How to Add Subtitles to a TikTok Video on PC
By the ClipTitle team · Updated October 3, 2026
Quick answer
On a Windows PC, open your clip in ClipTitle, set View ▸ Aspect ratio ▸ 9:16 (Reel), click Generate captions, pick an animated style in Templates, then Export ▸ Video with captions (MP4) and upload it at tiktok.com. The captions are burned in, so they show for every viewer, with no watermark.
Most people scroll TikTok with the sound low or off, so captions decide whether they stop on your video. Adding them on your PC gives you more control than the phone: you can fix every word, choose a style that matches your brand, and reuse the same file for Reels and Shorts.
Step by step
- Install ClipTitle from the Microsoft Store, open it and sign in with your Microsoft account (the person icon at the top right).
- Import your clip: click Import or drag the video into the window, then click it to open it.
- Set the vertical size: choose View ▸ Aspect ratio ▸ 9:16 (Reel).
- Generate the captions: click Generate captions. ClipTitle detects the language (85+ are supported, including mixed speech) and times every word.
- Pick a style: open Templates and choose a look. Word-by-word highlight and pop-in styles are the most common on TikTok. With Smart captions on, key words are highlighted for you.
- Check the position: keep the captions around the middle, clear of TikTok's description at the bottom and the buttons on the right.
- Export: choose Export ▸ Video with captions (MP4). Upload it at tiktok.com (Upload) or send it to your phone.
Caption tips that work on TikTok
- Short lines: two to five words at a time reads faster than full sentences.
- Highlight the key word in each line, in a different color or size, so the message lands even at a glance.
- Big, bold and outlined: thin fonts disappear on a phone. A dark outline or box keeps text readable on any background.
- Hook in the first second: make sure the first caption appears immediately and says something worth stopping for.
- Check names and slang: AI captions are accurate, but a quick read catches names, brands and inside jokes.
- Post in more languages: translate the captions to reach viewers in other countries with the same video.
What about TikTok's built-in captions?
TikTok can add automatic captions when you post. They are fine as a backup, but they look the same on every video, viewers can switch them off, and they don't come with the file if you also post the clip to Instagram or YouTube. Burned-in captions made on your PC avoid all three problems.
Frequently asked questions
Should I use TikTok's own auto captions or burn them into the video?
TikTok's auto captions are plain, viewers can turn them off, and they don't travel with the video when you post it to Reels or Shorts. Burned-in captions always show, can be styled and animated, and work on every platform from the same file.
What size should a TikTok video with subtitles be?
Vertical 9:16, usually 1080×1920. In ClipTitle choose View ▸ Aspect ratio ▸ 9:16 (Reel) so the captions are placed for a phone screen.
Where should captions go on a TikTok video?
Around the middle or just below it. Avoid the bottom fifth of the screen, where TikTok shows your name and description, and the right edge, where the like and share buttons are.
Can I upload to TikTok from my PC?
Yes. Go to tiktok.com in your browser, sign in and choose Upload, or send the exported MP4 to your phone and post it from the app.
Is there a watermark?
No. ClipTitle doesn't add a watermark to your video, on the Free plan or on Pro.
Can I use the same video for Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts?
Yes. Reels and Shorts use the same 9:16 size, so one export with burned-in captions works on all three.