The fastest way: use the Photos app's built-in text tool

Open the video in your Photos app, tap Edit, then tap the (+) icon at the bottom. Select Text and type what you want to say. The text appears as a white label on your video. You can move it around by dragging, change the font by tapping the text itself, and adjust the timing by dragging the text box along the timeline at the bottom. When you're done, tap Done and then Save Video.

This method works for videos already on your phone. The text stays for the entire video unless you manually shorten the timeline segment where it appears. The built-in fonts are limited — you get a handful of styles, all sans-serif — but they're readable and clean. No watermark appears on the finished video.

One limitation: the Photos app doesn't let you add text that appears and disappears at specific moments. The text either runs the full length of the video or you have to edit the timeline manually, which is clunky. If you need text to fade in at the 5-second mark and fade out at the 10-second mark, you'll need a different tool.

Key Takeaways

  • The Photos app's text tool is free and built into your iPhone — open any video, tap Edit, then the (+) icon, then Text.
  • You can move text anywhere on the screen and choose from several font styles, but font options are limited compared to dedicated video apps.
  • iMovie lets you add multiple text boxes, control exactly when each one appears and disappears, and use custom fonts from your phone.
  • CapCut and Adobe Express offer more design control and effects, but both add watermarks unless you pay for a subscription.
  • Saving your edited video overwrites the original in Photos, so make a copy first if you want to keep the version without text.

Adding text with more control: iMovie

iMovie is Apple's free video editor and comes pre-installed on most iPhones. Open iMovie, tap the + icon, select Movie, then choose your video from your library. Tap the timeline at the bottom where you want text to appear, then tap Text at the bottom menu. Choose a text style — iMovie offers more options than Photos, including animated titles that slide in or fade in — and type your text.

The key advantage over Photos is timing control. You can see exactly when the text starts and stops by looking at the timeline. Drag the text box left or right to move when it appears. You can add multiple text boxes to the same video, each with its own timing and style. You can also change the text color and background by tapping the text itself after you've placed it.

iMovie also lets you use custom fonts installed on your phone, whereas Photos is locked to its built-in set. If you've downloaded fonts from the App Store or installed them through a font management app, iMovie can access them. The trade-off is that iMovie is slower to work in than Photos — it takes longer to load, render, and save — and the interface is more crowded.

When you need design options: CapCut and Adobe Express

CapCut and Adobe Express are free apps that give you more visual control than iMovie. Both let you choose from hundreds of fonts, add shadows or outlines to text, animate text in and out, and layer multiple text elements. CapCut is faster and more intuitive if you're new to video editing. Adobe Express integrates with other Adobe apps if you already use Photoshop or Illustrator.

Both apps add a watermark to your finished video unless you pay for a subscription. CapCut's watermark is a small logo in the corner. Adobe Express's watermark is larger and more visible. If the watermark matters to you, factor in the subscription cost — CapCut's paid tier is roughly $5 per month, and Adobe Express Premium is roughly $10 per month, though prices vary by region and change over time.

The learning curve is steeper than Photos or iMovie. You'll spend time exploring menus and learning where features live. But if you're adding text to multiple videos or want your text to look polished, the extra control is worth it. Both apps also let you adjust text size, rotation, and opacity — things the built-in tools don't offer.

Saving your video without losing the original

When you edit a video in the Photos app and tap Save Video, your phone overwrites the original. If you want to keep both versions, make a copy first. Open the video in Photos, tap Share, then tap Duplicate. Edit the copy and save it. Now you have the original and the version with text.

iMovie, CapCut, and Adobe Express all save to your Photos library as new videos, so they don't overwrite your original. You can delete the edited version later if you change your mind. This is safer if you're experimenting or unsure whether you like the text placement.

Text that's readable on small screens

Text on video can be hard to read on a phone, especially if someone is watching on their own small screen. Use a font size that looks too large when you're editing — it will look right when someone watches it. Avoid thin or decorative fonts; stick to bold, sans-serif options. Place text in the center or lower third of the frame, not along the edges where it might get cut off on some devices.

If your video will be shared on social media, check how it looks on the platform where you're posting. Instagram Stories, TikTok, and YouTube all crop videos differently. A test upload to your own account costs nothing and shows you exactly how the text will appear to others.

Exporting and sharing your video

After you finish editing, your video is saved to your Photos library. To share it, open Photos, find the video, tap Share, and choose where to send it — Messages, email, social media, or cloud storage. The video file size depends on the original length and quality. A one-minute video is usually 50 to 200 MB, which is large enough that email might reject it. Cloud storage or a messaging app is usually faster.

If you're uploading to social media, the platform will compress your video again, which may affect text readability. There's no way around this — it's how social media works. The best you can do is make your text large and high-contrast in the original so it survives compression.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add text to a video I recorded with my camera app?

Yes. Videos recorded with the Camera app automatically save to your Photos library. Open Photos, find the video, tap Edit, and follow the steps above. The video doesn't have to be imported or converted first.

What if I want text to appear at different times for different parts of the video?

Use iMovie, CapCut, or Adobe Express. The Photos app doesn't let you control when text starts and stops with precision. In iMovie, add a new text box for each time segment and drag each one to the right place on the timeline.

Can I use a font I downloaded from the internet?

If you've installed the font on your iPhone through a font app or by opening a font file, iMovie and CapCut can use it. The Photos app cannot. To install a font, read it, open it on your phone, and follow the prompts to add it to your system fonts.

Does adding text make the video file bigger?

Yes, slightly. A video with text is usually 5 to 10 percent larger than the original because the text is rendered into the video file. If file size matters — for example, if you're running low on storage — delete the original after you confirm the edited version looks right.

What happens if I edit a video in Photos and then try to edit it again in iMovie?

You can edit an already-edited video in any app. The text you added in Photos becomes part of the video itself, so iMovie sees it as part of the image, not as a separate text layer you can move or delete. If you think you might want to change the text later, edit in iMovie first so you keep the text as a separate layer.