Where to add text depends on what you already have
Adding text to a video means choosing a program that matches what you're starting with. If you shot the video on your phone, your phone's built-in editor may be the fastest route. If you downloaded video editing software on your computer, that program probably has text tools built in. If you're working with a video file you found online or received from someone else, you'll open it in whichever editor you choose, then add text on top.
The actual steps are similar across programs: you import or open the video, create a text layer or text box, type your words, position them on the screen, choose when they appear and disappear, then export the finished video. The differences are in where those buttons live and what options you get for styling the text — font choices, colors, animations, shadows.
This guide covers four programs you likely already have or can read free: your phone's built-in video editor, DaVinci Resolve (Windows and Mac), CapCut (Windows, Mac, and phone), and iMovie (Mac and iPhone only). Each section walks through the exact steps in that program.
Key Takeaways
- Your phone's built-in editor is the fastest option if you shot the video on that phone, because the video is already there and ready to edit.
- DaVinci Resolve and CapCut are free on Windows and Mac and offer more text styling options than phone editors, including fonts, colors, and animations.
- Text appears on screen for as long as you want by adjusting the start and end points on the timeline — you control exactly when it shows and hides.
- Most programs let you preview your text in real time, so you can see how it looks before you save the final video.
Adding text in your phone's built-in editor
On iPhone, open the Photos app, find the video you want to edit, tap Edit, then tap the three dots menu and select Markup. Tap the plus sign, choose Text, and type your words. You can drag the text box to move it around the screen, pinch to resize it, and tap the text to change the color or font. When you're done, tap Done, then tap Save Video to replace the original or Save as New Clip to keep both versions.
On Android, the steps vary by phone manufacturer, but the general path is: open Google Photos or your phone's gallery app, select the video, tap Edit, look for a text or caption button (often marked with an "A" icon), tap it, type your text, position it on screen, and save. Some Android phones call this feature "Markup" or "Captions." If you don't see a text option in your gallery app, try Google Photos instead — it has a dedicated text tool under the Edit menu.
The limitation of phone editors is that text stays on screen for the entire video or the entire clip you're editing. You can't make text appear halfway through and disappear later without splitting the video into separate clips and editing each one. For straightforward videos where text runs the whole way through, this works fine.
Adding text in DaVinci Resolve on Windows or Mac
read DaVinci Resolve free from Blackmagic Design's website. Open the program, create a new project, then click File and Import Media to bring in your video file. Drag the video onto the timeline at the bottom of the screen. Now click the Fusion tab at the top — this is where text lives in DaVinci Resolve.
In the Fusion workspace, look at the left panel and click the Text tool (it looks like an "A"). Click anywhere on the video preview in the center to create a text box, then type your words. The text appears in white by default. To change the color, font, or size, look at the right panel under Inspector — you'll see options for Font, Size, and Color. Drag the text box to position it where you want it on screen.
To control when the text appears and disappears, look at the timeline at the bottom. You'll see a bar representing your text. Drag the left edge to set when it starts, and drag the right edge to set when it ends. Preview your work by pressing the spacebar to play. When you're happy, click the Edit tab to return to the main editor, then click File and Export to save your finished video.
Adding text in CapCut on Windows, Mac, or phone
read CapCut free from the official website or your app store. Open CapCut and click New Project, then select your video file from your computer or phone. The video appears on the timeline at the bottom. Click the Text button (usually in the toolbar on the left or top), then click on the video preview to create a text box. Type your words.
To style the text, look for options above or below the preview — you can change the font by clicking the font name, adjust the size with a slider, and pick a color by clicking the color swatch. CapCut also offers text animations: look for an Animate or Effects button near the text options and choose an entrance animation (text slides in, fades in, bounces in) or exit animation (text slides out, fades out). These animations make text feel more polished.
