diff --git a/src/components/video-editor/SettingsPanel.tsx b/src/components/video-editor/SettingsPanel.tsx
index 90e2ca8e..6bfe0f7d 100644
--- a/src/components/video-editor/SettingsPanel.tsx
+++ b/src/components/video-editor/SettingsPanel.tsx
@@ -2778,6 +2778,18 @@ export function SettingsPanel({
 						</SelectContent>
 					</Select>
 				</div>
+				<div className="flex items-center justify-between gap-3 rounded-lg bg-foreground/[0.03] px-2.5 py-2">
+					<div className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
+						{tSettings("captions.timelineQuickAdd", "Hover to add on timeline")}
+					</div>
+					<Switch
+						checked={autoCaptionSettings.timelineQuickAdd}
+						onCheckedChange={(timelineQuickAdd) =>
+							updateAutoCaptionSettings({ timelineQuickAdd })
+						}
+						className="data-[state=checked]:bg-[#2563EB] scale-75"
+					/>
+				</div>
 				<label className="flex items-center justify-between rounded-lg bg-foreground/[0.03] px-2.5 py-2">
 					<span className="text-[10px] text-muted-foreground">
 						{tSettings("captions.textColor", "Text color")}
diff --git a/src/components/video-editor/VideoEditor.tsx b/src/components/video-editor/VideoEditor.tsx
index fc66c7dd..96b75e82 100644
--- a/src/components/video-editor/VideoEditor.tsx
+++ b/src/components/video-editor/VideoEditor.tsx
@@ -6848,6 +6848,7 @@ export default function VideoEditor() {
 						onCaptionDelete={handleCaptionDelete}
 						onCaptionAdded={handleCaptionAdded}
 						captionsEnabled={autoCaptionSettings.enabled}
+						captionQuickAddEnabled={autoCaptionSettings.timelineQuickAdd}
 						annotationRegions={annotationRegions}
 						onAnnotationAdded={handleAnnotationAdded}
 						onAnnotationSpanChange={handleAnnotationSpanChange}
diff --git a/src/components/video-editor/projectPersistence.ts b/src/components/video-editor/projectPersistence.ts
index edc36012..9810d5fb 100644
--- a/src/components/video-editor/projectPersistence.ts
+++ b/src/components/video-editor/projectPersistence.ts
@@ -759,6 +759,10 @@ export function normalizeProjectEditor(editor: Partial<ProjectEditorState>): Pro
 			typeof rawAutoCaptionSettings.enabled === "boolean"
 				? rawAutoCaptionSettings.enabled
 				: DEFAULT_AUTO_CAPTION_SETTINGS.enabled,
+		timelineQuickAdd:
+			typeof rawAutoCaptionSettings.timelineQuickAdd === "boolean"
+				? rawAutoCaptionSettings.timelineQuickAdd
+				: DEFAULT_AUTO_CAPTION_SETTINGS.timelineQuickAdd,
 		language:
 			typeof rawAutoCaptionSettings.language === "string" &&
 			rawAutoCaptionSettings.language.trim()
diff --git a/src/components/video-editor/timeline/TimelineEditor.tsx b/src/components/video-editor/timeline/TimelineEditor.tsx
index 0607ea5e..27d98006 100644
--- a/src/components/video-editor/timeline/TimelineEditor.tsx
+++ b/src/components/video-editor/timeline/TimelineEditor.tsx
@@ -74,6 +74,7 @@ export interface TimelineEditorProps {
 	onCaptionDelete?: (id: string) => void;
 	onCaptionAdded?: (span: Span) => void;
 	captionsEnabled?: boolean;
+	captionQuickAddEnabled?: boolean;
 	selectedCaptionId?: string | null;
 	onSelectCaption?: (id: string | null) => void;
 	videoPath?: string | null;
@@ -155,6 +156,7 @@ const TimelineEditor = forwardRef<TimelineEditorHandle, TimelineEditorProps>(
 			onCaptionDelete,
 			onCaptionAdded,
 			captionsEnabled = false,
+			captionQuickAddEnabled = true,
 			selectedCaptionId,
 			onSelectCaption,
 			videoPath,
@@ -477,6 +479,7 @@ const TimelineEditor = forwardRef<TimelineEditorHandle, TimelineEditorProps>(
 							onAddCaptionAtMs={addCaptionAtMs}
 							canPlaceCaptionAtMs={canPlaceCaptionAtMs}
 							captionsEnabled={captionsEnabled}
+							captionQuickAddEnabled={captionQuickAddEnabled}
 							onSelectZoom={handleSelectZoom}
 							onSelectClip={handleSelectClip}
 							onSelectAnnotation={handleSelectAnnotation}
diff --git a/src/components/video-editor/timeline/components/viewport/TimelineCanvas.tsx b/src/components/video-editor/timeline/components/viewport/TimelineCanvas.tsx
index 928f7536..e217894e 100644
--- a/src/components/video-editor/timeline/components/viewport/TimelineCanvas.tsx
+++ b/src/components/video-editor/timeline/components/viewport/TimelineCanvas.tsx
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ interface TimelineCanvasProps {
 	onAddCaptionAtMs?: (startMs: number) => void;
 	canPlaceCaptionAtMs?: (startMs: number) => boolean;
 	captionsEnabled?: boolean;
+	captionQuickAddEnabled?: boolean;
 	selectedZoomId: string | null;
 	selectedClipId?: string | null;
 	selectedAnnotationId?: string | null;
@@ -160,12 +161,13 @@ function useTimelineLaneHover({
 	const onClick = useCallback(
 		(event: MouseEvent<HTMLDivElement>) => {
 			event.stopPropagation();
-			if (!onAddAtMs || hoverMs === null) return;
+			// Respect the lane's enabled flag so a hidden ghost can't still add on click.
