Captions
Captions for silent autoplay: a practical guide
Why captions matter on short-form, and how to make them readable on a phone.
5 November 2026 · 4 min read
People decide whether to keep watching before they decide whether to turn the sound on. Captions bridge that gap.
Big, bold, outlined
Phone screens are small and backgrounds are busy. Heavy type with a thick dark outline stays readable over bright gameplay.
Fewer words at once
One to three words at a time keeps the eye moving with the speech instead of reading ahead.
Highlight the current word
A moving highlight in your brand colour shows exactly where the speech is — and makes clips recognisably yours.
Mind the safe zones
Platforms overlay buttons along the right edge and captions along the bottom. Middle-of-frame captions avoid both.
Check names and slang
Automatic transcription is very good, but usernames, game terms and slang are worth a quick check before you export.