Add subtitles in Adobe Premiere Pro

Step by step: add subtitles to a video in Premiere Pro

1. Upload your video, or a draft export of your sequence, to the HappyScribe subtitle generator and start with the free trial.
2. Pick the spoken language. The AI writes the subtitles in a few minutes, in any of 150+ languages, from English to Chinese or Arabic.
3. Check wording, timing and line length in the online subtitle editor, and translate into 80+ languages if you need other versions.
4. Export the file as SRT. For broadcast closed captions, export SCC; for European broadcast deliveries, EBU-STL.
5. In Premiere Pro, import the SRT into your project like any media file, then drag it from the Project panel onto your sequence. Premiere Pro creates a new caption track and places every subtitle at its timecode.
6. Go to Window > Workspaces > Captions and Graphics to review the captions and make last edits in the Text panel.

Caption formats Premiere Pro accepts

Premiere Pro imports sidecar caption files in SRT, SCC, MCC, STL and XML (W3C TTML/DFXP, SMPTE-TT, EBU-TT). Of the formats HappyScribe exports, SRT, SCC and EBU-STL go straight onto a caption track. WebVTT (.vtt) is not on Adobe's list of supported caption formats, so choose SRT. HappyScribe's Premiere Pro XML export creates markers, not captions.

Caption track or burned-in subtitles?

Keep a caption track and deliver a sidecar file when viewers should be able to turn subtitles on and off: YouTube, Vimeo, streaming platforms, e-learning, accessibility requirements, or several languages for the same video. Burn subtitles in for social clips that people watch muted, or for players that ignore caption files.

In the Export workspace, open the Captions section and choose Create Sidecar File, Burn Captions Into Video, or Embed In Output File (QuickTime and MXF OP1a only). If you don't need to edit the video, HappyScribe can also export it with the subtitles burned in, or you can use the online tool to add subtitles to a video.

Style tips for Premiere Pro captions

Select a caption and use the Properties panel to set font, size, color, stroke, shadow and alignment, then save it as a Track style so every caption on the track matches. Keep subtitles to two short lines. For animated, social-style text, Graphics and Titles > Upgrade Caption to Graphic turns a caption into an editable graphic.

Premiere Pro subtitles: FAQ

Can Premiere Pro generate subtitles automatically?

Yes: Premiere Pro can transcribe a sequence and create captions from the transcript. HappyScribe helps when you need 150+ languages, translation into 80+ languages, or one subtitle file you can reuse in other tools such as After Effects.

How do I import an SRT file into Premiere Pro?

Import the SRT into your project like a clip, then drag it onto the sequence. Premiere Pro adds a caption track automatically and places each subtitle at the right time.

Can I use a VTT file in Premiere Pro?

Not directly, because WebVTT isn't among the caption formats Adobe lists for Premiere Pro. Export the same subtitles from HappyScribe as SRT and import that file instead.

Why are my imported captions out of sync?

Usually the subtitles were made from a different cut or start time than the sequence. Generate them from the final export of the sequence, or select all captions on the track and move them until the first line matches the dialogue.