+			if (!enabled || !onAddAtMs || hoverMs === null) return;
 			const startMs = Math.max(0, Math.min(hoverMs, videoDurationMs));
 			if (canPlaceAtMs && !canPlaceAtMs(startMs)) return;
 			onAddAtMs(startMs);
 		},
-		[canPlaceAtMs, onAddAtMs, videoDurationMs, hoverMs],
+		[enabled, canPlaceAtMs, onAddAtMs, videoDurationMs, hoverMs],
 	);
 
 	const reset = useCallback(() => {
@@ -215,6 +217,7 @@ interface TimelineHoverParams {
 	onAddCaptionAtMs?: (startMs: number) => void;
 	canPlaceCaptionAtMs?: (startMs: number) => boolean;
 	captionsEnabled?: boolean;
+	captionQuickAddEnabled?: boolean;
 	isDragging: boolean;
 	valueToPixels: (value: number) => number;
 }
@@ -230,6 +233,7 @@ function useTimelineHover({
 	onAddCaptionAtMs,
 	canPlaceCaptionAtMs,
 	captionsEnabled,
+	captionQuickAddEnabled = true,
 	isDragging,
 	valueToPixels,
 }: TimelineHoverParams) {
@@ -289,7 +293,7 @@ function useTimelineHover({
 		videoDurationMs,
 		valueToPixels,
 		ghostDurationMs: Math.min(DEFAULT_CAPTION_DURATION_MS, videoDurationMs),
-		enabled: Boolean(captionsEnabled),
+		enabled: Boolean(captionsEnabled) && captionQuickAddEnabled,
 		isDragging,
 		onAddAtMs: onAddCaptionAtMs,
 		canPlaceAtMs: canPlaceCaptionAtMs,
@@ -731,6 +735,7 @@ export default function TimelineCanvas({
 	onAddCaptionAtMs,
 	canPlaceCaptionAtMs,
 	captionsEnabled,
+	captionQuickAddEnabled,
 	onSelectZoom,
 	onSelectClip,
 	onSelectAnnotation,
@@ -954,6 +959,7 @@ export default function TimelineCanvas({
 		onAddCaptionAtMs,
 		canPlaceCaptionAtMs,
 		captionsEnabled,
+		captionQuickAddEnabled,
 		isDragging,
 		valueToPixels,
 	});
diff --git a/src/components/video-editor/types.ts b/src/components/video-editor/types.ts
index 6ed6c9b4..98eefb3f 100644
--- a/src/components/video-editor/types.ts
+++ b/src/components/video-editor/types.ts
@@ -553,6 +553,8 @@ export type AutoCaptionAnimation = "none" | "fade" | "rise" | "pop";
 
 export interface AutoCaptionSettings {
 	enabled: boolean;
+	/** Show the hover ghost on the timeline caption track for click-to-add. */
+	timelineQuickAdd: boolean;
 	language: string;
 	fontFamily: string;
 	fontSize: number;
@@ -568,6 +570,7 @@ export interface AutoCaptionSettings {
 
 export const DEFAULT_AUTO_CAPTION_SETTINGS: AutoCaptionSettings = {
 	enabled: false,
+	timelineQuickAdd: true,
 	language: "auto",
 	fontFamily: getDefaultCaptionFontFamily(),
 	fontSize: 30,
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/en/settings.json b/src/i18n/locales/en/settings.json
index 3e1d2be1..45df5b06 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/en/settings.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/en/settings.json
@@ -168,6 +168,7 @@
 	"captions": {
 		"selectOnTimeline": "Select a caption on the timeline to edit it.",
 		"enabled": "Show",
+		"timelineQuickAdd": "Hover to add on timeline",
 		"language": "Language",
 		"downloading": "Downloading...",
 		"deleteModel": "Delete Model",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/es/settings.json b/src/i18n/locales/es/settings.json
index c2e1c7bd..a901f80d 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/es/settings.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/es/settings.json
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@
 	"captions": {
 		"selectOnTimeline": "Selecciona un subtítulo en la línea de tiempo para editarlo.",
 		"enabled": "Mostrar",
+		"timelineQuickAdd": "Pasar el cursor para añadir en la línea de tiempo",
 		"language": "Idioma",
 		"downloading": "Descargando...",
 		"deleteModel": "Eliminar modelo",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/fr/settings.json b/src/i18n/locales/fr/settings.json
index a497c28d..d18c990c 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/fr/settings.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/fr/settings.json
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@
 	"captions": {
 		"selectOnTimeline": "Sélectionnez un sous-titre sur la timeline pour le modifier.",
 		"enabled": "Afficher",
+		"timelineQuickAdd": "Survoler pour ajouter sur la timeline",
