Try it freeCaptions cut off on TikTok? Fix the safe zone.
TikTok's buttons and username cover the bottom and right of the frame. Position your captions in the safe zone and burn them in so nothing gets hidden.
Captions get cut off on TikTok because the app's interface — the username and caption along the bottom, the like/comment/share buttons up the right side — sits on top of your video and covers any text placed there. The fix is to position captions in the safe zone: upload your clip to AnimateCaptions, drag each caption line into the center-to-upper-middle of the frame (clear of the bottom 25% and right 15%), and export a burned-in 9:16 MP4. The placement is locked into the file, so every word stays visible when you post.
Keep every word out of the buttons.
Position captions in the safe zone, then lock them in with a burned-in export.
- 01
Know where TikTok's safe zone is
TikTok's interface covers the bottom (username and caption text) and the right edge (the like, comment, share, and sound buttons). Keep captions out of roughly the bottom 25% and the right 15% of the frame so nothing gets hidden.
- 02
Upload your clip to AnimateCaptions
Drag your 9:16 .mp4 or .mov into the browser and let it auto-transcribe with Deepgram Nova-3. You'll get timed caption lines you can place exactly where you want them.
- 03
Drag each caption line into the safe zone
Position the caption block in the center-to-upper-middle of the frame, above TikTok's bottom bar and clear of the right-hand buttons. You can nudge lines individually so none sit under the UI.
- 04
Preview against the TikTok layout in your head
Check that no line reaches the bottom action area or the right button column. The live preview shows the true position, so what you see is where the text lands.
- 05
Export a burned-in MP4
Export a 9:16 MP4 with the captions rendered into the frames at the exact position you set. The placement is locked into the file — it won't shift when you upload.
- 06
Post it to TikTok
Upload the finished MP4 in the TikTok app. Because the captions are baked into the video at a safe position, they stay fully visible for every viewer instead of hiding behind the buttons.
Edit every word
before you export.
Live caption preview, click-to-correct transcript, per-line drag positioning, and 32+ animated styles to pick from.
TikTok captions getting cut off — FAQ.
Why are my captions cut off at the bottom on TikTok?
TikTok overlays its own interface on top of your video — the username and caption sit along the bottom and the action buttons run up the right side. Any text placed in those areas gets covered. Moving the captions up into the safe zone before you export keeps every word visible.
What is the TikTok safe zone for captions?
It's the part of the 1080×1920 frame that TikTok's UI doesn't cover. As a practical baseline, keep captions clear of roughly the bottom 25% and the right 15% of the screen. The center to upper-middle is the safest place for text.
How do I stop captions overlapping the username and buttons?
Position the caption lines higher in the frame before exporting. In AnimateCaptions you can drag each line individually, so you can lift them above the bottom bar and away from the right-hand button column, then burn them in so they stay put.
If I add captions in the TikTok app, why do they still get covered?
TikTok's own caption sticker often defaults to the lower part of the frame, right where the UI sits. Placing captions yourself in an editor and exporting a burned-in video gives you full control over where every line lands.
Will the caption position change after I upload?
No. Once captions are burned into the MP4, their position is fixed in the pixels. Whatever placement you set in the editor is exactly what every viewer sees.
Is it free?
Yes — auto-transcribe, position, and export on a free tier with no credit card. Free exports carry a small watermark; paid plans from $7.99/month remove it.
Captions that clear the UI.
Drag each line into the safe zone, export a 9:16 MP4, post it. No text hiding behind the buttons.
Try it free