Text in Final Cut Pro starts with the Titles browser, not a blank canvas
To add text to a video in Final Cut Pro, you open the Titles browser, drag a text style onto your timeline, and type. The text appears as a new layer above your video clip. You can move it, resize it, change the font and color, and set it to fade in and out — all without leaving the timeline or opening a separate window.
Final Cut Pro comes with built-in text templates that handle the technical work for you. A template is a pre-made text layer with animation, positioning, and styling already set. You pick the look you want, drop it on your timeline, replace the placeholder text with your own words, and adjust the timing. This is faster than building text from scratch, especially if you are new to the software.
The alternative is to create a text layer with no template — a blank text box that you style yourself. This takes longer but gives you complete control. Most people start with templates and switch to custom text once they understand how the controls work.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Titles browser from the top menu (Window > Titles) or use the built-in library on the right side of the screen.
- Drag a text template directly onto your video clip in the timeline; the text layer appears above the video automatically.
- Double-click the text in the viewer to edit the words, then use the Inspector panel on the right to change font, size, color, and alignment.
- Adjust when the text appears and disappears by dragging the edges of the text layer in the timeline, just like you would trim a video clip.
- Preview your text by pressing the spacebar to play; Final Cut Pro renders the text in real time so you see the final result when ready.
Finding and opening the Titles browser
The Titles browser is a panel that holds all the text templates Final Cut Pro includes. You reach it through the top menu: click Window, then Titles. A panel opens on the right side of your screen showing rows of text styles — some are straightforward and clean, others have animations or drop shadows built in.
If the Titles panel is already open but hidden behind other panels, look for a tab labeled "Titles" on the right side of your screen and click it. The panel will come to the front. You can also search for a specific style by typing in the search box at the top of the Titles panel — type "fade" to find text that fades in, or "lower third" to find text positioned at the bottom of the frame.
Scroll through the templates to see what each one looks like. Hover your mouse over a template and you will see a small preview. Click once to select it, and a larger preview appears below. This preview shows how the text will animate and where it will sit on the screen.
Dragging a text template onto your timeline
Once you have chosen a template, drag it from the Titles browser directly onto your video clip in the timeline. The text layer will appear as a new clip above your video. You can drag it onto any point in the timeline — the beginning, middle, or end of your video — and the text will start at that exact frame.
If you drag the template onto an empty space in the timeline (not on top of a video clip), Final Cut Pro will create a text layer with no video underneath. This works, but it is easier to drag onto your video clip so you can see the text positioned over the actual footage you are editing.
After you drop the template, the text appears in the viewer window in the center of your screen. You will see placeholder text like "Text" or "Double-click to edit" in the position where the template is designed to sit. The text layer also appears as a separate clip in the timeline, stacked above your video.
Editing the text and changing what it says
To change the placeholder text to your own words, double-click the text in the viewer window. The text becomes editable — you will see a cursor blinking inside the text box. Select all the placeholder text (press Ctrl+A on Windows or Cmd+A on Mac) and type your new text. As you type, the text updates in the viewer and in the timeline.
If the text box is too small for your words, do not worry. You can resize it by clicking and dragging the corners of the text box in the viewer. Drag outward to make it larger, or inward to make it smaller. The text will reflow to fit the new size.
When you are done editing the words, click outside the text box in the viewer to deselect it. The text is now locked in place and you can move on to styling it.
Changing font, size, color, and alignment
All the styling controls are in the Inspector panel on the right side of your screen. Make sure your text layer is selected in the timeline (click it once), and the Inspector will show options for that layer. Look for sections labeled "Text" or "Style" — these hold the font, size, and color controls.
To change the font, click the font name in the Inspector and a dropdown menu appears with all available fonts on your computer. Scroll through and click the one you want. To change the size, click the number next to "Font Size" and type a new number, or use the up and down arrows to adjust it. To change the color, click the color box (usually a colored square) and a color picker opens — click the color you want or type a hex code if you know it.
Alignment controls (left, center, right) are usually in the same section. Click the alignment button that matches how you want the text positioned. If you do not see these controls, scroll down in the Inspector — they may be below the fold.
Setting when the text appears and disappears
By default, a text layer runs for the same length as the template is designed to run — often a few seconds. To change when it starts and stops, look at the text layer in the timeline. You will see a colored bar representing the text clip. Drag the left edge of that bar to the right to make the text start later. Drag the right edge to the left to make it end sooner. This is the same way you trim a video clip.
If you want the text to fade in and out, that is usually built into the template already. You can adjust the fade timing by looking for "In" and "Out" controls in the Inspector panel. These show how many frames the fade takes — a higher number means a slower, more gradual fade. A lower number means a faster fade.
To see your text in context with the video, press the spacebar to play the timeline. Final Cut Pro renders the text in real time, so you see exactly how it looks over your footage. If the timing is wrong, stop playback and adjust the text layer edges again.
Moving text to a different position on the screen
Some templates position text in the lower third of the frame (a common style for interviews or news footage). Others center it, or place it in the upper corner. To move text to a different spot, click and drag it directly in the viewer window. The text box will follow your mouse, and you can position it anywhere on the screen.
If you want precise positioning, use the Inspector panel. Look for "Position" or "Transform" controls — these show X and Y coordinates. You can type exact numbers to place the text at a specific pixel location. This is useful if you are adding multiple text layers and want them aligned perfectly.
Remember that text positioned near the edges of the frame may be cut off on some screens or devices. It is safest to keep text in the center area of the frame, or at least away from the very edges.
Creating text without a template
If none of the built-in templates match what you want, you can create a text layer from scratch. Go to the top menu and click File, then New, then Text. A blank text layer appears in your timeline. You can now type directly into it and style it however you want using the Inspector panel.
Building text from scratch takes longer because you have to set the font, size, color, position, and animation timing yourself. But it gives you complete control — you are not locked into a template's design. Most people use templates for speed and custom text only when they need something specific that no template provides.
Once you have created a custom text layer you like, you can save it as a template for future projects. Right-click the text layer in the timeline, select Save as Favorite, and Final Cut Pro adds it to your Titles browser so you can reuse it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I animate text to move across the screen?
Yes, but it depends on the template. Some templates include built-in animations — the text might slide in from the left or fade up from the bottom. If you want custom animation, you can use keyframes in the Inspector to make text move, scale, or rotate over time. This is more advanced and requires setting keyframes at different points in the timeline.
What if my text looks blurry or pixelated?
This usually means the font size is too small or the resolution is set too low. Increase the font size in the Inspector, or check that your project is set to the correct resolution (1080p, 4K, etc.) in the project settings. Text should always be sharp and clear in the viewer before you export.
How do I add a background or outline to text?
Look in the Inspector for "Effects" or "Styling" options. Many templates include a drop shadow or background color already. If you want to add an outline, look for a "Stroke" control in the Inspector and adjust the width and color. Not all templates have these options, so you may need to use a different template or build custom text.
Can I copy text from one clip to another?
Yes. Right-click the text layer in the timeline and select Copy. Then click on the timeline at the point where you want the text to appear and select Paste. The text layer will paste at that location with all the same styling and animation. You can then edit the words without changing the look.
Why is my text not showing up in the viewer?
The text layer may be hidden behind your video clip, or it may be positioned outside the visible frame. Click the text layer in the timeline to select it, then look at the viewer to see where it is. If it is off-screen, drag it back into view. If it is hidden, check that the text layer is above the video clip in the timeline — layers stack from bottom to top.