CLOSED CAPTION GENERATOR
Get speech, sound effects, and speaker labels
Generate accurate closed captions, fast
Meet European Accessibility Act (EAA) requirements with precision editing
Auto-generate subtitles for speed and readability
Kapwing auto-generates subtitles for both video and audio content, eliminating the most time-consuming step in creating closed captions. Designed for speed, the Closed Caption Generator supports content up to two hours long and up to 6GB for Pro users — perfect for everything from short social clips to long-form content like interviews, documentaries, and educational films.
By default, subtitles are automatically styled with white text on a black background and word-by-word highlighting for optimal readability and full compliance with the European Accessibility Act. For more creative control, our free Subtitles Editor offers over 1,000 font choices and 100+ preset styles, including color options, animations, and highlights.
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Add closed captions and retain editing control
Once subtitles auto-generate, creators have full control to adapt them into closed captions, adding essential details like speaker labels, background sounds, and audience reactions using the closed caption maker.
The built-in Search & Replace function lets you quickly find key phrases and apply updates, while embedded timecodes help maintain perfect alignment. Whether you’re captioning a YouTube documentary or a Zoom-recorded webinar, you can fine-tune every detail to match the highest accessibility standards.
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Export in the formats your workflow needs
Export your closed captions (CC) in SRT, VTT, or TXT formats. These formats are compatible with YouTube, video players, and a wide range of accessibility platforms. For creators working on TV content, business webinars, or cross-platform video strategies, Kapwing supports you in delivering accessible, shareable, and ready-to-publish captions.
Engage millions of new viewers, whatever your content
Improve content accessibility and you'll reach a bigger audience
News
Journalists and media companies add captions that identify multiple voices and on-location audio like crowd noise, ensuring their stories feel authentic and realistic
Panel Discussions
PR teams and event marketers caption roundtable or webinar recordings, labelling each speaker and significant non-verbal audio to help audiences follow complex conversations
Product Demos
Closed captions are used by businesses and tech marketers to note UI sounds, notifications, and spoken walkthroughs by different speakers, making screen-recorded demos easier to follow
Documentaries
Filmmakers and content creators producing long-form projects rely on closed captions (CC) to distinguish between interview subjects, narration, and environmental sounds
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Explainer Videos
Thought leaders and educators creating educational explainer videos use the closed caption creator to ensure lessons are accessible to the broadest audience
Public Announcements
Public-facing messages, press videos, and safety updates are captioned with speaker attribution to ensure clarity and meet legal compliance — perfect for nonprofits and government agencies
Livestream Replays
Streamers, podcasters, and social media teams clean up autogenerated subtitles into polished closed captions (CC), labelling hosts, guests, and highlighting audience reactions or alerts
Testimonials
The closed captions maker helps sales and customer success teams capture tone and natural emotional audio cues like laughter or pauses in speech
How to Make Closed Captions (CC) in Kapwing
- Upload video
Start by uploading a video to Kapwing.com. Alternatively, you can add content via published video URL links or by recording directly into the studio.
- Generate subtitles
Next, use the "Subtitles" tab on the left toolbar to automatically add a subtitles layer to your video.
- Add closed captions
Finally, manually add closed captions by editing the subtitle layer to include sound effects, music cues, audience reactions, and speaker labels. When complete, export the video as an MP4 and download the subtitles file as a VTT, SRT, or TXT file.
Closed captions matter more than ever
Start the journey with a free Closed Caption Generator
Under the European Accessibility Act (EAA), closed captions are now a requirement for digital video and audio content available to the public in the EU.
Kapwing's Closed Caption Generator ensures your content meets those legal requirements, while also broadening your audience.
Closed captions help viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing, make videos easier to follow in noisy environments, and support multilingual audiences watching with audio off. For creators in fields like education, news, or media, clear captioning builds trust and makes your videos more effective across global markets.
Built into a complete accessibility studio
Generate subtitles, transcripts, translations, and closed captions in Kapwing
Transcripts
Generate Transcripts for your audio and video content with filler words like “um” and “uh” automatically removed. Edit inside the studio and export a TXT file for streamlined sharing and uploading.
Transcripts
Translations
Subtitles
Closed Captions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Closed Caption Generator free?
Yes, the Closed Caption Generator is free for all Kapwing users to try. A Free Account provides users with 10 free minutes of auto-subtitling per month. When you upgrade to a Pro Account, you get access to 300 minutes of automatic captions each month.
Is there a watermark on exports?
If you are using Kapwing on a Free account then all exports, including from our closed captions maker, contain a watermark.
What are closed captions?
Closed captions (CC) are on-screen text that represents not only spoken dialogue but also relevant non-speech audio, such as music cues, sound effects, or audience reactions. They’re designed to make video content fully accessible to viewers who are deaf or hard of hearing. Examples:
[soft piano music playing]- Speaker 1: “Let’s begin with today’s lesson.”
Closed captions are essential for accessibility, but they also help reach viewers watching without sound, boost comprehension in noisy environments, and meet legal requirements like the European Accessibility Act (EAA).
What's the difference between closed captions and subtitles?
Subtitles only reflect spoken dialogue, while closed captions include speaker labels, sound effects, and other non-verbal audio cues. You can read our full article for more information on closed captions vs subtitles.
Are closed captions required by law in the EU?
Yes, as of June 28, 2025, all audiovisual media available in the EU (including live TV, streaming services, on-demand, films, training and webinar videos, ads, etc.) must include accurate, time‑synchronised closed captions accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Are Kapwing’s closed captions compliant with the European Accessibility Act (EAA)?
Yes, Kapwing’s Closed Caption Generator supports compliance with the European Accessibility Act (EAA) by allowing users to manually add speaker labels, describe non-speech audio (like music or sound effects), and ensure captions are properly timed and styled for readability.
What closed caption file formats can I export from Kapwing?
You can export your final captions in SRT, VTT, or TXT formats, making them compatible with YouTube, Zoom, social media platforms, and accessibility tools.
What are best practices for writing closed captions?
Use speaker labels, describe key sounds, and ensure correct timing. Kapwing’s editing tools and timecode feature make this process easier and more accurate. You can read our detailed blog on How to Get Closed Captions That Meet European Accessibility Act (EAA) Requirements.
Do closed captions improve SEO or discoverability?
Yes, search engines index closed caption files, which can help increase visibility on platforms like YouTube and Google.
How to upload your own SRT file for captions
If you already have an SRT file, you can easily add it to your video in Kapwing. Follow these steps to upload and customize your captions:
- Upload a video file via a URL link or the files folder.
- Open the "Subtitles" tab in the left-hand toolbar. Then, select "Upload SRT/VTT" to upload your own captions file.
- Once your SRT subtitles are uploaded, proofread and customize. When you’re finished editing, click "Export Project" and download your video with embedded subtitles.
Can you add closed captions to videos with burned-in subtitles?
No, if a video has burned-in subtitles (meaning the text is permanently embedded into the video image) they cannot be removed, edited, or converted into closed captions. To add proper closed captions, you must upload a version of the video without any subtitles already burned in.
Can you turn closed captions on/off?
Yes, using the eye icon you can turn closed captions on and off as needed.
Kapwing is free to use for teams of any size. We also offer paid plans with additional features, storage, and support.