The fastest way to add captions in DaVinci Resolve Free

Open your project in DaVinci Resolve Free, go to the Fusion or Edit page, and add text by clicking the text tool or dragging a text box onto your timeline. Type your caption, position it where you want it on screen, and set the duration by dragging the edges of the text clip in the timeline. DaVinci Resolve Free does not have automatic speech-to-text, so you will type captions manually — but the text tools are straightforward and the same ones professionals use in the paid version.

The process takes longer than using dedicated captioning software, but it costs nothing and keeps your entire edit in one place. If you need captions that sync to dialogue automatically, you will need to use a separate tool first, then import the caption file into DaVinci Resolve.

Key Takeaways

  • DaVinci Resolve Free lets you add text captions manually on the Fusion or Edit page using the text tool, with no automatic speech recognition built in.
  • Each caption is a separate text clip in the timeline, so you control exactly when it appears and disappears by adjusting its duration.
  • You can style captions with fonts, colors, shadows, and outlines using the Inspector panel, and save your caption style as a preset to reuse across your project.
  • For automatic captions, you can generate them in a free tool like Subtitle Edit or CapCut, export as an SRT file, and import that file into DaVinci Resolve.
  • Captions render as part of your video when you export, so they become permanent in the final file unless you export without the text layer.

Adding text captions on the Edit page

Start on the Edit page (the default workspace when you open DaVinci Resolve). Drag your video clip into the timeline at the bottom. Click the Text tool in the toolbar on the left side — it looks like a capital A. Click on the canvas where you want the caption to appear, and a text box will open.

Type your caption text directly into the box. The text will appear on screen at the frame where you clicked. By default, the text clip lasts one second. To make it longer or shorter, click and drag the right edge of the text clip in the timeline — drag right to extend it, left to shorten it. The caption will disappear when the clip ends.

To move the caption around the screen, click the Selection tool (the arrow at the top of the toolbar), then click and drag the text on the canvas. You can position it anywhere — top, bottom, center, or off to one side.

Styling captions with fonts, colors, and effects

With a text clip selected in the timeline, the Inspector panel appears on the right side of the screen. This is where you change how the caption looks. Click the Text tab in the Inspector to see font options.

Change the font by clicking the font name dropdown. Adjust the size with the Size slider. Change the color by clicking the color box next to Fill — a color picker will open. To make text easier to read over video, add a Shadow or Outline: scroll down in the Inspector, find the Shadow section, and turn it on by clicking the toggle. Adjust the shadow color and distance to make it stand out.

If you want a solid background behind your text (like a black bar), scroll to Background in the Inspector and turn it on. This creates a box behind the text that makes captions readable even over bright or busy video. Once you have styled one caption the way you want it, you can save that style as a preset: right-click the text clip and select Save as Default. Future text clips will use the same style.

Timing captions to match dialogue

The hardest part of manual captioning is making each caption appear and disappear at the right moment. Play your video and listen to when each line of dialogue starts and stops. Pause at the start of a line, add a text clip, then drag its edges in the timeline to match the duration of that line.

Use the Playhead (the vertical line in the timeline that shows where you are in the video) to line up captions precisely. Click in the timeline to move the playhead to a specific frame. Click the text clip in the timeline, then drag its left edge to align with the playhead. Do the same for the right edge to set when the caption ends.

If you have many captions to add, this process is slow. For a faster workflow, consider generating captions in a free tool first, then importing them into DaVinci Resolve as a subtitle file.

Importing captions from an SRT file

An SRT file is a plain-text format that stores captions with timecodes. Many free tools can generate SRT files from video: Subtitle Edit (Windows and Mac), CapCut (online and desktop), and Descript (free tier available) all have automatic speech recognition and can export as SRT.

To import an SRT file into DaVinci Resolve, go to the Edit page and right-click in the timeline. Select Import Subtitle Track and choose your SRT file. DaVinci Resolve will create a text clip for each caption at the exact timecode from the file. You can then edit, restyle, or adjust the timing of each caption individually.

This method is much faster if you have a long video with lots of dialogue. The automatic captions from those tools are not always perfect — you will still need to read through and fix errors — but they give you a starting point instead of typing everything from scratch.

Exporting video with captions included

When you export your finished video, the captions will be baked into the video file by default — they become part of the image and cannot be turned off by the viewer. Go to File > Export and choose your format (MP4, MOV, or another option). Click Export and DaVinci Resolve will render the video with all text clips visible.

If you want to export the video without captions, you can hide the text layer before exporting. In the timeline, look for the eye icon next to each text clip or track. Click the eye to hide that layer, then export. The video will render without those captions showing.

If you want to create a separate caption file that viewers can turn on and off (like closed captions on YouTube), you will need to export the captions as a separate SRT or VTT file. DaVinci Resolve Free does not have a built-in export for caption files, so you would need to manually create an SRT file listing each caption and its timecode, or use a third-party tool to extract the captions from your project.

Common issues and workarounds

Text sometimes appears blurry or pixelated if the font size is very small or the resolution is very high. Increase the font size or use a simpler font like Arial or Helvetica. If text is hard to read over your video, add a shadow, outline, or background as described above.

If you have many captions and the timeline becomes crowded, you can organize them by creating a separate video track just for captions. Right-click the timeline and select Add Track > Video. Drag all your text clips to this new track. This keeps captions separate from your main video and makes it easier to hide or show them all at once.

If a caption does not appear on screen, check that the text clip is on a track above your video (not below it), and that the text color is not the same as the background. Also check the duration — if the text clip is very short, it may disappear too quickly to see during playback.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can DaVinci Resolve Free automatically generate captions from audio?

No, DaVinci Resolve Free does not have built-in speech-to-text. You must type captions manually or generate them in a separate tool like CapCut or Subtitle Edit, then import the SRT file into DaVinci Resolve. The paid version, DaVinci Resolve Studio, includes automatic caption generation.

How do I make captions appear at the bottom of the screen?

Use the Selection tool to click and drag the text on the canvas. Move it down toward the bottom of the frame. Most captions are positioned in the lower third of the screen for readability. You can also adjust the vertical position using the Y value in the Inspector panel on the right.

Can I export captions as a separate file that viewers can turn on and off?

DaVinci Resolve Free does not export captions as a separate SRT or VTT file. Captions are baked into the video by default. To create separate caption files, you would need to manually write an SRT file or use a dedicated captioning tool. YouTube and other platforms can generate captions from your video after you upload it.

What font should I use for captions?

Sans-serif fonts like Arial, Helvetica, or Roboto are easiest to read on screen. Avoid thin or decorative fonts that become hard to read at smaller sizes. Choose a size of at least 24 to 32 points so captions are readable on phones and small screens.

Do captions slow down my export time?

No, captions do not significantly increase export time. DaVinci Resolve renders them as part of the video frame, just like any other visual element. Export time depends mainly on your video resolution, frame rate, and codec choice.