The fastest way to add text in CapCut

Open your video in CapCut and tap the Text button at the bottom of the screen — it looks like the letter "T". A text box appears on your timeline at the playhead position. Type what you want, then tap outside the box to confirm. The text lands on your video at that exact frame and stays there until you delete it or set an end time.

That is the whole process for a single line of text. Everything else — changing the font, moving the text around, making it fade in or out, changing the color — happens in the editing panel that opens when you tap the text box again.

CapCut handles text differently depending on whether you are using the mobile app (iOS or Android) or the desktop version. The steps below cover the mobile app, which is where most people start. Desktop has the same features but the buttons are in different places.

Key Takeaways

  • Tap the Text button, type your words, and tap outside the box to place text on your video at the current frame.
  • Tap the text box again to open the editing panel where you change font, size, color, alignment, and animation.
  • Text stays on screen for the full length of your video unless you set an end time or delete it.
  • You can add multiple text boxes to the same video, and each one can have different fonts, colors, and animations.
  • Animations like fade-in and slide-in are found in the Effects tab, not in the main text settings.

Placing text at the right moment in your video

The frame where your playhead sits when you tap Text is where the text will start. If you want text to appear at the 5-second mark, drag the playhead to 5 seconds first, then tap Text. The text box will be positioned at that point on your timeline.

Once the text is placed, you can move it forward or backward by dragging it along the timeline. The text box on the timeline shows as a colored bar — drag the left edge to change when it starts, or drag the right edge to change when it ends. If you want text to appear for only 3 seconds instead of the whole video, drag the right edge of the text bar to the left.

You can also tap and drag the text directly on the video preview to move it around the screen. This changes its position in the frame, not its timing.

Changing how the text looks

Tap the text box on your timeline, then tap it again in the preview to open the editing panel. You will see tabs at the bottom: Text, Style, Effects, and sometimes More. The Text tab is where you edit the actual words and choose the font. Tap the font name to see all available fonts — CapCut comes with dozens, from clean sans-serif to decorative script styles.

In the Style tab, you can change the text color by tapping the color square, adjust the size with a slider, and set the alignment (left, center, or right). You can also add a background color or outline to make the text stand out against a busy video. The opacity slider lets you make text semi-transparent if you want it to blend with the background.

The Effects tab is where animations live. Tap it to see options like Fade In, Slide In, Zoom In, and Typewriter (which makes the text appear letter by letter). Each animation has a duration you can adjust — a fade-in might last 0.5 seconds or 2 seconds depending on what you want.

Adding multiple text boxes and keeping them organized

You can add as many text boxes as you want to a single video. Each one is independent — you can have one text box fade in while another slides in, and they can be different colors and fonts. Tap the Text button again and repeat the process for each new line.

If you have many text boxes, the timeline gets crowded. Tap and hold a text box on the timeline to see options like Duplicate (which copies the text and all its settings) or Delete. Duplicating is faster than creating a new box if you want similar text elsewhere in the video.

Text boxes stack on top of each other in the order they appear on the timeline. If one text box is covering another, you can reorder them by dragging them left or right on the timeline, or you can move one of them to a different position on the screen in the preview.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is forgetting to set an end time, so text stays on screen for the entire video when you only wanted it for 10 seconds. Always check the timeline and drag the right edge of the text bar to match the length you need.

Another frequent issue is text that is too small to read, especially on a phone screen. Start with a larger size than you think you need — you can always make it smaller. If your text is hard to read against the video background, add a background color or outline in the Style tab.

Text that is positioned off-center or cut off at the edge usually means you dragged it too far in the preview. Tap the text box and drag it back toward the center of the screen. You can also use the alignment buttons in the Style tab to center it automatically.

Using text templates and presets

CapCut includes preset text styles that come with matching fonts, colors, and animations already applied. Tap the Text button and look for a row of preset options above the keyboard — these are quick-start templates. Tap one and the text box appears with that style already applied. You just type your words and the formatting is done.

If you find a text style you like, you can use it multiple times in the same video. Duplicate the text box and change only the words, and the font, color, and animation stay the same. This is much faster than recreating the same look for each line.

The presets change depending on which version of CapCut you have and whether you have a paid subscription. Free users have access to a solid set of basic styles. Paid users unlock additional fonts and animations, but the free options are enough for most projects.

Exporting your video with text

When you are done editing, tap the Export button (usually at the top right). CapCut will render your video with all the text, animations, and effects baked in. The export process takes longer if you have many text boxes or complex animations, but the text will appear exactly as you see it in the preview.

Choose your resolution and frame rate before exporting — higher resolution takes longer to process but looks sharper. Most phones and social media platforms work fine with 1080p at 30 frames per second. Once you tap Export, CapCut saves the finished video to your phone's camera roll or your computer's file system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the text after I have placed it?

Yes. Tap the text box on the timeline, then tap it in the preview to open the editing panel. You can change the words, font, color, size, and animation at any time. The changes appear when ready in the preview.

How do I make text appear and disappear at specific times?

Drag the left edge of the text bar on the timeline to set when it starts, and drag the right edge to set when it ends. The text will appear at the start time and disappear at the end time. You can also add a fade-out animation in the Effects tab to make the disappearance smoother.

What if the text is too small to read on my phone?

Tap the text box and open the Style tab. Use the size slider to make it larger. If it is still hard to read, add a background color or outline so it contrasts with the video behind it. Test it by playing the video back at full screen.

Can I use custom fonts that are not in CapCut?

The mobile app is limited to the fonts CapCut provides. The desktop version allows you to install custom fonts from your computer, but the mobile app does not. If you need a specific font, the desktop version is your best option.

Does the text stay the same size if I share the video on different platforms?

Yes. Once you export the video, the text is part of the image itself — it will not resize or change when you upload to TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, or anywhere else. The size you see in CapCut is the size people will see when they watch it.