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Guide

How to add captions to a classroom or teacher video on iPhone

Updated

To add captions to a classroom announcement or teacher explainer video on iPhone or iPad, open the clip in CaptionAddr, let it transcribe the English speech on the device, correct vocabulary and names in Edit Captions, choose a plain font at a large size and export a captioned copy to Photos. Students can then read along word by word. Videos up to 2 minutes are free; CaptionAddr Pro covers up to 30 minutes.

Get CaptionAddr on the App Store Jump to the steps

Why caption class videos

Captions help students who are deaf or hard of hearing, students watching in a noisy room or without headphones, and English learners who understand more when they can read along. They also make it easier to catch a new word or an instruction the first time.

This guide is for short videos made for a class: a morning announcement, a homework reminder or a short explainer. CaptionAddr burns the captions into the picture, so they show wherever you share the video, on a class page, in a message to families or on a screen in the room.

Caption a class video on iPhone or iPad

  1. Record a short, clear explanation. Speak at a steady pace in a quiet room, with the device close to you. Short videos on one topic are easier for students to follow.
  2. Choose the video. Tap Select Video in CaptionAddr and pick the clip with Apple’s Photos picker. Landscape videos for a classroom screen and vertical videos for phones both work, and the video keeps its shape.
  3. Let the captions generate. Captions start as soon as the video opens; keep the app open; the English speech is transcribed on your iPhone or iPad, not on a server.
  4. Correct vocabulary and names. In Edit Captions, fix subject terms, spellings you are teaching, numbers and any names. You can edit, delete and reorder words, with undo and redo.
  5. Make them easy to read. Choose a plain font and a large size, turn on the tinted background over a whiteboard or slides, and drag the captions where they don’t cover what you are showing.
  6. Export and share. Tap Export Video to save the captioned copy to Photos and share the captioned copy to your class page, a message or the classroom display.

Tips for classroom captions

  • Check every key word. Students may copy what they read, so make sure new vocabulary is spelled correctly.
  • Slow down for English learners. A slower, clearly spoken explanation gives better captions and more time to read each word.
  • Explain screen steps out loud. To caption a recorded lesson on a screen, record with the microphone on so there is speech to caption.
  • Follow your school’s sharing rules. Get the permissions your school requires before sharing video that shows students.
  • Keep your original. CaptionAddr exports a new copy and leaves the original in your library.

Limits

  • English only. CaptionAddr transcribes English speech and doesn’t translate, so it can’t make captions in a student’s home language or caption a lesson taught in another language.
  • Single words, in capitals. Words appear one at a time, timed automatically, in white uppercase text with a dark outline. There are no full-sentence layouts or letter-case controls, which matters for early readers learning lowercase letters.
  • Speech only. Captions show spoken words, not sound descriptions or speaker names, and the app doesn’t remove background noise.
  • 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 transcript export, so it doesn’t produce a caption file for a learning platform or a printable transcript.
  • Not a compliance guarantee. Review captions for accuracy; CaptionAddr doesn’t certify that a video meets an accessibility requirement.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add captions to a teacher video on iPhone?

Open the video in CaptionAddr, generate captions on your iPhone, correct vocabulary and names in Edit Captions, choose a plain font at a large size and export a captioned copy to Photos.

Can it translate captions for English learners?

No. CaptionAddr captions English speech in English and doesn’t translate. English learners can read along in English as each word appears.

Does it work on a school iPad?

Yes, on iPads with iPadOS 17.0 or later and an A12-class chip or newer. The steps are the same as on iPhone.

Can I make the captions lowercase for young readers?

No. Captions are always white uppercase text with a dark outline. You can choose from 20 fonts, change the size, add a tinted background and drag the captions into place.

Is the class video uploaded for transcription?

No. Transcription runs on the device, no account is required, and CaptionAddr doesn’t send your video, audio or captions to its servers for transcription.