Adding text in iMovie on iPhone
Open your project in iMovie, tap the clip where you want text to appear, then tap the plus icon at the bottom and select Text. iMovie shows you a list of text styles — choose one, tap it, and type your words directly into the text box that appears on your video. The text automatically positions itself, but you can drag it anywhere on the screen and adjust the size by pinching. When you're done, tap outside the text box to save it.
The text stays on screen for as long as the clip plays unless you shorten it. If you want the text to fade in or out, tap the text box again, then tap the three dots and choose a transition effect from the menu.
Key Takeaways
- Text is added by selecting a clip, tapping the plus icon, and choosing Text from the menu that appears.
- iMovie provides preset text styles that you can customize by changing the font, size, color, and position on the screen.
- Text duration matches the clip it's on, but you can make it shorter by trimming the clip or longer by extending it.
- Fade-in and fade-out effects are found in the three-dot menu after you select a text box.
Choosing a text style that fits your video
When you tap Text, iMovie shows you a row of preset styles. Scroll left and right to see all of them. Each style has a different look — some are straightforward and clean, others have shadows or outlines, and some move across the screen. The style you pick affects how the text looks but not what you can do with it afterward.
Pick a style that matches the tone of your video. For a casual vlog or family video, a straightforward centered style works well. For a title at the beginning, try a style that moves or has a background. You can change the text color and font after you've chosen the style, so don't worry if the default colors don't match your video yet.
Changing text color, font, and size
After you type your text, tap the text box once to select it, then tap it again to open the editing menu. You'll see options to change the font, size, and color. Tap Font to pick a different typeface, tap the A with arrows to make the text bigger or smaller, and tap the colored circle to change the color.
The color picker shows you preset colors at the top, but you can also tap the color wheel to pick any shade. If you want the text to stand out against a busy background, choose a color with high contrast — white or bright yellow on a dark background, or dark text on a light background. Test it by tapping outside the menu and looking at how it appears on your video.
Positioning and resizing text on screen
Text appears in the center of your video by default, but you can move it anywhere. Tap the text box and drag it to a new position — you can place it in the corners, along the edges, or anywhere in between. If you want to make the text box itself bigger or smaller, pinch inward to shrink it or pinch outward to enlarge it.
Keep in mind that text positioned near the edges may get cut off on some phones or when the video is played in different formats. If you're making a video for social media, test how it looks on the platform you're using. Text in the center or slightly off-center is usually safest.
Making text appear and disappear with transitions
By default, text appears when ready when the clip starts and disappears when the clip ends. To add a fade effect, tap the text box, then tap the three dots in the top right corner of the editing menu. You'll see options for Fade In and Fade Out. Turn these on to make the text gradually appear at the start and gradually disappear at the end.
You can also control exactly when the text appears and disappears by trimming the clip itself. If your clip is 10 seconds long but you only want text for the first 5 seconds, trim the clip to 5 seconds and the text will end with it. This is useful when you have multiple pieces of text that should appear at different times in the same shot.
Adjusting text duration independently from the clip
Text normally stays on screen for the entire length of the clip it's attached to. If you want text to appear for only part of the clip, you have two options: trim the clip itself, or add the text to a separate title clip.
To use a title clip instead, tap the plus icon, select Title instead of Text, and place it between two video clips. Title clips are separate from your video and let you control their length exactly. This approach works well for opening credits, chapter titles, or captions that should appear for a specific number of seconds regardless of the video clip behind them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add text to multiple clips at once?
No, you add text to one clip at a time. If you want the same text to appear on multiple clips, add it to each clip separately. iMovie doesn't have a way to copy text from one clip and paste it onto another, but typing the same words multiple times is usually faster than looking for that feature.
What happens to text if I trim or cut the clip?
The text stays attached to the clip and moves with it. If you trim the beginning of a clip, the text moves with it. If you delete the clip entirely, the text is deleted too. If you want to keep the text but remove the video, use a title clip instead.
Can I make text appear at a specific second in the middle of a clip?
Not directly in iMovie on iPhone. The easiest way is to split the clip at the point where you want the text to start, then add text to the second half. Tap the clip, find the playhead at the moment you want to split, tap the three dots, and select Split Clip.
Why does my text look blurry or hard to read?
This usually happens when the text is too small or the color doesn't contrast enough with the background. Make the text larger by pinching outward on the text box, and choose a color that stands out — white on dark backgrounds or dark text on light ones work best.
Can I animate text so it moves across the screen?
Some of iMovie's preset text styles include movement, but you can't create custom animations on iPhone. If movement is important to your video, choose one of the animated text styles when you first add the text, or consider using a different app like Adobe Premiere Rush that offers more animation options.