TikTok how-to
How to add captions on TikTok (auto and creator captions)
Short answer
TikTok has two kinds of captions. Creator captions: after recording or uploading, tap Captions on the side panel of the preview screen; TikTok transcribes the speech and you can edit each line and its style before saving. Auto-generated captions: on the post screen tap More options > Select video language, and eligible videos show captions viewers can turn on. You can edit or remove auto captions after posting.
Checked against: TikTok app for iPhone and Android, October 2026.
Method 1: Creator captions (on the video)
Record or upload
Tap Add post +, record or upload a video, and continue to the preview screen.
Tap Captions
Tap Captions on the side panel. The speech is transcribed; the first time, you're asked to turn the feature on.
Edit and save
Preview and edit each line, change font and colour, then tap Save.
Method 2: Auto-generated captions (viewer toggle)
Choose the language
On the post screen, tap More options > Select video language and pick the caption language, then Post.
More optionsSelect video language
Edit after posting
On your video, tap the caption, then Edit captions; fix or remove lines and tap Save.
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If it doesn't work
| What you see | Fix |
|---|---|
| No Captions button | Update the app; the feature may need opting in the first time. |
| Captions hidden behind the description | Move creator captions above the bottom third. |
| Captions in the wrong language | Set Select video language before posting. |
Questions people ask
How do I get auto captions on TikTok?
Tap Captions on the preview screen for on-video captions, or set the video language under More options for auto-generated captions.
Can I edit TikTok captions after posting?
Yes, auto-generated captions: tap the caption on your video, then Edit captions.
Does TikTok also read text aloud?
Yes. Text-to-speech can read on-screen text aloud while you create.
Sources and how we checked
- TikTok Help: Accessibility for your videos (captions) (checked 2026-10-05)
Reviewed October 5, 2026 by the Koldflux team. Each step is compared with TikTok'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.