names; those are what viewers notice.
- Watch it once muted. If the video makes sense with the sound off, the subtitles are doing their job.
Limits to know
CaptionAddr subtitles are English only, with no translation. They are burned into the video, so viewers can’t turn them off or resize them, and there is no SRT or VTT file to upload separately. Free covers videos up to 2 minutes; CaptionAddr Pro covers up to 30 minutes. If you need subtitles in another language, or a separate subtitle file for a video platform, use a tool built for that.
Frequently asked questions
How do I put subtitles on a video on my iPhone?
Open the video in CaptionAddr, let it transcribe the English speech, edit the words, choose a style and export. The new copy in Photos has the subtitles built in.
Can I add subtitles in another language?
Not with CaptionAddr. It transcribes English speech and shows English subtitles. It doesn’t translate.
Will the subtitles show up on Instagram, TikTok and YouTube?
Yes. Because they are part of the picture, burned-in subtitles appear in any app that plays the video, including when you send it in a message.
Can I export an SRT file?
No. CaptionAddr exports a video with the subtitles burned in. It doesn’t create standalone subtitle files.
Is it free?
Yes, for videos up to 2 minutes, with no required watermark. CaptionAddr Pro, a monthly or annual subscription, supports videos up to 30 minutes.