How To Add Subtitles In Adobe Premiere Pro How to add subtitles in Premiere Pro

How To Add Subtitles In Adobe Premiere Pro

Here's how you can easily add subtitles in Adobe Premiere Pro + an easier way with AI.

Elie

Creatore di contenuti di Submagic 🧡

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Adding subtitles to your video content isn’t just about accessibility—it’s about reach.

Subtitled videos are more engaging, more inclusive, and more watchable, especially on platforms like TikTok and Instagram where most people scroll with the sound off.

If you're using Adobe Premiere Pro, you already know it's powerful. But subtitle creation can still feel like a lot of work. This is especially true if you're juggling video editing, deadlines, and client expectations.

So in this guide, I’ll show you exactly how to add subtitles in Premiere Pro using three different methods: automatic transcription, manual entry, and importing SRT files.

Bonus: if you're short on time or need to subtitle fast for short-form social posts, I’ll also show you a faster alternative using Submagic—the AI captioning tool built for modern creators.

Subtitles vs. closed captions: what’s the difference?

First, a quick breakdown with the difference between subtitles and closed captions. Often, these terms are used interchangeably, but there is a clear distinction.

Subtitles translate or transcribe dialogue for viewers. They're especially helpful when content is in a different language.
Closed captions do more that just transcribing dialogue. They include music cues, sound effects, and background audio, and are essential for deaf or hard-of-hearing audiences.

In Premiere Pro, you can create both. You’ll decide whether to export them as open captions (burned into the video) or sidecar files (like SRTs, which can be toggled on/off by the viewer).

Step-by-step: add subtitles in Adobe Premiere Pro

There are three primary ways to subtitle your videos using Premiere Pro. You can add subtitles by:

Automatically using speech-to-text transcription generator
Manually typing them in
Importing a subtitle file (like an SRT file)

There are detailed steps for each method to get your subtitles just right in Adobe Premiere Pro. Let’s walk a quick tutorial for each method so you can pick the right method that fits your workflow.

Method 1: Use Adobe’s speech-to-text tool

This is the fastest way to add subtitles in Premiere Pro CC.

Step 1: Open the captions workspace

Navigate to “Captions and Graphics.” You can get there by clicking “Window,” then “Workspaces.” This pulls up your workspace with access to the Text panel, timeline, and Essential Graphics panel.

Step 2: Transcribe your sequence

Click" “Transcribe Sequesnce” in the text panel. You can:

Choose your dialog language
Add speaker labeling
Select portions of your video file to transcribe

Finally, click, “Transcribe,” and let Premiere Pro analyze the audio.

Step 3: Review the transcript

Premiere Pro will generate a full transcription. Clean up any misheard words directly in the panel (this is an important step!). This is a good time to double-check timecode accuracy too.

Step 4: Generate captions

Click “Create Captions” and choose your settings:

Open or closed captions
Style and presets
Line length and characters per line

Premiere Pro will drop your caption file onto the timeline. Once done, your captions are ready for styling.

Fase 2: nella timeline viene visualizzata una nuova traccia di sottotitoli.

Fase 3: fare clic sull'icona '+' per aggiungere una nuova riga di didascalia nel pannello Testo nell'angolo in alto a sinistra. Digitare il testo del sottotitolo nel segmento e riallineare la clip nella timeline in modo che corrisponda al dialogo.

Fase 4: ripetere questa procedura fino a trascrivere e aggiungere le didascalie al video. È quindi possibile modificare e adattare le trascrizioni come si desidera.

Come esportare didascalie e sottotitoli in Premiere Pro

Ecco come esportare didascalie e sottotitoli in Adobe Premiere Pro:

Fase 1: andare su File > Esporta > Media e scegliere il formato desiderato.

Fase 2: scegliere se si vogliono didascalie aperte o chiuse. Le didascalie chiuse si trovano in un file separato dal video; gli spettatori possono attivarle o disattivarle. Se si desidera esportare in questo modo, è necessario selezionare "Crea file secondario".

Se si desidera avere didascalie aperte, scegliere "Masterizza didascalie nel video". Queste didascalie sono visibili in modo permanente sul video.

