Usage
Subtitles improve accessibility and make your videos easier to understand on mobile or in noisy environments. Canva lets you add subtitles manually or upload an external caption file if you already have one.
Platform
Canva
Watch this video
Steps
Option 1: Uploading and Generating Subtitles
Open your video project on Canva and place your video clip onto the timeline.
Click on the Text tab on the left-side panel, then look under Dynamic Text and choose Captions (alternatively, go to Apps and search for "Captions").
Select the video or audio file you want to subtitle from the dropdown menu.
Click the Generate captions button.
Canva will automatically listen to the speech and place a caption track onto your timeline.
Option 2: Add Subtitles Manually
Click Text in the left panel.
Add a small text box and type your subtitle.
Position it at the bottom of the frame.
Duplicate the text box for the next line and update the wording.
Sync subtitles with the timeline
Select the subtitle text box.
In the timeline, drag the edges to match when the words should appear.
Repeat for each subtitle block throughout your video.
Style your subtitles
Use a simple font for readability.
Add a semi-transparent background behind the text if the video is busy.
Keep colours consistent with brand guidelines.
Upload external subtitle files (optional)
Click Uploads.
Upload your .SRT or .VTT file.
Drag it into the timeline to sync with your video.
Adjust timing if needed.
Preview and export
Click Play to review all subtitles in sequence.
Adjust timing if any appear too early or late.
Click Share.
Download as MP4.
Things to know
Canva does not auto-generate subtitles
Manual subtitles require adjusting per scene
Subtitles export directly into the MP4 file
Use high contrast colours for maximum readability
Best Practices
Keep subtitles centred and consistent across scenes
Use short phrases to avoid text covering key visuals
Test on mobile to confirm readability
Resources
Canva text tools
YPO brand fonts and accessibility guidelines