Instagram subtitles: how to add them to your Reels
Instagram doesn’t let you upload a subtitle file to a Reel or a video: it only has automatic captions, which aren’t available in every language or country. For yours to show, they have to be burned into the video.
Drop your audio or video here, or choose a file
MP3, M4A, WAV, OGG and OPUS (WhatsApp voice notes), MP4, MOV, WEBM… Up to 200 MB.
Free, no account needed: the first 10 minutes of each file, 3 a day. The file is deleted when it’s done and the result after 24 hours.
What Instagram allows
Instagram offers automatic captions and the captions sticker, which transcribes what’s said. There’s no option to attach an SRT or VTT, so a subtitle file can’t be uploaded with the post.
How to bring your subtitles
Download the SRT here and import it into your video editor to export the video with the text inside. With a free Echo account you skip that step: you correct the subtitles and create the video with them burned in. They’re two lines of 42 characters at most; in vertical video, adjust the font size so they fit with room to spare.
How to do it
- 1
Upload the video here
The original video, before you post it on Instagram.
- 2
Download the SRT
Echo transcribes and cuts the subtitles for comfortable reading.
- 3
Burn them into the video
With your video editor, or with “Create the video” in the subtitle editor of a free Echo account.
- 4
Post the Reel
Upload the subtitled video; if Instagram adds automatic captions, turn them off.
Frequently asked questions
Can I upload an SRT to Instagram?
No. Instagram has no option to attach subtitle files to Reels or videos. What works is burning them into the video before you post it.
So what’s the SRT for?
For importing into a video editor such as CapCut, Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve, styling it and exporting the video with the text inside.
Does it work with videos in Spanish?
Yes. Echo transcribes Spanish and other languages, and keeps accents and punctuation.
Try it with your next meeting.
Create your account in a minute or ask us for a demo for your team.
