How to Add Subtitles to TikTok & Reels Automatically — in Any Language
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You can get a subtitle-embedded video from Perso Dubbing in four steps: upload to Speech-to-Text, auto-generate captions, edit if needed, and export. For subtitles in the original language, upload your original clip. For another language, dub the clip first — then run that dubbed video through Speech-to-Text. A large share of short-form is watched on mute, so subtitles carry your retention, and every extra language widens your reach.
Speech-to-Text auto-detects 100 languages and turns speech into timed captions. You can then export an MP4 with the captions burned into the frame — the file you post to TikTok and Reels, where captions need to show without a separate upload.
Original-language flow: upload → automatic STT captions → optional editing → export subtitle-embedded video Other-language flow: dub first → upload the dubbed video → STT captions → optional editing → export
Before you start
Check the file requirements first — meeting them keeps your captions clean.
Input type | Supported formats | Length and size |
|---|---|---|
Video file | mp4 · mov · webm | 5 sec – 2GB (short clips stay well under the limit) |
External link | TikTok · YouTube · Google Drive | Use the full URL; set Drive to "anyone with the link" |
Speech-to-text auto-detects 100 languages, so you never set the source language manually. Captions come out most accurately when the audio is clean and the speech is clear over the background.
Want subtitles in another language? Dub it first
Perso Dubbing generates captions in whatever language the audio is in. So for subtitles in a different language, dub the video into that language first, then run the dubbed version through Speech-to-Text. Dub your clip into 99+ languages with the Dubbing feature — the full walkthrough is in our dubbing video — then come back and continue with the dubbed file below. Only want subtitles in the original language? Skip this and upload your original clip.
Step 1 · Upload to Speech-to-Text
Open Speech-to-Text and add your clip — the original, or the dubbed version from above. Drag in a local file, or paste a TikTok, YouTube, or Drive link and the server pulls it. Use the full URL rather than a shortened one so the link resolves.
Step 2 · Generate captions automatically with STT
Run transcription and Perso Dubbing auto-detects the spoken language and builds the captions. Multiple speakers are separated automatically, and word-level timestamps keep captions in sync. It's fast: an hour of footage finishes in about two minutes, so a short clip is nearly instant. (Need captions for any video, not just short-form? See our AI subtitle generator guide.)
Step 3 · Refine line by line (optional)
Edit captions line by line in the subtitle editor. Fix one line and the change flows into every export format, so you never rebuild a file. Settle proper nouns, abbreviations, and line length here. Short-form screens are small — keep lines short for readability. If the transcript already looks clean, skip straight to export.
Step 4 · Export
Export in the format that fits where you're posting.
SRT / VTT — standalone subtitle files. YouTube lets you upload these directly. TikTok and Instagram Reels have limited native subtitle-upload support, so SRT/VTT is mainly for platforms or editors that accept them.
Subtitle-encoded MP4 (burned-in) — captions baked into the frame. For TikTok and Reels this is the reliable choice: you post the video and the captions always show, even on mute. (How SRT-to-MP4 burn-in works.)
Where you're posting | Recommended format | Why |
|---|---|---|
TikTok / Reels (limited SRT upload) | Burned-in MP4 | Captions always show; no separate file needed |
YouTube, or an editor that accepts SRT | SRT / VTT | Toggle captions on/off, reposition |
Not sure | Export both | A/B test which fits the video |
Plans, usage, and pricing
If you need downloads, pick Starter or above. Free covers previewing the result. Monthly STT minutes vary by plan, and because short clips are brief, Starter's 75 minutes a month handles several.
Plan | Max length per video | Monthly STT | Download | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Free | 1 min (one-time trial) | one-time, 1-min trial | No | Free |
Starter | 5 min | 75 min | Yes | $6.99/mo |
Creator | 15 min | 150 min | Yes | $29/mo ($21 billed yearly) |
PRO | 30 min | 500 min | Yes | $99/mo ($73 billed yearly) |
Enterprise | 60 min+ | Custom | Yes | Custom |
When import fails
Symptom | Common cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
External link won't load | Shortened URL (youtu.be) | Re-enter the full URL |
External link won't load | Region/age/member-restricted video | Try an unrestricted video |
External link won't load | Private Drive link | Switch to "anyone with the link" |
Low caption accuracy | Loud background or quiet speech | Retry with cleaner audio |
———————————————————————————————————————
Frequently asked questions
How do I add subtitles to a TikTok automatically?
Upload the clip (or paste its link), run speech-to-text, and Perso Dubbing auto-detects the language and builds timed captions. Edit any line, then export a burned-in MP4 so the captions show on TikTok even with the sound off. No manual transcription needed.
Can I add subtitles to Instagram Reels?
Yes. The flow is the same as TikTok. Because Reels has limited native subtitle-upload support, export the subtitle-encoded MP4 so the captions are baked into the video and display in the feed without a separate file.
Can I get subtitles in another language?
Yes. Dub the video into your target language first — Perso Dubbing supports 99+ dubbing languages — then run the dubbed video through Speech-to-Text to generate captions that match the new audio. For original-language subtitles, upload your clip directly.
Do TikTok and Reels let me upload an SRT file?
Native SRT upload is limited on both. The reliable route is to burn the subtitles into an MP4 and post that. YouTube, by contrast, accepts SRT/VTT uploads directly.
How far can I go for free?
The Free plan gives a one-time trial on a clip up to one minute. Downloads start with paid plans — Starter ($6.99) includes 75 STT minutes a month, Creator 150.
