What you can do with text in pictures
You can edit text that appears in a picture in two ways: change what the words say, or change how they look. The method depends on whether the text is a separate layer (which you can edit directly) or baked into the image itself (which requires removing it first, then adding new text).
Most free tools let you add text over a picture or change text color and size. Removing text entirely and replacing it requires either a tool with an eraser or clone feature, or a more involved process of covering the old text and typing new words on top. The simplest route is usually to add a text box over the existing words rather than try to erase them.
This guide covers the most common situation: you have a picture with text on it, and you want to change what it says or how it looks, using tools that cost nothing and run on Windows, Mac, or a phone.
Key Takeaways
- If the text is on a separate layer (common in design files), you can edit it directly by clicking it and typing new words.
- If the text is part of the image itself, you can add a new text box over it or use an eraser tool to remove it first.
- Free tools like Photoshop Express, Canva, and Paint work on phones and computers and require no installation on the web versions.
- Changing text color, size, and font is faster than removing text entirely, and works in almost every image editor.
- If you need to remove text completely, clone or healing tools work better than erasers because they blend the background naturally.
Editing text that is on a separate layer
If you created the picture yourself in a design tool like Canva or Photoshop, the text is usually on its own layer and you can edit it by clicking on it and typing. Open the file, click the text box, and the words will become editable. Delete the old text and type the new words. Change the font, size, or color using the toolbar that appears.
If someone sent you a design file (usually a .psd, .xcf, or .figma file), open it in the same program it was made in, or in a free alternative. Photoshop files open in free Photoshop Express or GIMP. Figma files open in Figma's free web version. Click the text layer in the layers panel on the right, then click the text in the picture to edit it.
This is the fastest route because the text is not part of the image — it is a separate object you can change without touching anything else in the picture.
Adding new text over existing text
If the text is baked into the image (a .jpg, .png, or screenshot), the simplest fix is to add a new text box on top of the old words. Open the picture in Canva (free web version), click the text tool, and click where you want to add text. Type your new words. Adjust the text box size, font, and color to match or contrast with the picture. You can make the background of the text box solid or transparent.
This works well when the old text is small or you want to cover it completely. If the old text is large or you want the picture to look like the text was always what you typed, move to the next section instead.
read or export the picture when you are done. Canva exports as .png or .jpg. Most tools ask which format you want before you save.
Removing text and adding new text in its place
To make it look like the text was never there, use a clone or healing tool to paint over the old words with the background around them, then add new text. This takes longer but looks more natural.
In Photoshop Express (free on phones and web), open the picture, tap the healing tool (looks like a bandage), and paint over the text. The tool copies nearby pixels and blends them over what you painted. Work slowly and paint in small strokes. If it looks wrong, undo and try again. Once the text is gone, use the text tool to add new words where the old ones were.
In GIMP (free on Windows and Mac), use the Clone tool. Hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and click the area you want to copy from, then paint over the text. It takes practice to blend it smoothly, but the result looks professional.
On a phone without Photoshop Express, Snapseed (free on iPhone and Android) has a healing tool under Tools > Healing. Paint over the text, and the app removes it automatically. Then add new text using the text tool.
Changing text color, size, and font
If you only need to change how the text looks, not what it says, use any image editor. Open the picture in Canva, Photoshop Express, or Paint. Add a new text box with the same words in the color and size you want. Position it exactly over the old text. Make the background transparent so only the new text shows. Delete or hide the old text layer if the tool lets you, or just export the picture — the new text will cover the old one.
This is faster than trying to edit text that is part of the image, because you are not trying to erase anything. You are just covering it with new text that looks the way you want.
In Canva, click the text, then use the color picker, font menu, and size slider in the toolbar. In Photoshop Express, tap the text tool, select the text box, and use the formatting options at the bottom. In Paint (Windows), click the text tool, click where you want text, type, and use the font menu in the toolbar.
Using online tools that need no installation
Canva (canva.com) works in any web browser and is the fastest option for most people. Upload your picture, click the text tool, and type. You can change the font, size, color, and background. Export as .png or .jpg when you are done. No account is required for basic editing, though creating one is free and lets you save your work.
Photoshop Express (photoshop.adobe.com) is Adobe's free web version. Upload your picture, use the healing tool to remove text, or add new text with the text tool. It works on phones and computers. You need a free Adobe account.
Pixlr (pixlr.com) has a free web editor with text, clone, and eraser tools. Upload your picture, choose your tool, and edit. No account needed.
Paint (built into Windows) is the simplest option if you only need to add text. Open your picture, click the text tool, click where you want text, and type. It cannot remove text, but it can add text on top.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I edit text in a screenshot?
Yes. Screenshots are images, so you can add text over them or remove text using a healing tool. Canva and Photoshop Express both work. If the text is small, adding a new text box on top is faster than trying to erase it.
What if the text is at an angle in the picture?
Add new text at the same angle using Canva or Photoshop Express. Both let you rotate text boxes. If you are removing the old text, rotate the healing tool or clone tool to match the angle, or work in small strokes and blend carefully.
How do I make removed text look natural?
Use a clone or healing tool instead of an eraser. Paint in small strokes and copy from an area near the text that matches the background. Work slowly and undo if it looks wrong. Healing tools blend automatically; clone tools require more practice but give you more control.
Can I edit text in a PDF or document image?
You can add text over it or remove it using the methods in this guide, but you cannot change the actual text in the document. If you need to edit the document itself, convert it to a Word file or Google Doc first, or ask for the original file.
What format should I save the edited picture in?
Use .jpg for photos and .png for images with text or graphics. .jpg is smaller and works everywhere. .png keeps text sharp and supports transparency. Most editors let you choose when you export.