Method 2: Importing an SRT File (or subtitle file)

If you've already got a subtitle file, this method is faster. Follow the steps in the quick tutorial below:

Step 1: Import the file

In Premiere Pro, go to “File.” Then click, “Import” and choose your SRT file. Alternatively, you can drag it directly into the Project panel.

Step 2: Add it to your sequence

Drop the subtitle file onto your timeline and align it with your video content.

Step 3: Customize

Select your captions, then use the Essential Graphics panel to change fonts, size, color, and position on screen.

This is especially useful for teams that use templates or text editors to generate captions outside of Premiere.

Method 3: Manually create subtitles in Premiere Pro

Sometimes, manual gives you the most control. Manual editing is especially helpful if you're working with mixed audio or multiple speakers.

Step 1: Create a new caption track

In the Text panel, click “Create New Caption Track.” Then choose the subtitle format and click OK.

Step 2: Add captions

Move the playhead to where you want the caption. Click “+” to insert a new line in the Text panel and start typing.

Step 3: Adjust length and position

Drag the edges of each caption segment to match the dialog timing.

Step 4: Style your subtitles

Use the Essential Graphics panel to add brand fonts, change alignment, or create presets for future use.

How to export captions and subtitles

Once you're done, here's how to export your video file with captions:

Option 1: Burn captions into the video

In your Export Settings, go to the Captions tab and select “Burn Captions into Video.”
This makes your captions permanent, which is ideal for social media or YouTube videos.

Option 2: Create a sidecar file

Want captions to be toggleable? Choose “Create Sidecar File” in your export settings. This produces an SRT file (or other file format) that stays separate from the final cut of your video.

Tired of doing all this manually? Use Submagic instead

Let’s be honest: if you're editing short-form content for TikTok, YouTube Shorts, or Instagram Reels, opening up Premiere Pro can feel like using a firehose to water a houseplant.

Trust me when I say there are better options.

Submagic is an AI-powered captioning tool designed for creators who want to move fast. You upload your video file, and Submagic automatically:

Adds animated captions in your brand style
Highlights keywords and adds emojis
Exports ready-to-post videos in minutes
All without touching a timeline, panel, or plugin.

If you’re a busy creator or marketer, Submagic saves you hours per week—No Photoshop, no clunky editing tools, and no definitely export headaches.

Want to subtitle faster without the Premiere Pro learning curve? Try Submagic now →

Quick tips for beginners

If you’re still getting comfortable with video editing software, here are a few extra tips to get you started:

Save time with caption templates you can re-use
Keep your captions short and punchy. (Consider this a pro tip for social media!)
Use high-contrast fonts so captions are readable even on mobile
Match your subtitles to the pacing of the transitions in your video
Don’t forget to test across devices before exporting for clients or platforms like Vimeo

FAQs: Subtitles and Premiere Pro

How do I add subtitles in Premiere Pro?

Go to the Captions and Graphics workspace, transcribe your sequence, and use the Text panel to create captions. You can also import an SRT file if you already have one.

What’s the easiest way to generate subtitles in Premiere Pro?

Use the built-in speech-to-text feature to transcribe your video. Then, click "Create Captions" and customize them using the Essential Graphics panel.

How do I add foreign subtitles in Premiere Pro?

Use translated SRT subtitles or copy/paste your translated text manually. Make sure your file format supports the characters of your target language (like Japanese or Arabic), and double-check encoding settings during export.

Is Adobe Premiere Pro worth the hype?

Adobe Premiere Pro is incredibly powerful. However, it comes with a learning curve, especially if all you need is fast, branded subtitles for short-form content. If you're a long-form editor or working on broadcast-level video production, Premiere Pro makes sense because of it’s impressive features and functionality.

But if your focus is TikTok, Instagram Reels, or YouTube Shorts—and your time matters—Submagic is the faster way to go.

It adds dynamic, engaging subtitles, automatically styles your captions, and works right out of the box. There are no plugins or timeline headaches. Just smart automation and export-ready videos in literal minutes.

Ready to ditch manual subtitles and speed up your workflow? Try Submagic Free

It’s built for content creators who want more output, less friction.

L'autore

Elie

Creatore di contenuti di Submagic 🧡

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