How to add automatic subtitles to shorts?

Why Add Automatic Subtitles to Shorts?

Short videos on TikTok, Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and other platforms are often watched without sound. Automatic subtitles:

• Grab attention instantly in the feed
• Keep viewers watching longer
• Make your content accessible to everyone
• Help your message stay clear even on mute

With Videofa.st, you can add automatic subtitles to shorts in a few clicks and export ready-to-post vertical videos.

What You Need Before You Start

• A short vertical video (9:16), for TikTok / Reels / Shorts
• A free account on videofa.st
• A modern browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge)

Step 1: Create Your Free Videofa.st Account

1. Go to videofa.st.
2. Click Register or Get Started Free.
3. Create your account (no credit card required on the free plan).
4. Confirm your email if requested, then log in.

Once you are in your dashboard, you are ready to create your first subtitled short.

Step 2: Start a New Short With Automatic Subtitles

1. From your dashboard, choose the tool or project that lets you create a short video with subtitles.
2. Select the option to upload a new video (vertical / short format recommended).
3. You will be taken into the Videofa.st editor, where the AI will handle the subtitles automatically.

Step 3: Upload Your Short

1. Click Upload or drag & drop your short video file.
2. Make sure your clip is in a supported format (MP4, MOV, etc.).
3. Keep your short within the duration and size limits of your plan (see the pricing and limits on Videofa.st).

When the upload is finished, your video is ready for automatic subtitle generation.

Step 4: Let the AI Generate Automatic Subtitles

1. After the upload, Videofa.st will automatically analyze the audio of your short.
2. The AI detects the spoken language and generates time-aligned subtitles for the whole clip.
3. In a few seconds, you will see the subtitles appear on the preview and in the timeline.

You do not need to type anything by hand: subtitles are created automatically for the entire short.

Step 5: Adjust Style for Shorts (Vertical Video)

For shorts, subtitles must be:

• Big enough to read on a phone
• Well placed so they do not hide faces or important visuals
• On-brand to match your style

In Videofa.st, you can:

• Change font, size, and color of the subtitles
• Move subtitles higher or lower on the screen
• Add background boxes or outline to make text readable on any background
• Use colors that match TikTok, Instagram, or your brand palette

Play the short and adjust until it looks perfect on a vertical screen.

Step 6: Review and Fix Small Errors (Optional)

Even with powerful AI, it is a good idea to:

• Watch your short once with the subtitles
• Fix names, brands, or specific technical words
• Adjust timing for fast cuts or jump cuts

The editor in Videofa.st lets you edit text and timing directly on the subtitles if you need to.

Step 7: Export a Short With Burned-In Subtitles

When you are happy with the result:

1. Click Render or Export in Videofa.st.
2. Choose a quality that fits your platform (for example 1080x1920 for vertical shorts).
3. Videofa.st creates a new video file with subtitles burned in (hardcoded captions).

Your short is now ready to upload to:

• TikTok
• Instagram Reels
• YouTube Shorts
• Facebook Reels, Snapchat, and other short-form platforms

Tips to Get the Best Automatic Subtitles on Shorts

• Record with clear audio (less background noise = better subtitles).
• Avoid speaking too fast if you want viewers to read comfortably.
• Keep each sentence short so the text fits nicely on screen.
• Use subtitles not only to repeat speech but also to highlight key words.
• Test your short on a phone to confirm the subtitles are readable.

Summary

To add automatic subtitles to shorts with Videofa.st:

Sign up → upload your vertical short → let the AI generate subtitles → style them for mobile → export a subtitled video ready for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts.

This saves you a lot of time and gives your short videos a professional, engaging look without manual caption work.

Ready to try it? Go to videofa.st and click Get Started Free or Register to create your first short with automatic subtitles.