Add subtitles in Apple iMovie

Step by step

1. Finish your edit in iMovie, click the Share button and choose Export File to save your movie as an MP4.
2. Upload the MP4 to the HappyScribe subtitle generator (start with the free trial) and select the language spoken in the video.
3. AI generates the subtitles in a few minutes, with up to 98% accuracy in 150+ languages.
4. Check the text and timing in the online subtitle editor, keep each line short, and translate into 80+ languages if you need other versions.
5. Export an SRT or VTT file to upload with your video on YouTube or Vimeo, or export the video with the subtitles burned in.

What iMovie accepts

iMovie has no caption track and cannot import SRT, VTT or any other subtitle file. Its only text tool is Titles, which means typing every line by hand. In practice you have two options: a subtitle file uploaded next to the exported video, or subtitles burned into the picture. If you need a real caption track on a Mac, Final Cut Pro imports SRT, iTT and SCC caption files (see how to add subtitles in Final Cut Pro).

Captions file or burned-in subtitles?

Use an SRT or VTT file when the video goes to a platform with a captions setting, such as YouTube or Vimeo. Viewers can turn the captions off, you can fix a typo without exporting the video again, and you can add several languages to one upload.

Burn the subtitles in for Instagram, TikTok, WhatsApp or any player that ignores caption files. The HappyScribe video export hardcodes them with the font, size and position you set in the editor, so you never have to rebuild them as iMovie titles. Burn them in last: once subtitles are part of the picture, any later cut in iMovie throws them out of sync.

iMovie subtitles: FAQ

Does iMovie have auto captions?

No, iMovie cannot generate captions automatically. Export your movie, let HappyScribe create the subtitles with AI, then upload the file with the video or download a version with the subtitles burned in.

Can I import an SRT file into iMovie?

No, iMovie cannot open SRT or other subtitle files. Upload the SRT to your video platform instead, or export the video from HappyScribe with the subtitles already burned in.

How do I add subtitles manually in iMovie?

Use titles: select Titles above the browser, drag a title over the clip, then type the line in the viewer. Repeat this for every line, which is why it only suits short videos. Apple explains the export step in its guide to sharing or exporting an iMovie video.

Will burned-in subtitles stay in sync if I edit the video again?

No, burned-in subtitles are part of the image, so any cut you make afterwards shifts them. Finish the edit in iMovie first, then generate subtitles from the final export.