TikTok currently allows you to upload a video file, but there is no dedicated space to upload a subtitle file (.srt) over your video like you can on Facebook and Twitter. Still, there are ways to sidestep this limitation. In this article, we will share secrets on how to add captions to TikTok videos and discuss why you need captions on videos for this app. So without further ado, let's get started.
What is TikTok?
In case you're not already aware, TikTok is a social media app where users can share short videos of up to 60 seconds. It's owned by Chinese company ByteDance and was first launched in 2016 by Musical.ly. TikTok has taken the Internet by storm and has established itself as one of the most popular social media platforms. Today it is used by millions for entertainment, social interaction, personal branding, and even career opportunities, as well as by many companies and brands for commercial reasons.
TikTok has its place in every industry you can think of. From fitness and fashion to education, business, and music, the app has something for everyone. Even users interested in politics, religion or spirituality can find something for themselves. Although TikTok is most popular among users between the ages of 16 and 24, it is not limited to this age group; people of all ages are joining in on the fun.
Why You Need Captions in Your TikTok Videos
The TikTok algorithm promotes videos that keep users engaged with the app for a longer time by suggesting videos that are accumulating likes and shares. If your video can make people stop scrolling and watch it till the end, there is a high chance TikTok will suggest your video on the feeds to millions of users.
That's where captions come into play. Adding captions to your TikTok videos will make them more accessible and more engaging, giving them a better chance of being seen by more people. Captions also let you highlight focus words in your video and, in general, give your videos a professional touch.
How To Add Captions to TikTok Videos
Currently, TikTok does not give its users an efficient and viable option to attach captions to videos. There are, however, workarounds you can use to get the job done. Here are a few we recommend:
Method #1: TikTok Auto-Captioning
TikTok offers an auto-captioning feature that, unfortunately, is far from perfect. The app uses a voice-recognition system to transcribe the audio of your videos into text. The accuracy of this tool is pretty low. On top of that, it only transcribes in English and allows only limited customization.
However, it may be a good choice if you're in a rush. The feature will help you avoid the hassle of creating captions for your video. To use this feature go to TikTok, record or upload your video, and select "Captions" from the sidebar.
Method #2: Use Podcastle and Re-Upload
If you don't like the idea of using the app's built-in auto-captioning feature, but you still want to add captions to the video, we recommend using Podcastle. The software can streamline your work by creating pitch-perfect captions, which you can then easily add to your videos.
To do this, open Podcastle, create a new project, and upload your video (you can drag and drop it if you're on a desktop), and it will automatically extract your audio. Right-click on the audio track and select transcribe. Then, copy the AI-generated text from the audio and place it on the video with the editing software of your choice.
Pro Tip: Use Podcastle's remote interview feature for the best sound on your TikTok video. If you want to go beyond just generating captions, Podcastle allows you to record video, alone or with a guest, and get the great sound. You can access your interview files directly in Podcastle and edit them to your liking. Your preferences may or may not include studio-quality audio with no background noise, enhanced sound, silence removal, and extracting transcriptions from both audio tracks separately.
Podcastle also allows you to convert your text to speech. If you have the text but don't feel like narrating over the TikTok video, you can let the AI narrate it for you with a range of smooth and realistic voices.
Method #3: Do It Manually
If you're too much of a perfectionist to trust TikTok's auto-captioning feature, you want maximum precision, or you enjoy doing all the work manually, then we know what you want to know: how you can do it all by yourself.
- After you record your short video or upload it, you will proceed to the editing window.
- There, you have the text tool you can use to input all your captions.
- Time the duration of your text according to the dialogue in the video by tapping on the text and clicking "set duration.”
- Trim and move the duration frame to your preference and confirm it.
- Apply additional customization, such as the text size, color, font, and more, even with individual words.
- Now you're ready to publish the result.
Wrapping Up
While videos with captions are usually more engaging and easier to understand, there are cases when your audience doesn't need audio or can't turn it on like in the office. If you learn how to add captions on TikTok, you have the opportunity to expand your outreach vastly. Captions will also give your videos a more professional look and make them more accessible.