 		"language": "Langue",
 		"downloading": "Téléchargement...",
 		"deleteModel": "Supprimer le modèle",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/it/settings.json b/src/i18n/locales/it/settings.json
index 4d2e9234..b2bbb9dd 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/it/settings.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/it/settings.json
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@
 	"captions": {
 		"selectOnTimeline": "Seleziona un sottotitolo sulla timeline per modificarlo.",
 		"enabled": "Mostra",
+		"timelineQuickAdd": "Passa il mouse per aggiungere sulla timeline",
 		"language": "Lingua",
 		"downloading": "Download in corso...",
 		"deleteModel": "Elimina modello",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ko/settings.json b/src/i18n/locales/ko/settings.json
index d779b16e..c83f2a0f 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ko/settings.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ko/settings.json
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@
 	"captions": {
 		"selectOnTimeline": "타임라인에서 자막을 선택하여 편집하세요.",
 		"enabled": "표시",
+		"timelineQuickAdd": "타임라인에 마우스를 올려 추가",
 		"language": "언어",
 		"downloading": "다운로드 중...",
 		"deleteModel": "모델 삭제",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/nl/settings.json b/src/i18n/locales/nl/settings.json
index dea24ea3..d829a6cd 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/nl/settings.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/nl/settings.json
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@
 	"captions": {
 		"selectOnTimeline": "Selecteer een ondertitel op de tijdlijn om deze te bewerken.",
 		"enabled": "Tonen",
+		"timelineQuickAdd": "Aanwijzen om toe te voegen op tijdlijn",
 		"language": "Taal",
 		"downloading": "Downloaden...",
 		"deleteModel": "Model verwijderen",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/pt-BR/settings.json b/src/i18n/locales/pt-BR/settings.json
index f0f4e558..d6d0a48a 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/pt-BR/settings.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/pt-BR/settings.json
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@
 	"captions": {
 		"selectOnTimeline": "Selecione uma legenda na linha do tempo para editá-la.",
 		"enabled": "Mostrar",
+		"timelineQuickAdd": "Passe o cursor para adicionar na linha do tempo",
 		"language": "Idioma",
 		"downloading": "Baixando...",
 		"deleteModel": "Excluir modelo",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/ru/settings.json b/src/i18n/locales/ru/settings.json
index 4637398b..b879899a 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/ru/settings.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/ru/settings.json
@@ -142,6 +142,7 @@
 	"captions": {
 		"selectOnTimeline": "Выберите субтитры на таймлайне, чтобы отредактировать их.",
 		"enabled": "Показать",
+		"timelineQuickAdd": "Наведите курсор, чтобы добавить на таймлайн",
 		"language": "Язык",
 		"downloading": "Загрузка...",
 		"deleteModel": "Удалить модель",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN/settings.json b/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN/settings.json
index 79dfbc95..6f237730 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN/settings.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/zh-CN/settings.json
@@ -137,6 +137,7 @@
 	"captions": {
 		"selectOnTimeline": "在时间轴上选择字幕进行编辑。",
 		"enabled": "显示",
+		"timelineQuickAdd": "悬停以在时间轴上添加",
 		"language": "语言",
 		"downloading": "下载中...",
 		"deleteModel": "删除模型",
diff --git a/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/settings.json b/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/settings.json
index 8fdfcb82..0be69657 100644
--- a/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/settings.json
+++ b/src/i18n/locales/zh-TW/settings.json
@@ -120,6 +120,7 @@
 	"captions": {
 		"selectOnTimeline": "在時間軸上選擇字幕進行編輯。",
 		"enabled": "顯示",
+		"timelineQuickAdd": "懸停以在時間軸上新增",
 		"language": "語言",
 		"downloading": "下載中...",
 		"deleteModel": "刪除模型",