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 (it looks like the letter "A"). Choose a text style from the menu that appears — iMovie shows you a preview of each one as you hover over it. Click the style you want, type your words into the text box that appears on your timeline, and the text will show up in your video at that exact moment.
The text stays on screen for as long as you set it to. By default, iMovie gives you about three seconds. You can make it longer or shorter by dragging the edges of the text clip on your timeline, the same way you would trim a video or audio clip.
Key Takeaways
- Text in iMovie is added through the Text button in the toolbar, and you choose a style before typing your words.
- You control how long text stays on screen by dragging the edges of the text clip on your timeline.
- Text position, size, and color can all be changed in the inspector panel on the right side of your screen.
- iMovie comes with built-in text styles that include animations — the text can fade in, slide in, or appear in other ways when your video plays.
Where to find the Text button and what the styles do
In iMovie on Mac, the Text button sits in the toolbar at the top of the window, next to buttons for transitions and effects. It has a capital "A" on it. On iPad, swipe up from the bottom of the screen to see the toolbar, then tap the Text button. When you click or tap it, a menu drops down showing you all the text styles iMovie has built in.
Each style comes with an animation already attached. "Fade" makes the text appear and disappear gradually. "Slide" brings the text in from the side. "Pop" makes it appear suddenly. "Typewriter" makes it look like someone is typing the words one letter at a time. You can see what each animation looks like by hovering over it on Mac or tapping it on iPad — iMovie shows you a preview in your video window.
The style you choose affects only how the text moves when it appears and disappears. The actual words, size, color, and position are things you change after you add the text to your timeline.
How to change what your text looks like
After you add text to your timeline and type your words, click on the text clip in the timeline to select it. The inspector panel opens on the right side of your screen (on Mac) or at the bottom (on iPad). This is where you control the text's appearance.
In the inspector, you can change the font by clicking the font name and choosing a different one from the list. You can make the text larger or smaller by adjusting the size slider. You can change the color by clicking the color box — iMovie shows you a color picker where you can choose any color you want, or pick a color that matches your video by using the eyedropper tool.
You can also change where the text sits in your video frame. Click the position controls in the inspector to move the text to the top, middle, or bottom of the screen, or to the left, center, or right. Some text styles let you drag the text directly on the video preview to position it exactly where you want it.
Making text stay on screen longer or shorter
By default, iMovie gives text three seconds on screen. If you need it to stay longer — for example, if you have a lot of words to read — you can make it longer. If you want it to flash by quickly, you can make it shorter.
Look at your timeline at the bottom of the screen. Find the text clip you added — it appears as a colored bar with your words on it. Position your cursor at the right edge of that bar until a resize cursor appears (it looks like a double-headed arrow). Then drag the edge to the right to make the text stay on screen longer, or drag it to the left to make it shorter.
You can also right-click the text clip on your timeline and choose "Clip Duration" to type in an exact number of seconds. This is useful if you want the text to stay on screen for a very specific amount of time, like exactly 5.5 seconds.
Positioning text so it does not cover important parts of your video
Text that covers someone's face or a key moment in your video is distracting. Before you finalize where your text goes, play through the section where it appears and watch what is happening in the video behind it.
If your text is covering something important, use the position controls in the inspector to move it. You can place text at the top of the frame, the bottom, or the sides. You can also make the text smaller so it takes up less space. Some people add a semi-transparent background behind the text — in the inspector, look for an option called "Background" or "Text Background" and turn it on. This makes the text easier to read even if there is a busy video behind it.
Adding multiple text clips to the same project
You can add as many text clips as you want to a single project. Each one is added separately, so you can style them differently. One might be large and centered at the top, while another is small and positioned at the bottom.
To add another text clip, move your playhead to a new spot in your timeline and click the Text button again. Choose a style, type your new words, and adjust the appearance in the inspector. You can add text over video, over photos, or over the black space between clips — iMovie will show you the text wherever you place it.
If you want several text clips to look the same, you can copy the style from one and paste it onto another. Right-click a text clip and choose "Copy Style," then right-click a different text clip and choose "Paste Style." The second clip will now match the first one's font, size, color, and animation.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use my own fonts in iMovie, or only the ones that come with it?
iMovie uses the fonts already installed on your Mac or iPad. If you want to use a different font, you need to install it on your device first. On Mac, you can read fonts from websites like Google Fonts or Adobe Fonts, then add them to your Font Book. On iPad, some apps let you install fonts, but the process is more limited than on Mac.
What if I want text to appear at the exact same time as a sound effect or music beat?
Position your playhead at the exact moment you want the text to appear, then add the text. You can also drag the text clip on your timeline to line it up with the audio. Play through the section to make sure the timing is right. If you need to shift the text by just a fraction of a second, drag it slowly or use the arrow keys on your keyboard to nudge it one frame at a time.
Can I make text fade in and out at different speeds?
The animation speed is built into the text style you choose, and iMovie does not let you adjust it separately. If you need a slower or faster fade, you can try a different text style — some styles have gentler animations than others. You can also add the same text twice with different styles to create a custom effect.
How do I remove text from my video?
Click the text clip on your timeline to select it, then press the Delete key (or Backspace on some keyboards). The text disappears from your video when ready. If you delete it by accident, press Command+Z on Mac or use the undo button on iPad to bring it back.
Can I add text to a video I have already exported from iMovie?
No — once you export a video, it becomes a finished file. To add text, you need to go back to your iMovie project, add the text there, and export again. This is why it is a good idea to keep your iMovie projects saved even after you export them, so you can make changes later if you need to.