How to Turn on TikTok Subtitles: A Comprehensive Guide

So, you want to dive deeper into the world of TikTok, understanding every quip, joke, and viral dance move? Excellent choice! Accessibility is key, and understanding the audio content is paramount to truly appreciating what TikTok has to offer. The good news is that enabling subtitles on TikTok is a breeze.

Here’s a straightforward breakdown of how to turn on TikTok subtitles:

On most videos, subtitles are generated automatically, if the creator has enabled them. Therefore, the viewer can turn on the automatically generated subtitles simply by tapping the “Subtitles” button on the lower-right of the video player.

If the creator has chosen not to use automatic subtitles, or has uploaded pre-edited captions, the “Subtitles” button will not appear on the video.

Let’s explore this further with some frequently asked questions.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Why can’t I see the “Subtitles” button on some TikTok videos?

This is a common question, and the answer is quite simple: it depends on the video creator. TikTok offers creators the option to add automatic captions to their videos or to upload pre-edited captions. If the creator hasn’t enabled automatic captions or uploaded their own, the “Subtitles” button won’t appear. Some creators also hardcode subtitles directly into the video, rendering a separate button unnecessary.

2. How do I enable subtitles permanently across all TikTok videos? Is there a default setting?

Unfortunately, there isn’t a universal “turn on subtitles for everything” setting within TikTok. The availability of subtitles is on a per-video basis, controlled by the creator. So, you’ll need to check for the “Subtitles” button on each video you watch. However, by regularly engaging with videos that do have subtitles, TikTok’s algorithm might start showing you more content from creators who prioritize accessibility.

3. Can I change the font, size, or color of TikTok subtitles?

As of now, TikTok’s caption customization options are quite limited for viewers. You cannot directly change the font, size, or color of the automatically generated subtitles. However, creators do have more control over the appearance of their captions. So, while you can’t modify the subtitles for every video, you might encounter some videos where the creator has customized them. This might depend on your phone’s operating system as well. For instance, on Android phones, there is the accessibility setting called Caption Preferences, and this setting can determine how subtitles appear on the Android operating system. In this case, the Caption Preferences would determine the appearance of subtitles on TikTok.

4. What languages are supported by TikTok’s automatic subtitles?

TikTok is constantly expanding its language support, but the most commonly supported languages for automatic captions include English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Mandarin Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. The accuracy of the automatic captions can vary depending on the clarity of the audio and the accent of the speaker.

5. How accurate are TikTok’s automatic subtitles?

Let’s be honest: automatic speech recognition isn’t perfect. While TikTok’s automatic subtitles are generally good, they can sometimes misinterpret words or phrases, especially with strong accents or background noise. Don’t be surprised to encounter the occasional hilarious (or confusing) typo. If accuracy is paramount, look for videos where the creator has manually added or edited the captions. Manual captions will always be more accurate than automatically generated ones.

6. Can I report inaccurate subtitles on TikTok?

While you can’t directly edit the subtitles yourself, you can provide feedback to the creator. Leave a comment mentioning the inaccurate subtitle, politely pointing out the error. This can help the creator improve the caption and benefit other viewers. TikTok also has a reporting system for inappropriate content, which could be used in extreme cases of misrepresentation, but is generally not intended for minor subtitle errors.

7. How do creators add subtitles to their TikTok videos?

This is a crucial piece of the puzzle! Creators have a few options:

• Automatic Captions: TikTok offers an automatic captions feature that transcribes the audio. Creators can then review and edit the generated text for accuracy.
• Manual Captions: Creators can manually type in captions, giving them complete control over the text and timing.
• Third-Party Apps: Many video editing apps offer advanced captioning tools, allowing creators to create stylish and accurate subtitles before uploading to TikTok.
• Hardcoding: Creators can permanently embed the subtitles into the video file itself, ensuring they’re always visible.

8. Do TikTok ads have subtitles?

Whether a TikTok ad has subtitles depends on the advertiser. Just like regular content creators, advertisers have the option to add automatic captions, manual captions, or hardcode subtitles into their ads. Given the importance of accessibility and capturing attention quickly, many advertisers are now prioritizing subtitles in their video ads. If the ad doesn’t have subtitles, try muting the video to see if captions pop up automatically.

9. What happens if a TikTok video has multiple speakers? How are subtitles handled?

TikTok’s automatic captions can sometimes struggle with multiple speakers. The subtitles might not accurately attribute speech to each individual. In these situations, creators who manually add captions often use identifiers (e.g., “John:” or “[John]”) to clarify who is speaking. This is why manual captions are often preferable when there are multiple speakers.

10. I’m a creator. What are the best practices for adding subtitles to my TikTok videos?

Excellent question! Here are some tips for creators:

• Always add subtitles: Make your content accessible to a wider audience, including those who are deaf or hard of hearing, or those who prefer to watch videos with the sound off.
• Use automatic captions as a starting point: Let TikTok generate the initial captions, then carefully review and edit them for accuracy.
• Pay attention to timing: Ensure the captions sync perfectly with the audio.
• Keep it concise: Viewers should be able to read the captions comfortably without missing any visual action.
• Consider the font and placement: Choose a font that’s easy to read and a placement that doesn’t obstruct important visual elements.
• Add identifiers for multiple speakers: Make it clear who is saying what.
• Proofread carefully: Typos can be distracting and undermine your credibility.
• Consider adding captions in multiple languages to make your content more accessible globally.

11. Are there any legal requirements to provide subtitles on TikTok videos?

While there isn’t a blanket legal requirement for all TikTok videos to have subtitles, there are certain circumstances where accessibility laws might apply. For example, if you’re creating content for a government agency or a publicly funded organization, you might be legally obligated to provide captions to comply with accessibility standards like the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Furthermore, accessibility is simply good practice and can dramatically expand your audience reach.

12. Can I download TikTok videos with subtitles?

This depends on how the subtitles were added. If the creator hardcoded the subtitles into the video, then yes, the downloaded video will include the subtitles. However, if the subtitles were added using TikTok’s automatic captioning feature, they won’t be included in the downloaded video. Some third-party apps and websites claim to download TikTok videos with subtitles, but proceed with caution as these may not be reliable or secure. Always prioritize downloading videos from trusted sources. You can also use third-party screen recording software to record the video with subtitles, although that is not the ideal method.