Published by the Zolyp team ·
Which caption option should you use?
| Option | What it does | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Closed captions | Automatic speech-to-text at the bottom of the reel, which you switch on or off | More options, when you create or edit a reel |
| Captions sticker | An on-screen transcript you can recolour, change the font of and edit word by word | Stickers, on a story or reel |
| Edits captions | Generated captions with a chosen language, style and transcription controls | The Edits app |
| Text tool | Text you type yourself, with optional text-to-speech | The text option while editing a reel |
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Manage closed captions for your reels on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Using stickers on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Add text or captions to your video on Edits, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Add text and text-to-speech to your reel on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026
How do you turn on closed captions for a new reel?
Closed captions are managed in the Instagram app on Android and iPhone. Instagram says the feature isn't available on computers.
- Tap Create at the top, or swipe right anywhere in Feed.
- At the bottom, tap Reel.
- Select a video from your camera roll, then tap Next.
- Tap Next again.
- At the bottom, tap More options.
- Turn on the toggle next to Enable closed captions.
- To turn caption translations on, use the toggle next to Translate closed captions.
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Manage closed captions for your reels on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026
How do you change captions on a reel you've already posted?
Instagram says captions on reels you posted earlier follow your caption settings by default, and you can still change them after posting.
- Go to your profile.
- Select the reel you want to edit.
- At the top, tap Options, then Edit.
- Tap More options.
- Use the toggles next to Enable closed captions and Translate closed captions.
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Manage closed captions for your reels on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026
How do you add a Captions sticker you can edit?
Our advice: use the sticker when the transcription gets a product or place name wrong, because you can correct it before you share.
- Record a reel, or add a video to your story.
- Tap Stickers at the top.
- Choose Captions. Instagram transcribes the audio automatically.
- Tap the transcript, then the colour picker at the top to change the colour, or the options at the bottom to change the font.
- To fix a word, tap the transcript twice, then tap the word and edit it.
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Using stickers on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026
How do you generate captions in Edits?
You can also drag either end of a text clip to change how long it stays on screen.
- In the Edits app, open a project.
- Tap Captions.
- Choose the language spoken in your video, the caption style and the transcription controls (punctuation, title case and whether to show curse words).
- Tap Generate captions.
- Select the captions layer to change the style, edit the words, adjust opacity, add a second language or move the captions.
Source: Instagram Help Centre: Add text or captions to your video on Edits, checked 15 October 2026
Why aren't your captions showing?
- You're on a computer. Closed captions are only managed in the Android and iPhone apps
- There's no Captions sticker. Update the app; Instagram says not all stickers are available to everyone or for reels
- You're in Europe. Instagram says stickers may be unavailable for countries in Europe
- Video caption settings are missing. Instagram says reel and video caption controls are only available in some locations
- A word is wrong in closed captions. Use the Captions sticker, which you can edit word by word
- Text-to-speech is missing. Instagram lists it as English only, in selected countries such as the UK, US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Ireland and India
Sources: Instagram Help Centre: Manage closed captions for your reels on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Manage reels and video captions on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Using stickers on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026; Instagram Help Centre: Add text and text-to-speech to your reel on Instagram, checked 15 October 2026
Spend the time on the video
Disclosure: this is our product. Zolyp plans, writes and designs your Instagram posts, including the written caption under each one, and publishes them once you approve, so you have more time to record and caption your reels. There's a 3-day free trial, no card required.
Common questions
Does Instagram add captions to reels automatically?
It can. Turn on Enable closed captions in More options when you create or edit a reel, and Instagram uses speech recognition to write out the speech.
Can I edit Instagram's automatic captions?
The Captions sticker can be edited: tap the transcript twice, then tap a word to change it. You can also change its colour and font.
Can I turn captions on for a reel I already posted?
Yes. Open the reel, tap Options, Edit, then More options, and use the Enable closed captions toggle.
Can I add captions to Instagram reels on a computer?
Not closed captions. Instagram says that feature isn't available on computers, only in the Android and iPhone apps.
Can captions be translated?
Yes. Turn on Translate closed captions in More options when creating or editing the reel.