Download on the App Store

Updated 2026-06-28

How to Add Subtitles in Another Language on iPhone

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

Two different needs hide behind 'subtitles in another language': captioning speech that's already in that language, and translating captions into a different one. Here's how to do each on iPhone, and where to be careful.

How do I add subtitles in another language on iPhone?

If the speech is already in that language, use an app that transcribes it directly — Subly recognizes 90+ languages on-device, so it captions non-English audio without uploading. If you need to translate into a different language, transcribe first, then translate the text (an SRT makes this easy) and burn the translated captions in.

Captioning speech that's in another language

For audio that's already Spanish, Hindi, German and so on, you just need a transcriber that supports the language. Many cloud tools do, but they upload your video; an on-device app keeps it private and works offline.

  1. Import the clip. Open the app and pick your video.
  2. Pick the spoken language. Choose the language of the audio, or let it auto-detect.
  3. Transcribe on-device. Subly recognizes 90+ languages locally — nothing uploads.
  4. Style and export. Fix wording, style the captions, and burn them in.

Translating subtitles into a different language

Translation is a separate step from transcription. The reliable workflow: transcribe to get an SRT in the original language, translate that text (a translation app or service handles the file), then bring the translated lines back into a captioning app and burn them in. Always proofread machine translation before you post — it makes mistakes, especially with slang and names.

Don't trust an auto-translation blindly for anything that carries real meaning — have a fluent speaker check it.

Frequently asked questions

Can iPhone transcribe non-English video?
Not on its own, but a captioning app can. Subly recognizes 90+ languages on-device, so it captions non-English audio without internet or uploads.
Can an app translate my subtitles automatically?
Transcription and translation are different. Transcribe first, then translate the text (for example the SRT) and burn the translated captions in. Proofread the translation — it won't be perfect.
What subtitle file works for another language?
SRT or VTT — both are plain text and hold any language's characters. Export one after transcribing, translate it, then re-import or burn it in.

Related guides

Caption a video offlineCaption a video with no internet on iPhone. Most tools uploaUse an SRT fileWhat an SRT file is and how to use one on iPhone — open and Transcribe video to textTurn a video's speech into text on iPhone — get a transcript

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 →