CapCut how-to
How to add auto captions in CapCut (and fix wrong words)
Short answer
Open Captions (on some mobile layouts under Text), tap Auto captions, choose the spoken language and generate. CapCut transcribes the speech and places timed caption clips on the timeline. Then correct names and terms, pick one style, and apply it to all captions. Choosing the right language matters more than anything else for accuracy.
Checked against: CapCut mobile (iOS, Android), desktop (Windows, Mac) and web, October 2026. Button names match CapCut's guides and the top independent guides; layouts move between builds.
Method 1: Mobile app
Open Captions
Tap Captions in the bottom toolbar (or Text > Auto captions in some layouts).
Generate
Tap Auto captions, select the spoken language, and tap Generate. Stay connected while it processes.
Edit and style
Tap a caption to fix words; open Style to set font, size and background, and apply the style to all captions.
Method 2: Desktop and web
Upload and place the video
Import the video and drag it onto the timeline.
Auto captions
Click Captions in the left panel, choose Auto captions, select the language and click Generate.
Fine-tune
Edit words, adjust each line's timing, split long lines and correct recognition errors in the caption editor.
Caption style that reads on a phone
| Setting | Value | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Lines | 1, up to about 32 characters | Readable in a glance |
| Position | Centre or just below centre | Bottom third is covered by app UI |
| Style | Bold sans, outline or background box | Readable on any footage |
If it doesn't work
| What you see | Fix |
|---|---|
| Captions full of wrong words | Re-run with the correct spoken language; reduce background music before generating. |
| Captions out of sync after speed changes | Generate captions after changing speed, not before. |
| Captions missing in the export | Check the caption track isn't hidden or muted, then export again. |
| Captions cover the TikTok caption | Raise them out of the bottom third. |
Questions people ask
Are CapCut auto captions free?
CapCut offers auto captions in its free editor; some styles and features may need Pro.
Can I export captions as an SRT file?
CapCut desktop can export captions as a subtitle file in the export settings.
Can CapCut translate captions?
CapCut says it can translate subtitles into other languages after generating them.
More CapCut guides
Sources and how we checked
- CapCut: Free automatic subtitles on CapCut (checked 2026-10-05)
Reviewed October 5, 2026 by the Koldflux team. Each step is compared with CapCut's own documentation (linked above) and with the top search results for this task; where they disagree, the maker's documentation wins. Steps without a source link follow the menu names that several current guides agree on.