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How to use video captions on X / Twitter

Learn how to show and create closed captions on X and where to get help with its accessibility features. 

In our experience, the majority of videos on X do not have closed captions. It is much more common that captions are embedded in the video for everyone to see.

Show captions

If captions are available a ‘CC’ icon should appear. 

The location of this icon depends on the platform:

  • On desktop it is next to the volume control icon at the bottom of the video.
  • On iOS and android it is in the top right of the video when viewing the post as part of your feed, but when the post is opened, it disappears and becomes a menu option.
  • On iOS this is accessed using the cog icon below the video.
  • On android it is accessed using the three dots icon at the top right of the screen. 

Press the ‘CC’ icon to turn the captions on or off. 

Create captions when posting content

X claims that captions are generated automatically when posting content. We have not been able to make this work.

Instead we would recommend uploading captions as a ‘.srt’ file. This can done using the web interface when creating the post. Verified subscribers can also add captions to videos in the Media Studio. 

Using the new post web interface

  1. Add a video to your post 
  2. Under the video a new option appears to ‘Upload caption file (.srt)’. Select it. 
  3. A new window is displayed. Select ‘Upload captions’ then select the file you want to upload. 
  4. Select ‘Done’ 
  5. Back on the original new post screen, select ‘Post’ 

If you encounter an error, make sure that your .srt file is formatted correctly. 

Using the Media Studio

  1. Select a video from your media studio library 
  2. Select the ‘Subtitles’ tab in the pop-up window 
  3. Select the text language of your subtitle file from the dropdown menu 
  4. Select the ‘Upload’ button and select the .SRT file from your local computer 
  5. The file is now associated with your video. To update the file, select the pencil icon.  

Help with accessibility features

X help centre 

X Able account  

How to use video captions on other social media platforms

Facebook

Instagram

TikTok

YouTube

Page last updated: 11 June 2024

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