Add subtitles in Twitch

Twitch has no button to upload a subtitle file. Captions only show on the Twitch player when they are embedded in the live video signal, so most streamers caption the stream live from their broadcast software and subtitle the recording afterwards. Here is the workflow for the recording.

Step by step: subtitle a Twitch VOD or clip

1. Open your Video Producer on Twitch and download the past broadcast or highlight. Twitch only keeps past broadcasts for a limited time, so save them before they expire.
2. Upload the video to HappyScribe (start with the free trial) and choose the language spoken on stream.
3. The AI generates subtitles in a few minutes, with up to 98% accuracy on clear audio.
4. Fix usernames, game titles and in-jokes in the online subtitle editor, and adjust timing and line length.
5. Export the video with the subtitles burned in, or export an SRT file for platforms that accept caption files.
6. Post the subtitled clip where you promote your channel, or upload it back to Twitch from the Video Producer if uploads are available on your channel.

What caption formats does Twitch accept?

None as a file. Twitch's Live Closed Captions system accepts CEA-708/EIA-608 captions embedded in the stream, either in the video itself or sent over RTMP by your encoder. There is no field to attach an SRT or VTT file to a VOD, highlight or upload. The SRT you export from HappyScribe is still useful when you repost the same video on platforms that do take caption files, like YouTube.

Live closed captions or burned-in subtitles?

• During the stream: send closed captions from your broadcast software. Twitch's help center recommends a closed captioning plugin for OBS Studio. Viewers turn them on with the CC button and change size and colour under Settings > Closed Captions.
• After the stream: burn the subtitles into highlights and clips. They then show on any player, in Shorts, Reels or TikTok, and in muted autoplay.
• For other languages: translate your subtitles into 80+ languages and export one burned-in version per language.

Burned-in subtitles can't be switched off, so keep them short: two lines at most, placed where they don't cover your facecam, alerts or chat overlay. HappyScribe's subtitle generator lets you set font, size and position before you export.

Twitch subtitles: FAQ

Does Twitch have subtitles?

Yes, but only when the streamer provides them. The CC button appears on the player when captions are embedded in a live stream or video. Without them, viewers can use their device's own live captions, such as Live Captions on Windows.

Can I upload an SRT file to Twitch?

No, Twitch has no caption file upload for VODs, highlights or uploads. Burn the subtitles into the video with HappyScribe before you upload it, or attach the SRT on another platform where you repost the video.

How do I add live captions to my Twitch stream?

Add them in your broadcast software. Twitch recommends a closed captioning plugin for OBS Studio that turns your speech into captions in real time, and also accepts CEA-708/EIA-608 captions sent by an encoder.

How do I transcribe a Twitch VOD?

Download the VOD from the Video Producer and upload it to HappyScribe. You get a transcript and subtitles from the same file, in 150+ languages, ready to export as text, SRT or a subtitled video.