Recently, TikTok introduced captions to help content creators improve the quality of their videos. Captions come in very handy when the audio quality in a video is poor, and you don’t want your viewers to miss out on the message in the content.
Although unnecessary, you can add captions to your videos so your viewers can easily understand your content, even without turning on the sound. Captions will appear on the screen to complement the sound in your content.
As a beginner on TikTok, adding captions to your videos may seem difficult, but it becomes easier when you know how. This article will show you all you need to know about TikTok captions and how to use them in your content.
What are TikTok Auto captions?
Well, as the name implies, auto-captions are automatically generated, so you don’t have to type the whole sound in your video. By turning the feature on, your viewers can watch your videos with these captions.
Auto captions will make your videos more accessible and inclusive by allowing users to read and listen to content as they watch it. The feature is particularly helpful for viewers with hearing disabilities, allowing them to understand your content better.
It is also helpful for TikTok users who prefer to watch videos with the sound off.
TikTok is full of endless possibilities and opportunities to improve your creativity by the day. From time to time, there are updates on the app featuring several changes and the addition of new effects and options.
As a TikTok creator, you can enable this feature while making your video and edit the auto-captions before posting your video for your audience to see.
Viewers who are not interested in auto captions can turn them off on the video.
Let’s see how you can add these auto-captions to your videos.
How to add TikTok captions to my video
While creating your video on TikTok, you can find the option to add auto-captions and even edit it before publishing. Let’s find out how you can easily go about it.
To add captions to your TikTok video:
- After recording or uploading an existing video to your TikTok, navigate to the editing screen.
- On the editing screen, tap Captions on the right hand of the screen. TikTok will automatically transcribe any audio in your video.
- Once TikTok generates the captions, preview the whole video for accuracy.
- Tap the Pencil icon on the right hand to edit any caption that you find inaccurate.
- After editing, tap the Save option to continue.
- Preview your video and post it for your audience to see.
Editing the automatically generated captions shouldn’t take too much of your time unless you didn’t take precautions. While uploading your video, ensure they have clear speech and as little background noise as possible.
While TikTok transcribes the audio in your video, it may pick up disturbances and turn them into captions or even interpret some audio incorrectly. Do it correctly to limit the amount of text you edit.
Types of TikTok Captions
There are two types of captions you can use in your TikTok videos:
- Closed captions
- Subtitles
In as much as these two terms look similar, they have different meanings attached to them. Let’s find out what they are.
Closed captions
Closed captions are the most common type of auto-captions on TikTok and are mainly used when the audio quality of a video is poor. They are also used if the creator has an accent and still wants everyone to understand their content.
Closed captions will make your videos more accessible to viewers with hearing disabilities and those who do not like watching videos with the sound on.
As a viewer, you can turn closed captions on and off while viewing a video. Just at the lower left corner of the video, you will find the CC sign with an option that allows you to turn it on or off.
Subtitles
As I mentioned earlier, closed captions and subtitles do not mean the same thing. Subtitles are used by TikTok creators who speak another language other than English, which is generally accessible from different parts of the world.
For example, you are making content and trying to pass your message in Greek, which is not understood by many people; such content will have very low engagement unless you add subtitles.
Subtitles will act as captions in a language that is easy for everyone to understand, particularly English. You can turn it on or off in a video, either as a TikTok creator or a viewer.
Closed captions and subtitles are the types of TikTok captions you can add to your video. It is up to you to choose whichever one is best for your audience.
Final Thoughts
TikTok captions and subtitles are not limited to creators alone; viewers also have options to turn this feature on or off in their videos. You can turn this on or off from the Profile settings on your TikTok account.
To turn this feature on, navigate to Settings and Privacy and tap the Accessibility tab. Find the Always show auto-generated captions option and ensure the button is turned on.
Meanwhile, if you need to download TikTok videos from other creators, especially if you don’t want to worry about the watermark, there is a seamless way to do so. Toksaver.net allows you to download any TikTok content of your choice at no cost.