Guide
How to add captions to a book review or BookTok video on iPhone
Updated
To add captions to a book review or BookTok video on iPhone, open the clip in CaptionAddr, let it transcribe your English speech on the iPhone, fix book titles, author and character names in Edit Captions, place the captions clear of your face and the book cover, and export a captioned copy to Photos. Videos up to 2 minutes are free; CaptionAddr Pro covers up to 30 minutes.
Why caption book reviews
Book reviews, recommendations and reading wrap-ups are often watched in feeds with the sound off. Captions let viewers catch your verdict and the titles you mention without sound, and they help viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing.
This guide is for clips where you talk to the camera about books, whether that’s a quick recommendation, a full review or a monthly wrap-up. For general talking-head tips, see the vlog guide, and for posting, the TikTok captions guide. CaptionAddr burns the captions into the picture, so they show wherever you post.
Caption a book review on iPhone
- Record in a quiet spot. Speak toward the phone and keep music and page-turning noise low. Captions come from your speech, so a clear voice gives the most accurate words.
- Choose the video. Tap Select Video in CaptionAddr and pick the clip with Apple’s Photos picker. Vertical, square and landscape videos all work, and the video keeps its shape.
- Let the captions generate. Captions start as soon as the video opens; keep the app open; the English speech is transcribed on your iPhone, not on a server.
- Fix titles and names. In Edit Captions, correct book titles, author and character names, invented words from fantasy and science fiction, and series names. You can edit, delete and reorder words, with undo and redo.
- Style and place the captions. Choose one of the 20 fonts and a size that reads on a phone, turn on the tinted background over a busy bookshelf, and drag the captions clear of your face and any cover you hold up.
- Export and post. Tap Export Video to save the captioned copy to Photos, then upload it to TikTok, Reels, Shorts or any other app. The watermark is off unless you turn it on.
Tips for book review captions
- Say titles clearly. Unusual names are the words most likely to come out wrong, so slow down on them and check each one before you post.
- Cut spoilers before captioning. Deleting a word in Edit Captions removes it from the captions only; the audio doesn’t change. Cut spoilers out in your video editor before captioning.
- Hold the cover still. Keep the book in one part of the frame so you can place the captions where they never cover it.
- Put titles in the post text too. Listing the books in your description helps viewers find them after the clip ends.
- Keep your original. CaptionAddr exports a new copy and leaves the original clip in your library.
Limits
- Speech only. CaptionAddr captions spoken English. It doesn’t read titles printed on covers or add title cards, star ratings or text overlays.
- English only. CaptionAddr transcribes English speech and doesn’t translate, so quotes read in another language won’t be captioned correctly.
- Single-word captions. Words appear one at a time, timed automatically, always in uppercase; there are no speaker labels, full-sentence layouts or manual per-word timing, and you can only fix, delete or reorder the transcribed words.
- No music removal. The app doesn’t separate your voice from background music or change the audio.
- Length. Free covers videos up to 2 minutes; CaptionAddr Pro covers up to 30 minutes. The App Store shows the current Pro price in your currency.
- Burned-in captions only. There is no SRT, VTT or text export, and the app doesn’t post to social platforms.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add captions to a BookTok video on iPhone?
Open the clip in CaptionAddr, generate captions from your speech on your iPhone, fix book titles and names in Edit Captions, choose a readable style, drag the captions clear of your face and the cover, and export a captioned copy to Photos.
Why are author and character names spelled wrong?
Unusual and invented names often aren’t recognized. Correct each one in Edit Captions; the app can replace a wrong word but can’t add words that weren’t transcribed.
Can the app show the book title on screen?
Only if you say it. CaptionAddr captions what you say and doesn’t add title cards or text overlays, so put the full title and author in your post text.
Can I caption a long monthly wrap-up?
Yes, up to 30 minutes with CaptionAddr Pro. Free covers videos up to 2 minutes, which fits most single-book reviews.
Will there be a watermark on my video?
No watermark is required. A small CaptionAddr watermark is optional and off unless you turn it on.