A large share of social video is watched with the sound off, and captions are how those viewers follow along. They also make your video accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing. Here's what you need to know.
Open vs closed captions
| Open captions | Closed captions | |
|---|---|---|
| What they are | Burned into the video image | A separate text track (like an SRT file) |
| Can viewers turn them off? | No | Yes |
| Best for | Social media, Reels, TikTok, X | YouTube, websites, courses |
For short social videos, open captions are usually the safer choice, because they show up everywhere, no matter the platform's settings.
Add captions on your phone
In the app you're posting to. Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube all offer automatic captions for videos you upload. Check the caption or text options when you post, and always review them for mistakes.
In a mobile editor. Apps like CapCut can generate captions automatically from speech, which you can then edit and style before exporting.
On iPhone with Apple's apps: iMovie lets you add titles, but it doesn't generate captions from speech automatically. Apple's older Clips app had Live Titles, but Apple discontinued Clips in October 2025.
Captions for screen recordings
Screen recordings often have no speech at all. In that case, write short on-screen text that explains each step, like "Tap Settings" and then "Turn on Dark Mode". That's clearer than narration for most app demos.
Caption tips
- Keep it short: a few words per line, one or two lines at a time.
- High contrast: white text with a dark outline or background.
- Placement: keep captions away from the edges, where apps put buttons.
- Proofread: auto-captions get names and technical terms wrong.
Free tool: Add Text to Video burns a title or label into your video, with the position, size, color, and timing you choose.
Where MobileStudio fits
Captions are a big part of making app demos work on social media. MobileStudio is built to turn your app screen recordings into polished, share-ready demos on your phone. Get MobileStudio.
Quick FAQ
What's the difference between captions and subtitles?
Captions include sound cues and are for viewers who can't hear the audio. Subtitles usually translate dialogue.
Can iPhone add captions automatically?
Not in Photos or iMovie. Use a captioning app or the platform's auto-captions.
