How to Add Captions in Premiere Pro (5 Simple Steps)

Trying to figure out how to add captions in Premiere Pro? Whether you're making your content more accessible or just want subtitles for clarity, adding captions is easier than it looks. You don’t need any fancy plugins or outside tools, Premiere has everything built in.

Let’s walk through it step by step.

1. Import your video and open the Captions workspace

First things first, get your video into Premiere Pro.

1. Drag your video file into the Timeline.
2. Then go to Window > Workspaces > Captions and Graphics to switch into a layout that’s built for working with text and subtitles.

This workspace gives you quick access to everything you’ll need.

2. Create a new caption track

Now it’s time to actually make some captions.

1. Go to the Text panel (Window > Text if it’s not open).
2. Click on Transcript, then hit Create Transcription.
3. Choose your audio track and language, then click Transcribe.

Premiere will analyze your audio and generate a transcript. It usually takes just a minute or two depending on the length of your clip.

3. Turn the transcript into captions

Once the transcription is done:

1. Go to the Captions tab.
2. Click Create Captions from Transcript.
3. Click Create, and Premiere will automatically place timed caption blocks on your timeline.

You’ll now see a new caption track above your video clips with all the text synced up.

4. Edit and style your captions

Want to tweak what’s being said or how it looks?

1. Double-click any caption block on the timeline to edit the text.
2. Use the Essential Graphics panel (Window > Essential Graphics) to change font, size, color, alignment, and background styles.

You can also drag caption blocks around if you need them to appear earlier or later.

5. Export with embedded or separate captions

When you're ready to export:

1. Go to File > Export > Media or Click on the Export tab (Top Left).
2. Under the Captions tab in the export window choose “Burn into video” or select “Create sidecar file”
3. Then hit Export, and you're good to go!

Once you’ve done this once or twice, it becomes second nature, and makes your videos way more accessible too.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you add captions in Premiere Pro?

1. Open the Captions workspace
2. Transcribe audio using the Text panel
3. Click "Create Captions" from transcript
4. Edit text as needed
5. Export with burned-in or sidecar options

It’s all built right into Premiere, no extra tools needed.

How do i animate captions in Premiere Pro?

To animate captions, select them in the subtitle track, then go to Graphics and Titles > Upgrade Caption to Graphic. This moves them to a regular video track so you can animate them like any other clip.

1. Use keyframes in Effect Controls (Position, Scale, Opacity, etc.)
2. Apply presets or transitions as needed
3. (Optional) Use Spotlight FX plugin for ready-made animated captions

How do you caption text in Premiere Pro?

Go to Window > Text to open the Text panel. Click the Transcript tab, then choose Transcribe (blue button). After it finishes, go to the Caption tab and click Create captions from transcript to generate editable subtitles in your timeline. You can then adjust styling in the Properties panel.

How to add text in Premiere Pro?

1. Select Type Tool (T) from toolbar
2. Click anywhere on Program Monitor
3. Type your text
4. Use Essential Graphics panel for styling
5. Position it on timeline like any other clip

It works just like adding a graphic layer over your footage.

How do I add titles in Premiere Pro?

Use the Type Tool (T) to click and type directly in the Program Monitor. Then open the Properties panel (Window > Properties) to customize your font, color, size, and layout. Titles appear as graphic clips on your timeline. Or you can use pre-made animated title templates from the Spotlight FX plugin, just drag, type, and go.