How to Add Captions to Instagram Reels: A Complete Guide

By Cepy 8/02/2023 Post a Comment

Hi Online Friends,

If you're looking for a way to make your Instagram Reels more engaging, accessible, and searchable, you might want to consider adding captions to them. Captions are text overlays that display what you or someone else is saying in your video. They can help you reach a wider audience, boost your views, and improve your SEO ranking.

In this article, I'll show you how to add captions to Instagram Reels using different methods and tools. I have experience with creating and editing captions for Instagram Reels, so I'll share some tips and tricks along the way. Whether you want to use the built-in feature on Instagram, or a third-party tool like Kapwing or veed.io, I'll guide you through the process step by step.

Why You Should Add Captions to Instagram Reels

Captions Make Your Reels More Accessible

One of the main benefits of adding captions to your Instagram Reels is that they make your content more accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing, or who speak a different language than you. According to the World Health Organization, over 5% of the world's population has disabling hearing loss. That means millions of potential viewers who might not be able to enjoy your Reels without captions.

By adding captions, you can ensure that everyone can understand what you're saying and follow along with your video. This can also help you build trust and loyalty with your audience, as they'll appreciate your effort to make your content inclusive and user-friendly.

Captions Make Your Reels More Engaging

Another reason why you should add captions to your Instagram Reels is that they make your content more engaging and captivating. Studies have shown that videos with captions have higher view rates, retention rates, and completion rates than videos without captions. This is because captions can help viewers focus on your message, especially if there's background noise or distractions around them.

Captions can also help you add some personality and flair to your Reels. You can use different fonts, colors, and styles to match your brand identity and tone of voice. You can also use emojis, hashtags, and call-to-actions to spice up your captions and encourage interaction from your viewers.

Captions Make Your Reels More Searchable

A third benefit of adding captions to your Instagram Reels is that they make your content more searchable and discoverable. Captions can help you optimize your Reels for SEO (search engine optimization), which is the process of improving your visibility on search engines like Google or Bing. Captions can act as keywords that tell search engines what your video is about and match it with relevant queries from users.

Captions can also help you rank higher on Instagram's own search function, which allows users to look for content based on keywords. By adding captions that contain keywords related to your niche, topic, or industry, you can increase your chances of appearing in the search results and attracting more viewers to your Reels.

How to Add Captions to Instagram Reels Using Instagram

The easiest way to add captions to your Instagram Reels is to use the built-in feature on the Instagram app. This feature allows you to automatically generate captions from your audio and edit them as you like. Here's how to do it:

Open the Instagram app and select Reels.
Choose or record your Reel video.
Click "Preview" to edit your Reel.
Tap the smiley icon (Stickers).
Pick the "Captions" sticker to add auto-subtitles.
You'll see a preview of the captions as they will appear on your final post.
You can move the captions around by dragging them with your finger.
You can also change the font style by tapping on the text.
You can change the color by tapping on the color wheel at the top.
When you're happy with the captions, tap "Done".
Choose "Next" and then "Share" to publish your Reel with captions.

Note: The Captions sticker is currently available in English only, but Instagram plans to expand it to other languages soon.

How to Add Captions to Instagram Reels Using Kapwing

If you want more control and customization over your captions, you might want to use a third-party tool like Kapwing. Kapwing is an online video editor that allows you to add captions, subtitles, and text to your videos with ease. You can also use Kapwing to trim, crop, rotate, filter, and add music to your Reels. Here's how to use Kapwing to add captions to your Instagram Reels:

Open your browser and go to kapwing.com.
Click "Start Editing" and then "Upload" to choose the Reel video from your device.
Go to the "Subtitles" tab at the bottom.
Choose "Auto-Generate" or "Manual Subtitles".
If you choose "Auto-Generate", Kapwing will create the captions for you based on your audio. You can select the language and the accuracy level.
If you choose "Manual Subtitles", you'll have to type the captions yourself. You can use the timeline to sync them with the audio.
You can edit the captions by changing the text, font, color, size, position, and background.
When you're done, click "Export Video" and then "Download" to save your Reel with captions.
Upload your Reel to Instagram as usual.

Note: Kapwing is free to use, but it will add a small watermark to your video. You can remove it by signing in with a Google or Facebook account.

How to Add Captions to Instagram Reels Using veed.io

Another option for adding captions to your Instagram Reels is veed.io. veed.io is an online video editor that lets you add captions, subtitles, and text to your videos in a few clicks. You can also use veed.io to cut, crop, rotate, filter, and add music to your Reels. Here's how to use veed.io to add captions to your Instagram Reels:

Open your browser and go to veed.io.
Click "Upload Your Video" and choose the Reel video from your device.
Go to the "Subtitles" tab at the bottom.
Choose "Auto Subtitle" or "Manual Subtitles".
If you choose "Auto Subtitle", veed.io will create the captions for you based on your audio. You can select the language and the style.
If you choose "Manual Subtitles", you'll have to type the captions yourself. You can use the timeline to sync them with the audio.
You can edit the captions by changing the text, font, color, size, position, and background.
When you're done, click "Export" and then "Download" to save your Reel with captions.
Upload your Reel to Instagram as usual.

