How-To
How to Add Subtitles to Instagram Reels, YouTube Shorts and WhatsApp Status
Last updated: October 4, 2026
Reels, Shorts and Status videos are watched full screen, often with the sound off, with buttons and names sitting on top of the picture. Subtitles for them have to be part of the video itself and placed where the apps do not cover them. Here is how to do that for free.
Word-by-word subtitles, made in your browser. Nothing is uploaded.
Add subtitles to a Reel or Short →Burn them in
Instagram Reels and WhatsApp Status do not take a subtitle file, and a Short is often watched in places where a separate caption track does not show. The dependable choice is to put the words into the picture: in the Free Subtitle Generator, choose Add subtitles to my video. The result is an ordinary MP4 that shows the subtitles everywhere it is posted or forwarded.
Keep clear of the buttons
Vertical video apps cover parts of the screen: the like, comment and share buttons on the right, your name and caption at the bottom, and a header at the top. On the style step, turn on Show where apps put their buttons. The preview then marks the areas to avoid:
| Area the tool marks | Where |
|---|---|
| Top band | The top 8% of the frame |
| Bottom band | The bottom 13% of the frame |
| Button column | A column 17% wide on the right, from about a third of the way down to near the bottom |
These are safe margins that work across Reels, Shorts and Status; each app's exact layout differs a little and can change. Drag the subtitles on the preview, or use the Top, Middle and Bottom positions.
Styles that work on a phone screen
- Bold pop: big white words with an outline; the spoken word turns yellow and grows a little.
- Karaoke fill: the colour sweeps through each word as it is spoken.
- One word: one large word at a time, for fast talking-head videos.
- Word pill: the spoken word sits on a coloured pill.
Short lines are easier to read on a phone. Set the words on screen to a few at a time, or split long lines on the Check words step.
Step by step
- Start from a vertical video up to 3 minutes long. Need to make one first? The Free Short Video Maker turns photos and clips into a 9:16 video.
- Open the Free Subtitle Generator, pick the video and choose the spoken language.
- Check the words and fix any mistakes.
- Choose Add subtitles to my video, pick a style, and turn on Show where apps put their buttons.
- Save the video, then post it as a Reel, a Short or a Status.
Regular YouTube videos
For a normal (not Shorts) YouTube video you can skip burning in: download the SRT file and upload it in YouTube Studio under Subtitles. Viewers can then turn the captions on and off. See what an SRT file is and how to use it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload an SRT file to Instagram Reels or WhatsApp Status?
No. Neither lets you attach a subtitle file, so the words have to be drawn onto the video. Choose “Add subtitles to my video” in the Free Subtitle Generator.
Where should subtitles go on a vertical video?
Usually in the middle or the lower-middle of the frame, above the caption and name area and away from the buttons on the right. Turn on “Show where apps put their buttons” to see those areas.
What size should the video be?
Vertical 9:16. The subtitle tool keeps the shape of your video, so start from a vertical video. Size details are in our Reels vs Shorts vs Status guide.
Is there a watermark?
Every video made with the Free Subtitle Generator carries a small moving id8 mark that keeps clear of the subtitles.