To add captions to a YouTube Short for free, drop the video into Karaoke Captions, check the automatically timed words, pick a style and export an MP4 with captions burned in, then upload it to YouTube as a Short. If you also want YouTube’s own closed captions, export an SRT file from the same transcript and add it in YouTube Studio.
Burned-in captions or YouTube subtitles? Use both
They do different jobs. Burned-in captions are what most Shorts viewers actually read: YouTube’s closed captions are off unless a viewer turns them on, and they can’t be styled. An SRT file uploaded to YouTube Studio adds proper closed captions for accessibility, translation and search, since YouTube reads the caption text.
- For the look: export the MP4 with animated word-by-word captions.
- For accessibility and search: export an SRT file from the same transcript and upload it under Subtitles in YouTube Studio.
If a viewer turns CC on, they’ll see both, so keep the burned-in captions in the middle of the frame, away from where YouTube draws its subtitles near the bottom.
Where to put captions on a Short
- Bottom 440 px: title, channel name, subscribe button and the sound/remix row. Shorts reserves the most space at the bottom of the three big apps.
- Right 160 px: like, dislike, comment, share and remix.
- Top 190 px: search, camera and the menu.
Keep captions 55%–70% of the way down and centred. Numbers for every app: caption safe zones.
How to caption a YouTube Short, step by step
- Start with a vertical video. 9:16, ideally 1080×1920.
- Drop it into Karaoke Captions. The speech is transcribed on your device, word by word.
- Correct the transcript. Names, product terms and numbers are worth a quick check.
- Pick a style from the style gallery and set the position to Middle.
- Export the MP4, and the SRT too if you want closed captions.
- Upload to YouTube. Videos that are vertical and short enough are published as Shorts automatically. Add the SRT in YouTube Studio → Subtitles.
Turning a long video into Shorts
Cut your clip from the long video first, in any editor, then caption the clip. Captioning the short clip rather than the whole video keeps the transcript small and the export fast, and you can save your caption style so every Short from the same video matches.
Frequently asked questions
Does YouTube auto-caption Shorts?
YouTube can generate automatic captions for Shorts, but they’re off unless the viewer turns them on and they can’t be styled. Burned-in captions are seen by every viewer.
Can I upload an SRT file to a YouTube Short?
Yes. In YouTube Studio open the Short, go to Subtitles, add a language and upload the file with timing. Karaoke Captions exports the SRT from the same transcript as your burned-in captions.
Where should captions go on YouTube Shorts?
About 55%–70% of the way down, centred. YouTube covers roughly the bottom 440 px and the right 160 px of a 1080×1920 Short.
Is it free?
Yes. Unlimited videos, MP4 with no watermark, plus SRT and VTT. Optional Pro adds animated styles.
Caption your next Short
MP4 for the look, SRT for YouTube Studio. One transcript.
Open the free tool →