Upload one short-form clip for free right now and see the multilingual subtitles for yourself.
You can get a subtitle-embedded video from Perso Dubbing in four steps: upload to Speech-to-Text, auto-generate captions, edit if needed, and export. For subtitles in the original language, upload your original clip. For another language, dub the clip first — then run that dubbed video through Speech-to-Text. A large share of short-form is watched on mute, so subtitles carry your retention, and every extra language widens your reach.
Speech-to-Text auto-detects 100 languages and turns speech into timed captions. You can then export an MP4 with the captions burned into the frame — the file you post to TikTok and Reels, where captions need to show without a separate upload.
Original-language flow: upload → automatic STT captions → optional editing → export subtitle-embedded video Other-language flow: dub first → upload the dubbed video → STT captions → optional editing → export
Before you start
Check the file requirements first — meeting them keeps your captions clean.
Input type | Supported formats | Length and size |
|---|---|---|
Video file | mp4 · mov · webm | 5 sec – 2GB (short clips stay well under the limit) |
External link | TikTok · YouTube · Google Drive | Use the full URL; set Drive to "anyone with the link" |
Speech-to-text auto-detects 100 languages, so you never set the source language manually. Captions come out most accurately when the audio is clean and the speech is clear over the background.
Want subtitles in another language? Dub it first
Perso Dubbing generates captions in whatever language the audio is in. So for subtitles in a different language, dub the video into that language first, then run the dubbed version through Speech-to-Text. Dub your clip into 99+ languages with the Dubbing feature — the full walkthrough is in our dubbing video — then come back and continue with the dubbed file below. Only want subtitles in the original language? Skip this and upload your original clip.
Step 1 · Upload to Speech-to-Text
Open Speech-to-Text and add your clip — the original, or the dubbed version from above. Drag in a local file, or paste a TikTok, YouTube, or Drive link and the server pulls it. Use the full URL rather than a shortened one so the link resolves.
Step 2 · Generate captions automatically with STT
Run transcription and Perso Dubbing auto-detects the spoken language and builds the captions. Multiple speakers are separated automatically, and word-level timestamps keep captions in sync. It's fast: an hour of footage finishes in about two minutes, so a short clip is nearly instant. (Need captions for any video, not just short-form? See our AI subtitle generator guide.)
Step 3 · Refine line by line (optional)
Edit captions line by line in the subtitle editor. Fix one line and the change flows into every export format, so you never rebuild a file. Settle proper nouns, abbreviations, and line length here. Short-form screens are small — keep lines short for readability. If the transcript already looks clean, skip straight to export.
Step 4 · Export
Export in the format that fits where you're posting.
SRT / VTT — standalone subtitle files. YouTube lets you upload these directly. TikTok and Instagram Reels have limited native subtitle-upload support, so SRT/VTT is mainly for platforms or editors that accept them.
Subtitle-encoded MP4 (burned-in) — captions baked into the frame. For TikTok and Reels this is the reliable choice: you post the video and the captions always show, even on mute. (How SRT-to-MP4 burn-in works.)
Where you're posting | Recommended format | Why |
|---|---|---|
TikTok / Reels (limited SRT upload) | Burned-in MP4 | Captions always show; no separate file needed |
YouTube, or an editor that accepts SRT | SRT / VTT | Toggle captions on/off, reposition |
Not sure | Export both | A/B test which fits the video |
Plans, usage, and pricing
If you need downloads, pick Starter or above. Free covers previewing the result. Monthly STT minutes vary by plan, and because short clips are brief, Starter's 75 minutes a month handles several.
Plan | Max length per video | Monthly STT | Download | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Free | 1 min (one-time trial) | one-time, 1-min trial | No | Free |
Starter | 5 min | 75 min | Yes | $6.99/mo |
Creator | 15 min | 150 min | Yes | $29/mo ($21 billed yearly) |
PRO | 30 min | 500 min | Yes | $99/mo ($73 billed yearly) |
Enterprise | 60 min+ | Custom | Yes | Custom |
When import fails
Symptom | Common cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
External link won't load | Shortened URL (youtu.be) | Re-enter the full URL |
External link won't load | Region/age/member-restricted video | Try an unrestricted video |
External link won't load | Private Drive link | Switch to "anyone with the link" |
Low caption accuracy | Loud background or quiet speech | Retry with cleaner audio |
———————————————————————————————————————
Frequently asked questions
How do I add subtitles to a TikTok automatically?
Upload the clip (or paste its link), run speech-to-text, and Perso Dubbing auto-detects the language and builds timed captions. Edit any line, then export a burned-in MP4 so the captions show on TikTok even with the sound off. No manual transcription needed.
Can I add subtitles to Instagram Reels?
Yes. The flow is the same as TikTok. Because Reels has limited native subtitle-upload support, export the subtitle-encoded MP4 so the captions are baked into the video and display in the feed without a separate file.
Can I get subtitles in another language?
Yes. Dub the video into your target language first — Perso Dubbing supports 99+ dubbing languages — then run the dubbed video through Speech-to-Text to generate captions that match the new audio. For original-language subtitles, upload your clip directly.
Do TikTok and Reels let me upload an SRT file?
Native SRT upload is limited on both. The reliable route is to burn the subtitles into an MP4 and post that. YouTube, by contrast, accepts SRT/VTT uploads directly.
How far can I go for free?
The Free plan gives a one-time trial on a clip up to one minute. Downloads start with paid plans — Starter ($6.99) includes 75 STT minutes a month, Creator 150.
Upload one short-form clip for free right now and see the multilingual subtitles for yourself.
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