Select the track and cue
On Mac, open Edit Captions…, confirm the caption track and language, and select the cue you want to review. With several language variants, each track needs its own text and timing check. Unlock the caption track before editing it.
On iPhone/iPad, use Titles → Captions, select Track, and tap a cue or Edit Selected Cue. The mobile editor has a separate retained-draft recovery path across relaunch.
Edit text and timing together
Correct the cue's words and its start/end in seconds. End is exclusive and must be later than Start. Decimal input uses a point. Review validation messages before applying.
Use Apply to commit text and timing together. Revert returns to the saved cue; Escape asks before reverting a dirty Mac draft. Done is unavailable while the draft is dirty. Apply or revert before changing cues or context.
If another edit changed the saved cue, read the retained-draft notice. Preserve text you need before reverting. A draft warning should not be dismissed by deleting the project.
Make the cue readable
Break long phrases at natural boundaries, keep related words together, and avoid very brief flashes. Review warnings about timing and readability. Listen for the first and last syllable while checking the cue boundaries.
For word-by-word presentation, check individual word timing against speech; correct phrase timing alone does not establish correct word timing. Keep a cue from covering an unrelated speaker or scene when a natural break is available.
Check track scope and delivery
Track-wide styling changes all cues in that track. Review several backgrounds and the smallest intended viewing size. Subtitle sidecars carry text and timing; project font, color, positioning, and animation are separate.
Inspect the last cue against the sequence ending so a stray late cue does not unintentionally extend delivery. Save, choose burn-in or sidecar output, and open the completed deliverable to confirm the intended language and appearance.