How to Add Closed Captions or Subtitles on Vimeo

Hey there, if you are reading this then there is a high chance that you are on a lookout for a little assistance regarding how to Add Closed Captions or Subtitles on Vimeo. Well, we got you covered as you are at the right place. This article is a complete guide to do so.

In contemporary times, everyone loves to watch video content. The very reason lies in the fact that it’s entertaining, and creates an enduring impression on viewers’ minds. And, to make the content more engaging, effective, and accessible, closed captions or subtitles work perfectly.

What is Closed Captioning?

Closed captioning is the process of displaying text over a video to give the viewer more information about its content. It is a time-synchronized text that reflects an audio track and can be read while watching video content. Captions include subtitles plus a written description of what is occurring in a video. It is not restricted to just speech; it also includes non-speech elements such as sound effects that are important to understand the video. It often goes unnoticed until the moment they’re needed. Whether for accessibility, context, or the ease of watching a video on mute – captions are an effective way to enrich video.

What caption file formats does Vimeo support?

Vimeo supports various file formats like WebVTT (.vtt), SubRip (.srt files), DXFP/TTML (.dxfp), Scenarist (.scc), and SAMI (.SAMI). However, WebVTT is the preferred file format.

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How to Add Captions or Subtitles to Vimeo Videos

To upload captions (CC) on Vimeo, you need to have a closed caption file, which you can either outsource or do it yourself through DIY websites for captioning.

Now that you have the caption file, just follow these simple steps to add captions or subtitles to the Vimeo video.

Step 1: “Sign In” to your Vimeo account:

Open the Vimeo website --> Log into your Vimeo account and click on the “Manage Videos” option in the top left corner.

Step 2: Select your “Video”:

Select the “My videos” option from the dropdown menu and open the video that you want to add subtitles to.

Step 3: Go to the “Analytics” section:

After selecting your video. Click on three dots and go to the “Analytics section.

 Step 4: Go to the “Distribution” section:

 Click the Distribution option on the left-hand side vertical bar followed by “Subtitles”.

Step 5: Add the captions to your video:

Now, hit the plus (+) button and specify your captions’ language and file type. Finally, click on “Choose File” and upload the caption file. (Toggle it on to activate video captions once the file finishes uploading).

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Note- To replace, delete, download, or edit the file, click on the three dots (⋯) next to the file name and select the corresponding option from the menu.

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