Guide
How to add captions to YouTube Shorts
Updated
To add captions to YouTube Shorts on iPhone, burn them into the video before uploading: CaptionAddr transcribes the English speech on your device, creates word-by-word captions you can edit and style, and saves a captioned copy you then upload as a Short.
Burned-in captions and YouTube’s caption tracks
YouTube can generate automatic subtitles and lets you upload caption files that viewers switch on with the CC control. Those tracks help viewers who rely on captions. Burned-in captions do a different job: they are always visible in the Shorts feed, keep your own style, and stay in the video if it’s reposted elsewhere.
Many creators use both: burned-in captions for viewers scrolling with the sound off, and YouTube’s caption track for viewers who rely on it. CaptionAddr makes the burned-in part; it doesn’t create caption files for upload.
Caption a Short on iPhone
- Choose a vertical clip. Open CaptionAddr, tap Select Video and pick your Short from Photos.
- Let the captions generate. Captions start automatically; the English transcription happens on your iPhone.
- Correct the words. In Edit Captions, fix anything misheard and delete words you don’t want on screen.
- Style for small screens. Choose a bold font at a large size, and turn on the tinted background over bright footage.
- Avoid the Shorts controls. Drag captions into the middle of the frame, above the title and channel details at the bottom and clear of the buttons on the right.
- Export and upload. Save the captioned copy to Photos and upload it as a Short in the YouTube app.
Shorts caption tips
- Mind the length. Free covers videos up to 2 minutes; CaptionAddr Pro handles longer videos up to 30 minutes.
- Make the title match. Say your topic early so the first captions and your Short’s title tell the same story.
- Reuse across platforms. One captioned vertical export can go to Shorts, Reels and TikTok; check placement on each.
- Review after upload. Watch the published Short on a phone to confirm nothing is hidden behind the interface.
Limits
CaptionAddr supports English speech only and doesn’t translate. It doesn’t export SRT or VTT files, so it can’t provide YouTube’s switchable caption track. It doesn’t upload to YouTube for you. Timing is automatic, without per-word timing controls.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add captions to a YouTube Short on iPhone?
Caption the video in CaptionAddr, export the captioned copy to Photos, then upload it as a Short. The captions are part of the video, so they’re always visible.
Should I use burned-in captions or YouTube’s subtitles?
They work well together. Burned-in captions reach people scrolling muted; YouTube’s caption track can be turned on, resized and read by assistive technology.
Can CaptionAddr make an SRT file for YouTube?
No. CaptionAddr exports video with captions in the picture, not separate subtitle files.
Where should captions sit on a Short?
In the middle band of the frame, above the title and channel details at the bottom and away from the action buttons on the right edge.
Does CaptionAddr add a watermark?
No required watermark. You can turn on a small CaptionAddr watermark if you like.