# What are open captions?

> Open captions are burned into the picture, so every viewer sees them. See how they differ from closed captions, how to export them and a safe-zone example.
- **Author**: Marxx
- **Published**: 2026-11-07
- **Category**: Video editing
- **URL**: https://marxx.ai/library-glossary/open-captions

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Open captions are text burned into the video picture, so every viewer sees them and nobody can turn them off. Closed captions are the opposite: a separate track that viewers can switch on or off.

## Open or closed

| Question | Open captions | Closed captions |
|---|---|---|
| Can the viewer turn them off? | No | Yes |
| Where are they stored? | In the picture | In a separate track or file |
| Who controls the style? | You | Often the player |
| Extra file needed? | No | Often an SRT file |

See the full comparison of [open and closed captions for video ads](/compare/open-captions-vs-closed-captions) and the page on [closed captions](/glossary/closed-captions).

## A worked example

Say your video is 1,080 x 1,920 pixels. Meta's Reels ad guide suggests keeping about 14% at the top and 35% at the bottom free of text.

- Top: 1,920 x 0.14 = about **269 pixels**.
- Bottom: 1,920 x 0.35 = **672 pixels**, so the limit is 1,920 − 672 = **1,248 pixels** from the top.

Your captions must sit between 269 and 1,248 pixels from the top. The pixel figures are our arithmetic on Meta's percentages. Meta lists captions as optional but recommended (checked 3 Nov 2026).

## How to burn them in

- **Premiere Pro (now called Adobe Premiere):** open Export and go to the Captions section. Set Export Options to "Burn Captions Into Video".
- **Final Cut Pro:** in the Share window click Roles, then the Captions button. Choose a language in the "Burn in captions" pop-up.
- **Canva:** download the design as an MP4 video, and the captions come with it.
- **Descript:** embedded subtitles are not burned in. Use its custom captions to burn them in.

Marxx's [AI video editor](/features/ai-video-editor) makes captions at word, phrase or sentence level, in styles trending on Reels and Shorts. It can also export them as SRT or VTT. We make Marxx.

## FAQ

### Do Meta ads need captions?

Meta calls captions and sound optional but recommended on Feed, Stories and Reels.

### Can I edit open captions after I export?

No. Change the captions in your project and export again.

### Are open captions good for accessibility?

Burned-in text is part of the picture, so assistive tools cannot read it. Also supply a caption file where the platform accepts one.

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