> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://captions.ai/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Add Captions to Boost Engagement

> A complete guide to adding, styling, and optimizing captions on your videos for maximum reach and engagement.

Adding captions isn't just about accessibility. It's one of the highest-impact things you can do for engagement. Most social video plays with the sound off. Captions keep viewers watching.

This guide covers everything from generating accurate captions to styling them so they stop the scroll.

## Step 1: Generate captions

<Steps>
  <Step title="Import or record your video">
    Tap **+** on the Captions home screen and import a video, or record one using the [built-in camera](/help/docs/project/camera).
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose your language">
    Select the language being spoken in your video. If multiple languages are spoken, choose **Multiple Languages**.

    <Tip>
      Choosing the right language dramatically improves transcription accuracy. Don't default to English if your video is in another language.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Choose translation (optional)">
    If you want captions in a different language than what's spoken, select the target language here. Captions will transcribe and translate in one step.

    → See [Dubbing & Translation](/help/docs/captions/dubbing) for the full translation workflow.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Generate">
    Tap **Generate captions**. The AI transcribes your audio in seconds. Review the output in the timeline.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Step 2: Fix errors

Captions are AI-generated, so names, niche terms, and unusual words sometimes need fixing.

* **Tap any word** in the captions to edit the text
* **Fix timing** by dragging the start/end handles in the timeline
* **Add missing captions** by scrolling to a blank area, tapping **Add**, and typing

→ [Edit Spelling & Timing](/help/docs/captions/edit-spelling) · [Adjust Timing](/help/docs/captions/adjust-timing)

## Step 3: Style your captions

This is where you make your captions stand out.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the Style panel">
    Tap **Style** in the caption editor to browse presets. There are dozens of styles, from clean minimal text to bold animated captions.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Pick a style">
    Scroll through the options and tap to preview. The style applies to all captions in your video.

    <Tip>
      Bold, high-contrast styles (white text with a dark outline or background) tend to perform best on social media because they're readable on any background.
    </Tip>
  </Step>

  <Step title="Customize the style">
    After choosing a preset, you can adjust:

    * **Font** and **size**
    * **Color** (text and background)
    * **Position:** drag captions anywhere on the frame
    * **Word effects:** highlight the active word as it's spoken

    → [Word Effects](/help/docs/captions/word-effects) · [Move, Resize & Rotate](/help/docs/captions/move-and-resize)
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Step 4: Animate with Keyframes (optional)

Want your captions to move or animate across the screen? Use [Keyframes](/help/docs/captions/keyframes) to set a start and end position. Captions handles the animation between them.

This works especially well for hook moments at the start of a video, or to guide the viewer's eye to important words.

→ [Using Keyframes for Dynamic Captions](/help/guides/advanced/keyframes)

## Export

Tap **Export** when you're happy with the result. Your captions are burned into the video, so no separate subtitle file is needed.

## Tips

* **Shorter lines read faster.** Captions that break at natural speech pauses are easier to follow than long lines.
* **Check your captions on mobile.** What looks good in the editor may be too small on a phone. Preview on your device before posting.
* **Use word effects for emphasis.** Highlighting the active word keeps viewers tracking the caption even at faster speech rates.

<CardGroup cols={2}>
  <Card title="Caption Styles" icon="palette" href="/help/docs/captions/styles">
    Browse all available style presets.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Word Effects" icon="text-size" href="/help/docs/captions/word-effects">
    Highlight active words as they're spoken.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Keyframes" icon="wand-magic-sparkles" href="/help/docs/captions/keyframes">
    Animate captions across the screen.
  </Card>

  <Card title="Dubbing & Translation" icon="language" href="/help/docs/captions/dubbing">
    Translate your captions into another language.
  </Card>
</CardGroup>