How to add subtitles to YouTube Shorts
Create subtitles for a Short, review the timing, and export burned-in captions or an SRT file, then upload the finished MP4 yourself.
Two ways subtitles reach a Short
Burned-in captions are drawn into the video frames when Clipy renders an MP4 on your device, so they show wherever the Short plays. An SRT file is separate text with timings that a platform can render and style.
Either way, the transcript is generated from audio extracted locally and sent for transcription; the video never leaves your device.
Step by step
- Open the captions tool and add your clip, up to 250 MB and 10 minutes.
- Generate the transcript and correct names and terms against the audio.
- Tighten timings where a line starts late or hangs over silence.
- Pick a caption style and position that keeps text clear of the frame edges.
- Render burned-in captions to MP4 or export SRT or VTT.
- Upload the finished MP4 to YouTube yourself; Clipy has no upload connection.
Review and troubleshooting
YouTube can add automatic captions to an uploaded video, and your burned-in text would sit on top of them. Check the final post and switch one of the two off, so viewers are not reading the same words twice.
If the exported video differs from the editing preview, trust the export; the preview is approximate. For an unusual source format, convert to MP4 with H.264 video and AAC audio first.
Common questions
Can Clipy upload to YouTube for me?
No. There is no upload connection. You export the finished MP4 from Clipy and upload it yourself when you publish the Short.
Which format should I export?
Burned-in MP4 captions if you want the text visible everywhere without setup; SRT if you prefer the platform to render and style the text from your file.
Try the workflow
Prepare your own file and review the result before using it.
Open the related Clipy tool