How to Enable, Edit, or Disable TikTok Auto Captions: Step-by-Step Guide

Video captions play a crucial role in accessibility, helping deaf or hard-of-hearing users while benefiting viewers in noisy settings or those multitasking without audio—like chatting during playback, as I often do.

Prior to TikTok's April rollout of auto captions, creators relied on manual text overlays or third-party apps. Now, this built-in feature, developed in collaboration with groups like Le Collectif des Sourds, simplifies the process for everyone.

Activating auto captions enhances your videos' reach—viewers can easily disable them if preferred. Here's how, based on hands-on experience with the app.

How to Enable and Edit Auto Captions

• After creating or uploading your video and checking 'Next,' you'll land on the editing screen.
• Tap the 'Captions' icon on the right side.
• First time? Review the explanation and consent to audio processing.

• Processing takes seconds to minutes, depending on video length and device—note it works for speech only, not added music.
• Once ready, preview the video with timed captions below.
• Tap 'Save' if perfect.
• Need edits for errors or profanity? Hit the pencil icon next to 'Captions,' then type corrections via your keyboard.

• Split long lines as needed, but you can't merge short ones—use your phone's back button to undo if mistaken.
• Tap 'Save' to apply.

Auto captions use a fixed white-on-dark style. For custom fonts, colors, or sizes, disable auto captions and use the Text tool at the screen bottom.

How to Disable Captions While Watching Videos

Love captions? Great. Prefer them off? No problem—they're hidden per device, not removed from the video.

• On a captioned video, tap the caption area, then 'Hide Captions.'
• A small indicator remains on videos with captions available.
• Re-enable by tapping that indicator.

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