How to Add Captions While Uploading & Editing Your Videos

Introduction

In this guide, we will provide a comprehensive overview of the captions editor in YouTube Studio. This tool simplifies the process of creating and editing captions for your videos, enabling you to reach a broader audience, including deaf or hard of hearing viewers and those who speak different languages. According to studies, videos with captions tend to experience an increase in watch time compared to those without.

Accessing the Captions Editor

There are two main ways to access the captions editor:

During Video Uploading: While uploading your video, locate the "Subtitles" section on the video elements page and click "Add."
For Published Videos: If your video is already uploaded, navigate to the "Subtitles" page in YouTube Studio. You can find this by selecting it from the left-hand menu or from the details page of a specific video.

Adding Captions

Once you're in the captions editor, you can add captions using several options:

Edit Automatic Captions: If your video already has automatic captions, click "Duplicate and Edit" to modify them.
Add New Captions: If there are no automatic captions, click "Add" under the subtitles column. To specify a language, click "Add Language."

Methods for Adding Your Own Subtitles

You can add your own subtitles in three main ways:

Upload a Transcript: If you have a formatted transcript of the video's audio, select “Upload File.” You will need to indicate whether the file includes timings, which helps YouTube process it correctly.
Paste Captions for Auto Syncing: For this, choose the “Auto Sync” option. Here, you can paste your full transcript, and subtitle timings will be generated automatically. After pasting, click "Assign Timings."
Manually Type Captions: Select "Type Manually" to add subtitles as you watch the video. You can set timings or delete captions as needed.

To add more captions, use the “Caption” button at the top or click the add caption line icon next to the existing captions. Enabling "Pause While Typing" can give you additional time to input captions accurately, and utilizing keyboard shortcuts can make the process faster. For instance, pressing "Shift + Space" pauses and resumes your video.

Timings and Positioning

After adding captions, you have the option to adjust their timing. Captions will appear over your video's audio as you enter them. You can click and drag captions for repositioning and adjust their length for precision. Additionally, zooming in and out on the captions timeline gives you greater control.

Once you're satisfied with the captions, click "Publish." You can always return to edit your captions if necessary.

If you have any questions about using the captions editor, feel free to leave a comment below.

Thank you for reading!

Keywords

YouTube Studio
Captions Editor
Automatic Captions
Upload Transcript
Auto Sync
Manual Captions
Subtitles
Video Uploading
Audience Engagement

FAQ

Q1: What is the captions editor in YouTube Studio?
A1: The captions editor is a tool that allows users to create, edit, and manage captions for their videos, enhancing accessibility for a wider audience.

Q2: How can I access the captions editor?
A2: You can access it during the video upload process or from the "Subtitles" section of the YouTube Studio dashboard for already published videos.

Q3: What are the methods to add captions?
A3: You can add captions by uploading a transcript, pasting and auto-syncing a transcript, or typing captions manually as you watch the video.

Q4: Can I edit automatic captions?
A4: Yes, if your video has automatic captions, you can click "Duplicate and Edit" to make changes to these pre-populated captions.

Q5: What should I do after adding captions?
A5: Click "Publish" to save your changes. You can always go back to edit captions later if needed.