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Updated 2026-06-28

How to Add Captions to YouTube Shorts on iPhone

By the iPhone Captions editorial team · Updated 2026-06-28

Shorts autoplay muted in the feed, so captions help people stay. On iPhone you can use the Shorts editor's own captions, or caption in an app first for a custom look and one file you can post everywhere.

How do I add captions to a YouTube Short?

In the YouTube app's Shorts editor, use Captions (or Text) to auto-caption or add text, then edit and position it. For custom styling, word-by-word animation, offline use, or a file you can also post to Reels and TikTok, caption in an app like Subly first and upload the finished clip.

Option 1 — the Shorts editor

  1. Create the Short. Record or upload your clip in the YouTube app.
  2. Open the caption/text tool. Use the editor's Captions option to auto-transcribe, or Text to add lines by hand.
  3. Edit and place. Fix wording and drag the text away from the Shorts UI.

Quick and free, but lightly styled and locked to YouTube.

Option 2 — burn captions in first

For a branded look and one reusable file, caption in an app and burn the text into the video, then upload to Shorts. The same file works for Reels and TikTok too.

For long-form YouTube videos (not Shorts) you can upload an SRT in YouTube Studio instead of burning in — see the YouTube video guide.

Frequently asked questions

Does YouTube add captions to Shorts automatically?
YouTube can auto-generate subtitles, and the Shorts editor has a captions/text tool. Always review the auto text for errors before posting.
Should I burn captions into a Short or upload an SRT?
For Shorts, burn them in — the vertical feed plays muted and won't show a separate SRT reliably. SRT upload is for long-form YouTube videos in Studio.
Can one captioned file work on Shorts, Reels and TikTok?
Yes. If you burn captions into the video in an app, the same vertical file uploads to all three.

Related guides

Captions for TikTokAdd captions to a TikTok on iPhone — use TikTok's built-in CSubtitles for YouTube videosAdd subtitles to a long-form YouTube video on iPhone — uploaCaptions for Instagram ReelsAdd captions to an Instagram Reel on iPhone — use Instagram'

Written for iPhone users. App features and iOS steps can change between versions — check the latest before you rely on them. How we test & our sources →