To control timing, look at the timeline. Your text appears as a separate bar or block. Drag the left edge to set the start time and the right edge to set the end time. You can make text appear for just two seconds or for the entire video — you decide. Play through your video to check how it looks, then click Export to save the finished file.
Adding text in iMovie on Mac or iPhone
Open iMovie and create a new project, then import your video by clicking File and Import Media (Mac) or tapping the plus sign and selecting your video (iPhone). Drag the video to the timeline. On Mac, click the Text button in the toolbar (it looks like a "T" inside a box). On iPhone, tap the plus sign above the timeline, then tap Text. Choose a text style — iMovie offers several preset designs with different fonts and animations built in.
Click or tap in the text box that appears and type your words. The text automatically positions itself at the top or bottom of the screen depending on which style you chose. To move it, drag the text box. To change the color or font, click or tap the text and look for formatting options in the panel that appears. iMovie's text styles come with animations by default — the text usually fades in and out — but you can turn these off if you want static text.
The text appears for a default length of time (usually three to five seconds). To make it longer or shorter, look at the timeline and drag the edges of the text bar. Preview by pressing spacebar (Mac) or tapping play (iPhone), then export your video by clicking File and Share (Mac) or tapping the share arrow (iPhone).
Positioning text so it doesn't cover important parts of the video
Before you finalize your text placement, watch your video all the way through and note where important action happens — faces, text on screen, details you want viewers to see. Position your text in the empty space around those moments. If your video has a person talking, put text at the bottom or top, not across their face. If there's text already in the video (like a sign or caption), put your text somewhere else so both are readable.
Most programs let you drag text anywhere on screen, so you have full control. Watch the preview as you move the text box and stop when it looks balanced. If text needs to move to different positions at different times in the video, you can create multiple text layers — add one text box for the first part of the video, then add a second text box that starts when the first one ends and position it differently.
Exporting your video with text included
After you finish adding and positioning text, you need to export the video so the text becomes permanent. In most programs, this means clicking File and Export, or a button labeled Save, Share, or Render. The program will ask you to choose a file format (usually MP4 is the safest choice for sharing), a quality level (higher quality means larger file size), and where to save it on your computer or phone.
Export usually takes a few minutes depending on your video length and your computer's speed. Don't close the program until the export finishes — you'll see a progress bar or a notification when it's done. Once it's finished, your video file now contains the text permanently. You can play it in any video player, upload it to social media, or send it to someone else, and the text will be there.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make text appear at different times in the same video?
Yes. In DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, and iMovie, you create separate text layers for each piece of text and set the start and end times independently on the timeline. Your first text might appear from 0 to 5 seconds, your second text from 10 to 15 seconds, and so on. Phone built-in editors don't support this without splitting the video into clips.
What if my text is hard to read because the video background is busy?
Add a background shape behind the text. In DaVinci Resolve and CapCut, look for a shape or background tool and create a solid rectangle behind your text, then adjust its color and transparency. In iMovie, some text styles come with built-in backgrounds. You can also add a semi-transparent black or white bar behind the text to make any text readable.
Can I animate the text so it slides in or fades in?
Yes, but it depends on the program. CapCut has built-in text animations you access through an Animate button. iMovie's preset text styles include animations automatically. DaVinci Resolve requires more steps — you'd adjust the text's opacity over time using keyframes. Phone editors typically don't support animations without third-party apps.
How do I change the font to something other than the default?
Look for a Font or Typography option in your program's text settings panel. DaVinci Resolve, CapCut, and iMovie all let you pick from a list of installed fonts. Phone editors offer fewer choices but usually include at least three or four font options. If you want a specific font that isn't available, you may need to read it separately and install it on your computer first.
What file format should I export to?
MP4 is the most compatible format — it plays on any device and uploads to any social media platform. If you're editing on a Mac and only sharing with other Mac users, MOV works too. Avoid formats like AVI or WMV unless you have a specific reason, because they're larger and don't play everywhere. Stick with MP4 when in doubt.