How to add subtitles to your Shorts the fast way
Most people watch Shorts on mute, so captions are what keep them watching instead of scrolling. The slow way is typing every line and syncing it by hand. The fast way: FastClip reads your video's audio, writes the subtitles for you word-by-word, and animates them karaoke-style. Here's exactly how to do it.
Step by step
How to add subtitles to Shorts with FastClip with FastClip.
Paste your video link
Go to fastclip.site and drop in a YouTube URL or upload a long video. There's no separate captions step to turn on — subtitles are part of the run, so you don't configure anything here.
Let the AI clip and caption it
FastClip's AI finds the best moments and cuts them into up to 10 vertical 9:16 Shorts in about a minute. As it clips, it transcribes the spoken audio and lays animated karaoke captions over every clip, timed to the voice — so the subtitles are already on screen and in sync before you open anything.
Confirm the language is right
FastClip detects your video's language automatically and writes the captions in that same language, across 20+ languages, keeping accents, names and slang intact. Skim a clip to confirm the text matches what's actually being said — for clean audio it usually nails it on the first pass.
Open a clip in the browser editor
Click any clip to open it in the in-browser editor. No app to install, no exporting into a second tool. This is where you fine-tune the captions for that specific Short.
Fix words and pick your caption style
Correct any misheard word right in the text, then switch the caption style — bold MrBeast-style pop, a clean CapCut look, or a punchy Hormozi style. You can also move the captions up or down so they don't collide with on-screen faces or platform UI.
Export in 1080p and post
When the captions look right, export the Short in 1080p 9:16. The text is burned in, so it shows up identically on TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts. Download it and post it manually to each platform.
Tips that make a difference
Caption faces, not the bottom edge
Word-by-word karaoke captions hold the eye, but only if they're visible. Use the editor's position control to keep captions clear of the speaker's face and away from the very bottom, where TikTok and Reels stack their own buttons over your text.
Fix names and brand terms first
AI transcription tracks the actual audio far better than auto-uploaded platform text, but fast speech and unusual proper nouns can still slip. Before exporting, scan for names, brands and slang — those are the words worth a 10-second correction so your captions read as on-brand, not off.
Style per clip, not per channel
You switch caption style inside each clip, so you're not locked to one look. A talking-head moment might suit a clean CapCut style while a high-energy hook lands better with a bold MrBeast pop. Match the style to the clip's energy before you download.
FAQ
Do I have to type or sync the subtitles myself?
No. FastClip transcribes the spoken audio with AI and writes the captions for you, then animates them word-by-word in time with the speaker. The subtitles are already on screen and in sync before you open the editor — you only step in to tweak a word, the style or the position if you want to.
What languages can it caption in?
FastClip writes captions in over 20 languages. It detects your video's language automatically and generates the subtitles in that same language, so you don't pick one manually or end up with mismatched text. Accents, names and slang are kept intact.
Can I edit the captions and change how they look?
Yes. Every clip opens in a browser editor where you can correct any word, switch the caption style — MrBeast, CapCut or Hormozi — and move the captions up or down. You can set a different style per clip until each one fits your channel, then export in 1080p.
Do I need a separate captions app for this?
No. The subtitles are built into the clipping flow, so you go from one long video to a batch of captioned Shorts in the same pass — no exporting into a second app to add captions. You can start free with 1 video and 5 downloads, no credit card, and Pro is $100/mo with a 14-day guarantee.
Keep reading
Your captions are already written
Paste a link and FastClip hands you vertical Shorts with animated, word-by-word subtitles in about a minute — transcribed straight from your audio in your language. Tweak the style in your browser, download in 1080p, and post. Start free, no credit card.