How to add automatic subtitles on TikTok videos

TikTok rolls out AI captioning and translation for all content

Back in 2021, TikTok launched the option to add subtitles to videos. However, the way this feature works is simply to completely 'entrust' the responsibility of creating and adding subtitles to the content creator (author of the video). In other words, TikTokers must transcribe their own videos to create captions.

While this has greatly improved accessibility and the overall experience, it's still essentially all up to the content creator. If TikTokers don't want to put in the extra effort, their videos will still have no subtitles.

However, with the AI ​​dynamic subtitle creation feature, viewers will now no longer have to wonder whether this video has been subtitled by the owner or not. TikTok has provided quite a few updates as well as new additions that can help users overcome language barriers while experiencing content on the platform.

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With automatic captioning, TikTok users can now easily enable captions for any video. This will be very useful for people with hearing problems, or simply want to catch every word of a clip, perhaps in a noisy environment. Subtitles can also help watch content without the sound on.

Additionally, TikTok has also added translations for AI-generated subtitles. These translations may not work well in all languages, but they can still generally help viewers better understand the video content they are watching.

The translation also extends to text stickers. An attractive element of TikTok's user experience are stickers, and content creators can use them freely. The translation feature will also help ensure viewers don't miss out on non-verbal content.

TikTok currently offers subtitles and translations for English, German, Indonesian, Italian, Korean, Mandarin, Portuguese, Spanish, and Turkish. Support will continue to expand to additional language packs over time.

How to add automatic subtitles on TikTok videos

Here's how to add automatic captions on TikTok:

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1. In the TikTok app, tap the + icon at the bottom of the screen.
2. Tap Upload to find the video(s) you previously recorded on your iPhone.
3. Select Captions on the right side of the video.
4. TikTok will process and provide you with subtitles automatically. You can change the language if needed, edit text by tapping the pen icon, or adjust formatting by tapping the A icon.
5. Click Save . From here, you can download the video to your phone by tapping the Save icon on the right side or publish it on TikTok.

Jessica Tanner

Update 24 July 2024