Adding text in iMovie takes three steps: place your video in the timeline, click the text button, and type your words
iMovie's text tool sits in the toolbar above your timeline. Open your project, position the playhead where you want text to appear, click the text icon (it looks like the letter "T"), choose a text style from the sidebar, and type directly into the box that appears on your video. The text stays on screen for as long as you leave it selected — you can drag the edges of the text box in the timeline to make it shorter or longer.
The text appears centered on your video by default, but you can move it anywhere by dragging it around the preview window. iMovie applies a style automatically — usually white text with a semi-transparent background — but you can change the font, size, color, and animation from the text formatting panel on the right side of the screen.
Key Takeaways
- Text in iMovie is added through the text button in the toolbar, and you control how long it stays visible by adjusting its length in the timeline.
- You can move text anywhere on the screen by dragging it, and change its appearance through the formatting panel without affecting your video itself.
- iMovie includes built-in text animations that make words fade in, bounce, or typewrite across the screen, which you explore from the style options.
- Text styling — font, size, color, and background — can be changed at any time, even after you have finished editing the rest of your video.
Where the text button is and how to find it
In iMovie on Mac, the text button is in the toolbar at the top of the editing window, next to the music note and photo icons. It shows the letter "T" in a circle. On iPad or iPhone, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to reveal the toolbar, then tap the text icon. If you do not see it when ready, look for a row of small icons — text is usually the third or fourth one from the left.
Once you click or tap the text button, a sidebar appears on the right side showing different text styles. iMovie calls these "themes" — they include options like "Elegant," "Comic," "Typewriter," and "Fade." Each one comes with its own font, color, and animation built in. You do not have to pick one right now; you can choose a style, type your text, and change your mind later.
Typing and positioning text on your video
After you click a text style, a text box appears in the center of your video preview. Start typing when ready — your words replace the placeholder text. The text box stays selected (you will see blue handles around it), so you can drag it to any position on the screen. Move it to the top, bottom, side, or anywhere else your video needs it.
The text stays visible for as long as the text clip lasts in the timeline. By default, iMovie gives it about three seconds. To make it longer or shorter, click and drag the right edge of the text clip in the timeline — drag right to extend it, left to shorten it. You can also click the text clip in the timeline and use the inspector panel to set an exact duration.
Changing fonts, colors, and text appearance
With your text selected, the formatting panel on the right shows options for font, size, color, and background. Click "Font" to choose from iMovie's built-in typefaces — options include standard fonts like Helvetica and Arial, plus decorative ones. The "Size" slider lets you make text bigger or smaller. "Color" opens a color picker where you can choose any color for your text or its background.
If you want to remove the background entirely, click the background color swatch and choose "None" or drag the opacity slider all the way down. This makes the text transparent so it sits directly over your video without a box behind it. You can also add a drop shadow or outline from the same panel — these help text stand out against busy video backgrounds.
Using text animations to make words move
iMovie's text animations make your words fade in, bounce, typewrite, or slide across the screen. These are built into the text styles — when you pick "Typewriter," for example, the text automatically types itself out letter by letter. To change the animation after you have chosen a style, click the text in the timeline, then look for the "Animate" or animation options in the formatting panel.
Not every animation works the same way. Some animations (like "Fade") happen at the start of the text clip and last a second or two. Others (like "Typewriter") play across the entire duration of the text clip, so if you set the text to stay on screen for five seconds, the typewriter effect takes five seconds to complete. Adjust the text clip's length in the timeline if you want the animation to play faster or slower.
Editing or deleting text you have already added
To change text after you have added it, double-click the text in the preview window or click the text clip in the timeline and start typing. Your new words replace the old ones. To edit just the formatting without changing the words, click the text clip in the timeline and use the formatting panel on the right — change the font, color, size, or animation without touching the text itself.
To remove text entirely, click the text clip in the timeline and press Delete or Backspace. The text disappears from your video, but your video clip underneath stays intact. You can also click the text in the preview and press Delete. If you delete text by accident, press Command-Z (Mac) or Undo from the Edit menu to bring it back.
Common reasons text does not look right
If your text is hard to read, the most common cause is that it blends into the video background. A white text on a white wall, or dark text on a dark sky, will disappear. Fix this by adding a background color or drop shadow — both are in the formatting panel. A semi-transparent dark background behind white text works for almost any video.
If text is too small to read, use the Size slider in the formatting panel to make it bigger. Remember that people watching on phones or tablets see smaller text than you do on your editing screen, so text that looks fine while editing might be too small when played back. If text is cut off at the edge of the screen, drag it toward the center of the preview window.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add text to multiple clips at once?
No — you add text to one clip at a time. Each text element is separate. If you want the same text to appear on multiple clips, add it once, copy the text clip in the timeline (Command-C on Mac), then paste it (Command-V) at the start of each clip where you want it. You may need to adjust the position or duration for each one.
How do I make text appear and disappear at specific times?
Adjust the text clip's position and length in the timeline. Drag the text clip to the exact frame where you want it to start, then drag its right edge to set when it ends. The text appears when the playhead reaches the start of the text clip and disappears when it reaches the end.
Can I use custom fonts that are not in iMovie?
On Mac, iMovie uses the fonts installed on your computer, so if you install a new font through Font Book, it appears in iMovie's font list. On iPad and iPhone, you are limited to iMovie's built-in fonts. There is no way to import custom fonts on mobile devices.
What if I want text to move across the screen instead of just appearing?
Use one of iMovie's built-in animations like "Bounce," "Slide," or "Typewriter" — these make text move as it appears. If you want text to move in a way iMovie does not offer, you would need a more advanced video editor. iMovie does not support custom motion paths for text.
Can I add subtitles or captions automatically?
iMovie does not have automatic captioning. You have to add text manually for each line of dialogue or caption you want. If you need captions for accessibility, you can add them by hand using the text tool, or use a separate captioning tool and import the video into iMovie afterward.