Burned-in captions vs. an .srt file
Burned-in captions are part of the picture — they show everywhere, in your style, which is what Reels, TikTok and Shorts need. An .srt file is separate text with timings that viewers can switch on and off; YouTube and most editors accept it.
Steps
- Open Auto Subtitles and pick your video. It stays on your device.
- Choose the spoken language and press Generate subtitles. The first run downloads a speech-recognition model once (about 75 MB).
- Check each line and correct names or unusual words — click a timestamp to jump there.
- Pick a style (pop, highlight box, karaoke or one word at a time), the number of words on screen and the position.
- Download the video with captions (sound included), or the .srt.
Uploading the .srt to YouTube
In YouTube Studio open Subtitles, choose the video, add the language, then Upload file → With timing and select the .srt.
Tips for readable captions
- 2–3 words on screen for fast-paced clips, up to 4 for talking-head videos.
- Keep captions above the bottom fifth — app buttons cover it.
- Use one highlight colour across your channel; save it in the brand kit.
Open Auto SubtitlesOpen the tool
Frequently asked questions
Is it really free?
Yes — no sign-up, no watermark and no limit on videos.
Which languages work?
Whisper recognises 90+ languages; English and Modern Standard Arabic are especially good.
Can I use my own subtitle file instead?
Yes — upload an .srt to Animated Captions to get the same animated styles on a green screen.