[Fixed] Captions burning into video even when not selected to

[JTW Jr]

When I export a video ( h.264 ) I am selecting to create a sidecar file ( SRT ) on the captions tab , when I export, it does create the SRT file, but it also burns the closed captions into the video. When I select NONE for Caption Export options when exporting, it is still burning the closed captions into the MP4 file.

This is happening on all 23 sequences inside my project file. The only way I can get the captions to not burn in, is to turn off the eyeball on the Subtitle track. Which then requires me to re-render the entire timeline.

This is using Premiere v15.4.1 build 6 . Any thoughts ?

[weccleston]

Brand new year, latest update, still an issue.

[weccleston]

Actually, like another poster, I always start projects from a template I've been using for years.  I tried exporting a captioned sequence from a new project, and it behaves as it should (captions don't export when "None" is selected in Media Encoder).  Time to create a new Template project I guess.

[Barry-KOMOTV]

Captions are suddenly being burned into MP4 files from 1 sequence in a project. That same sequence did not display this issue earlier today. The MXF exports do have proper captions burned in.

The other sequence does not burn them into the MP4 file. However, it does NOT have any captions on the MXF export where they should be.

So 2 sequences with different issues.

I drag sequences into a ME where I have a folder with an export preset alias for each file type I need.

I can turn off the captions track and the sequence exports correctly. I cannot get captions to show up in the longer sequence MXF exports. Note that the previous version of Premiere just stopped working this morning, it refused to open after a computer restart. That prompted me to update.

It would sure be nice if this bug could be eliminated once and for all.

This is with the now latest version of Premiere 25.2.1 build 2 and Media Encoder 25.2 build 141. MacBook Pro M1, Sequoia 15.3.2.

Screenshot notes: A shot where the file is being played back with the captions showing, note the file is MP4. One shot of ME encoding, the burned captions show in the preview window. One shot of the 2 exported MXF files imported back into Premiere where no captions show for the longer video.

[ghuff]

This has started happening again in Premiere v25.3.0.

[ghuff]

One way to get around this issue is to disable the subtitle track in the sequence, and you can still export with a sidecar file no problem.

[ghuff · Accepted solution]

WIth the new Premiere 25.4 update, this problem has been resolved.

[CLWill]

If you go back through the four years of this bug, it has been reported "fixed" at least four times. I'll wait to be sure. 😬

[john_1543]

Its came back so often, they may as well call it a " Feature "  🙂

[Barry-KOMOTV]

I just rebuilt the computer and Premiere 25.4.0 Build 99 is what I am using and teh bug persists on this version.

[Barry-KOMOTV]

For what its worth, after some time with Adobe technical support we found that Media Encoder and Premiere are actually changing a setting in both my presets and the built in presets. In the export options window under captions "Burn Captions into Video" gets selected on presets that were set to "None." I was able to delete presets and import correct presets, open the preset settings window and verify that None was selected. Then after restarting Media Encoder and Premiere that setting was changed to burn captions into video. 

[CLWill]

Wow. That's not just broken. It's _trying to_ be broken 🤣

[Barry-KOMOTV]

@Kevin-Monahan We can confirm that this issues is happening on 3 identical 2021 MacBook Pros in our department. Media Encoder is changing the setting in presets. H264, ProRes, and MXF exports are all being changed. This includes newly made presets and even some of the built in presets- though I did not check too many as I never use any of them. All are running the latest versions of your software as of 8/19/25.