The fastest way to add text in iMovie

Open your project in iMovie, position the playhead where you want the text to appear, then click the Text button in the toolbar at the top. Choose a text style from the menu that appears — iMovie shows you previews of how each one will look over your video. Click on the text box that appears in your timeline, type what you want to say, and adjust the timing by dragging the edges of the text clip left or right. That's the core of it.

The text will appear centered on your video by default. If you want to move it to a different part of the screen, click the text in the viewer (the main video window) and drag it where you want it. You can also make it bigger or smaller by dragging the corner handles around the text box.

Key Takeaways

  • Text in iMovie is added through the Text button in the toolbar, and you choose a style before the text appears on your timeline.
  • Each text clip has its own timing — you control when it starts and stops by dragging the edges of the clip in the timeline.
  • You can reposition text anywhere on the screen by clicking and dragging it in the viewer, and resize it using the corner handles.
  • Changing the text color, font, or duration happens in the inspector panel on the right side of the screen after you select the text clip.

Choosing and customizing a text style

iMovie comes with built-in text styles that include animations — the text might fade in, slide across the screen, or pop into place depending on which style you pick. When you click the Text button, a menu shows you thumbnails of each style playing over your video, so you can see what it will actually look like before you commit to it.

Once you've chosen a style and typed your text, the inspector panel on the right side of the screen shows you options to change the font, size, color, and alignment. If you don't like the animation that came with the style, you can remove it by selecting the text clip and unchecking the animation option in the inspector. This leaves you with plain text that appears and disappears without any movement.

Controlling when text appears and disappears

Text in iMovie lives on its own track in the timeline, separate from your video and audio. The text clip has a start point and an end point — the text will only be visible during that span of time. To change when the text appears, click and drag the left edge of the text clip in the timeline. To change when it disappears, drag the right edge.

If you want the text to stay on screen for the entire video, drag the right edge all the way to the end of your project. If you want it to appear only during a specific moment — like when someone is speaking — position the edges so the text clip lines up with that part of the audio or video.

Moving text around the screen

By default, iMovie places text in the center of your video. To move it somewhere else, click on the text in the viewer window (not in the timeline) and drag it to a new position. You can place it in the upper corner, along the bottom, or anywhere else that works for your video.

If you want to resize the text box itself, click on the text in the viewer and you'll see corner handles appear around it. Drag any corner handle outward to make the text box larger, or inward to make it smaller. The text inside will reflow to fit the new box size.

Adjusting text appearance in the inspector

After you select a text clip in the timeline, the inspector panel on the right shows all the controls for that text. You can change the font by clicking the font name, pick a new color by clicking the color box, and adjust the size with the slider. The alignment buttons let you left-align, center, or right-align your text within the text box.

If the text style you chose includes an animation and you want to turn it off, uncheck the animation option in the inspector. You can also adjust how long the animation takes to play — some styles let you make the fade-in faster or slower. These controls appear only when you have a text clip selected.

Adding multiple text clips to the same video

You can add as many separate text clips as you want to a single video. Each one is independent — it has its own timing, position, style, and appearance. Click the Text button again to add another text clip, choose a different style if you want, and position it on the timeline wherever it needs to be.

This is useful for adding titles at the beginning, captions during the video, credits at the end, or labels that appear over specific moments. Each text clip can have a completely different look and animation, or you can keep them consistent by using the same style for all of them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the text after I've added it to the timeline?

Yes. Double-click the text in the timeline or click it in the viewer, and the text box becomes editable. You can change the words, and you can also change the style, color, font, and animation by selecting the clip and using the inspector panel on the right.

What if the text is hard to read over my video?

You have a few options. You can change the text color to something that contrasts better with the background. You can also add a background shape behind the text — some text styles include a semi-transparent box that makes the text easier to read. Check the inspector to see if your chosen style has this option.

How do I make text appear at the exact same time as a sound or action in my video?

Drag the text clip in the timeline so its left edge lines up with the moment you want it to start. You can zoom in on the timeline to position it more precisely. Play the video to check the timing, then adjust if needed.

Can I use my own font instead of the ones iMovie provides?

iMovie uses the fonts installed on your Mac. If you install a new font through your system settings, it will appear in iMovie's font menu. You cannot upload or import fonts directly into iMovie, but any font you add to your Mac becomes available to use.

What happens if I delete a text clip by accident?

Use Command+Z to undo the deletion when ready. If you've made other changes since then, undo will step back through those changes too. If you can't undo, you'll need to add the text again from scratch.