Subtitle problems
Subtitles not showing on LinkedIn: what to check
Short answer
LinkedIn's help documents one caption route: auto captions that LinkedIn generates when you upload a video. You switch on Add auto captions in the editor or the Add image or video window, optionally switch on Review captions before viewers can see them, and click Done. LinkedIn also warns that it may take some time for the captions to appear after the video is posted, and that a banner appears below the post when they are generated. If you need exact timing and position, burn the captions into the file instead.
Key takeaways
- LinkedIn's documented caption feature is auto captions, generated after upload.
- Turn on Add auto captions before you click Done.
- Turn on Review captions before viewers can see them to fix the text before it goes live.
- Captions can take time; LinkedIn shows a banner below the post when they are ready.
- Edit or remove captions later from the More menu on the post.
Caption track or burned-in text: which one you have
A caption track is a separate data track: the platform can switch it off, translate it, restyle it or refuse to load it, and the text keeps its own timing. Burned-in text is pixels in the picture. It cannot be switched off, restyled or mistimed by the player, but it cannot be translated either and it becomes part of the image forever.
That difference decides the fix. If the destination documents a subtitle upload for your surface, fix the file. If it does not, the only route that survives is burned-in text.
| What the platform documents | Track | Burned in |
|---|---|---|
| YouTube (Studio) | Upload a file, auto-sync, type manually, auto-translate | Works, but you own the styling |
| Auto captions are generated, with review before publish | Works | |
| TikTok | In-app Text tool; no subtitle file upload documented | Works, and is the only file route |
| No caption track documented for Pins | Works |
Where a platform documents neither, the burned-in route is not a workaround: it is the documented behavior. The table above lists only what each help page states.
Find your case
| What you see | What it usually means | Do this |
|---|---|---|
| Post has no captions at all | The Add auto captions toggle was off at upload | Re-upload with the toggle on (step 1) |
| Words are wrong or missing | Automatic captions mis-transcribe accents, noise or overlapping speech | Review before publishing (step 2) |
| Nothing appears for a while after posting | LinkedIn is still generating the captions | Wait for the banner below the post (step 4) |
| Scheduled post has no captions | Scheduled posts are only reviewable after the video is posted | Review once the post is live (step 5) |
| Captions are in the wrong language | Auto captions cover only the documented languages | Check the list, or burn in your own (step 3) |
| You need exact styling and position | Auto captions use LinkedIn's own presentation | Burn captions into the file (step 6) |
Fix it step by step
Turn on Add auto captions as you upload
After selecting a video, in the Editor or the Add image or video window, switch the toggle next to Add auto captions to On so captions are added to the video as soon as they are generated. Then click Done. If you leave it off, LinkedIn has no captions to add.
Add image or videoAdd auto captions: OnDone
Review the captions before viewers see them
Switch on Review captions before viewers can see them. LinkedIn then shows a banner reading that auto captions are ready for review after the post goes live; you open Review, fix the text, and click Approve. This is the difference between captions that ship wrong and captions that ship correct.
Add image or videoReview captions before viewers can see them: OnDone
Check the language list before you rely on it
LinkedIn documents auto captions in English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Indonesian, Turkish, Arabic and Dutch, and notes that captions for other supported languages may not always be available. If your video is in another language, plan for burned-in captions.
Wait for the banner instead of re-uploading
LinkedIn states that it may take some time for the captions to appear after videos are posted, and that a notification banner is displayed below your post once they are generated. Open the post again rather than uploading a second copy.
Edit or remove captions after posting
From the More menu at the top right of the post, choose Edit captions. You can edit each caption's text, remove a single caption, or remove all of them. For a scheduled post, LinkedIn says auto captions will only be ready to review after your video has been posted.
PostMoreEdit captions
Burn captions in when you need exact placement
Auto captions use LinkedIn's own styling and timing. If you need a caption at a chosen position with a chosen size, render it into the picture:
ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf "subtitles=subs.srt" -c:a copy -c:v libx264 -crf 20 out.mp4. Keep the burned text clear of the edges: LinkedIn's video help says to keep the edges of your video free of key elements, text and logos so they are not overlapped by the user interface.
LinkedIn caption settings and limits
| Caption route | Auto captions at upload · LinkedIn documents no subtitle file upload for organic video |
|---|---|
| Toggles | Add auto captions, Review captions before viewers can see them |
| Languages | English, Spanish, Portuguese, French, German, Italian, Indonesian, Turkish, Arabic, Dutch |
| Availability | All LinkedIn members and Pages |
| After posting | More > Edit captions |
| Video limit | 75 KB to 5 GB, 3 s to 15 min, 10 to 60 fps · from LinkedIn's video sharing help |
What to do when auto captions are not enough
- Decide whether you need LinkedIn's captions at all: only people who turn them on will see them.
- If the words must be exact, review and edit before publishing rather than after.
- If the position or style must be exact, burn the captions into the file.
- Keep burned text away from the edges, where LinkedIn's own help says the interface overlaps content.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add subtitles to a LinkedIn video?
Switch on Add auto captions in the editor or Add image or video window before you click Done, then click Review after posting to correct the text and Approve. For exact styling, burn the captions into your file before upload.
Why are there no captions on my LinkedIn post?
Either the Add auto captions toggle was off, or LinkedIn has not finished generating them yet. LinkedIn documents that captions can take some time and that a banner appears below the post when they are ready.
Can I upload an SRT file to LinkedIn?
LinkedIn's help documents auto captions and does not document a subtitle file upload for organic video posts. If you need a file-based caption track, check the current help page in the composer before relying on it.
Do LinkedIn auto captions work in every language?
Not always. LinkedIn lists ten languages and notes that captions for other supported languages may not always be available.
Sources
- LinkedIn Help: Auto captions for videos on LinkedIn (official, checked 2026-10-07)
- LinkedIn Help: Video sharing troubleshooting (formats, limits, safe zones) (official, checked 2026-10-07)
- LinkedIn Help: Full-screen vertical video on LinkedIn (official, checked 2026-10-07)
- FFmpeg Documentation: Video filters (crop, pad, scale, setsar, subtitles) (official, checked 2026-10-07)
Reviewed 2026-10-07. Steps not attributed to a source are general video practice or computed above.