Note: veed.io is free for videos up to 10 minutes long, but it will add a small watermark to your video. You can remove it by upgrading to a paid plan.

A Detailed Table Breakdown Related to How to Add Captions to Instagram Reels

Method	Pros	Cons
Instagram	- Easy and fast - No need for external tools - Free	- Limited font styles and colors - No option to edit or correct captions - Only available in English
Kapwing	- More control and customization - Ability to edit and correct captions - Supports multiple languages - Free (with watermark)	- Requires internet connection - Adds watermark (removable with sign-in)
veed.io	- More control and customization - Ability to edit and correct captions - Supports multiple languages - Free (for videos up to 10 minutes)	- Requires internet connection - Adds watermark (removable with paid plan) - Limited for videos longer than 10 minutes

FAQs About How to Add Captions to Instagram Reels

How do I turn on captions for Instagram Reels?

If you want to turn on captions for Instagram Reels that already have them, you can do so by tapping on the screen while watching the video. A small icon with two lines will appear at the top-right corner. Tap on it and select "Captions On". To turn them off, tap on it again and select "Captions Off".

How do I edit captions for Instagram Reels?

If you want to edit captions for Instagram Reels that you created using the Instagram app, you can't do it directly on the app. You'll have to delete the Reel and create a new one with the edited captions. Alternatively, you can use a third-party tool like Kapwing or veed.io to edit your captions before uploading your Reel to Instagram.

How do I add captions to Instagram Reels in different languages?

If you want to add captions to Instagram Reels in different languages, you can't do it using the Instagram app, as it only supports English for now. You'll have to use a third-party tool like Kapwing or veed.io that supports multiple languages. You can either choose the auto-generate option and select the language of your choice, or type the captions manually in the language you want.

How do I add captions to Instagram Reels with music?

If you want to add captions to Instagram Reels with music, you can do it using any of the methods mentioned above. However, keep in mind that the music might interfere with the accuracy of the auto-generated captions, so you might have to edit or correct them manually. You can also lower the volume of the music or mute it altogether if you want your captions to be more clear and audible.

How do I add captions to Instagram Reels with voice-over?

If you want to add captions to Instagram Reels with voice-over, you can do it using any of the methods mentioned above. However, make sure that your voice-over is loud and clear enough for the auto-generated captions to work properly. You can also use a microphone or a headset to improve the quality of your audio. If you have any background noise or music, you might have to edit or correct your captions manually.

How do I add captions to Instagram Reels with text-to-speech?

If you want to add captions to Instagram Reels with text-to-speech, you can do it using a third-party tool like Kapwing or veed.io. You can either type the text yourself and choose the text-to-speech option, or use the auto-generate option and select the language of your choice. You can also customize the voice, speed, and tone of your text-to-speech.

How do I add captions to Instagram Reels with emojis?

If you want to add captions to Instagram Reels with emojis, you can do it using any of the methods mentioned above. However, if you use the Instagram app, you'll have to add the emojis separately after adding the captions sticker. You can also use a third-party tool like Kapwing or veed.io that allows you to insert emojis directly into your captions.

How do I add captions to Instagram Reels with hashtags?

If you want to add captions to Instagram Reels with hashtags, you can do it using any of the methods mentioned above. However, if you use the Instagram app, you'll have to add the hashtags separately after adding the captions sticker. You can also use a third-party tool like Kapwing or veed.io that allows you to insert hashtags directly into your captions.

How do I add captions to Instagram Reels with call-to-actions?

If you want to add captions to Instagram Reels with call-to-actions, you can do it using any of the methods mentioned above. However, if you use the Instagram app, you'll have to add the call-to-actions separately after adding the captions sticker. You can also use a third-party tool like Kapwing or veed.io that allows you to insert call-to-actions directly into your captions.

How do I remove captions from Instagram Reels?

If you want to remove captions from Instagram Reels that you created using the Instagram app, you can't do it directly on the app. You'll have to delete the Reel and create a new one without the captions sticker. Alternatively, you can use a third-party tool like Kapwing or veed.io to remove your captions before uploading your Reel to Instagram.

Conclusion

Adding captions to your Instagram Reels is a great way to make your content more accessible, engaging, and searchable. You can use different methods and tools to add captions depending on your preferences and needs. In this article, we showed you how to add captions using the Instagram app, Kapwing, and veed.io.

We hope this article was helpful and informative for you. If you liked it, please share it with your friends and followers. And if you have any questions or feedback, please leave a comment below.

Also, don't forget to check out our other articles on how to create amazing Instagram Reels. Here are some of them:

- How to Add Music to Instagram Reel- How to Add a Link to Instagram Story- How to Advertise on Instagram- How to Add Music to Instagram Video Post- How to Add a Collaborator on Instagram

Thanks for reading and happy Reeling!

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