How to Add Text in CapCut: A Step-by-Step Guide

Adding text in CapCut is a simple way to make your videos easier to follow and more expressive. You can use it for captions, subtitles, titles, short messages, labels, and animated text effects. CapCut lets you customize the font, size, color, position, timing, and animation of your text, although the available options can vary between mobile, desktop, and web versions.

This guide explains how to add and edit text in CapCut, create animated text, use motion tracking where available, and build a text-overlay effect. Whether you’re editing a social media reel, a tutorial, or a personal video, these steps will help you get started.

How to Add Text Using CapCut and Edit It

Follow these steps to add text to a video using the CapCut mobile app. The exact position of some buttons may differ depending on your app version.

1. Open CapCut and start a project. Launch the app on your phone and tap New project to begin editing.
2. Import your video. Select the clip you want to edit from your device’s gallery, then tap Add to bring it into the project.
3. Open the Text menu. Find Text in the editing toolbar and select Add text to create a new text layer.
4. Choose a font and style. Type your message and explore the available font, color, size, and style options. Choose a design that fits your footage and remains easy to read.
5. Enter your text. Tap the text box, replace any placeholder wording, and type the title, caption, or message you want to display.
6. Adjust the position. Drag the text around the video preview to place it where you want. Keep important faces, objects, and other details visible.
7. Resize and time the text. Use the on-screen controls to adjust the text size. Select its clip on the timeline and drag its edges to control when it appears and disappears.
8. Add effects or animations. Select the text layer and explore the available animation and styling options. Preview the result to make sure the words remain readable

Once you’re happy with the result, play the video from beginning to end. Check the spelling, timing, text placement, and contrast before exporting.

How to Add Text to Videos in CapCut Desktop and Web

If you prefer editing on a computer, you can also add text using CapCut Desktop or the CapCut online text editor.

The basic process is similar across platforms, but the interface is different.

1. Open CapCut Desktop or the web editor and create a new project.
2. Import your video and place it on the timeline.
3. Open the Text section and choose Add text or an available text template.
4. Enter your wording and adjust its font, size, color, alignment, and position.
5. Select the text layer to adjust its duration or apply an animation.
6. Preview the finished video, then use Export to save it.

On desktop, many text controls appear in a side panel. In the web editor, you can work directly in your browser, although account requirements and feature availability may vary.

For more details, see CapCut’s official guide to adding text to videos.

How to Create Animated Text with CapCut

Animated text can make an introduction, title, or important message stand out. CapCut offers text animation options, but the names and selection of effects may differ by version.

Here’s how to create an animated text effect:

1. Open your existing project in CapCut.
2. Tap Text and select Add text. On desktop, use the corresponding Text menu.
3. Enter the message you want to display and customize its appearance.
4. Select the text clip on the timeline to open its editing controls.
5. Open Animation and explore the available entrance, exit, or looping effects. Choose an animation that suits the pace of your video.
6. Adjust the animation settings and text duration where the controls are available.
7. Play the clip to check that the text appears at the right moment and stays on screen long enough to be read.

A quick tip: If you’re making a short reel, avoid using too many different animations in one video. A consistent style usually makes captions and titles easier to follow.

How to Use Motion Tracking with Text in CapCut

Motion tracking is different from ordinary text animation. Animation controls how text appears or moves, while motion tracking can make an element follow a moving subject in the footage.

CapCut documents motion-tracking functionality, but its availability and controls can differ by version. The following steps describe the general desktop workflow; use them only if your editor provides the relevant tracking controls.

1. Import your video into CapCut and place it on the timeline.
2. Add a text layer and enter the words you want to display.
3. Select the text clip and look for Tracking or the relevant motion-tracking control in the editing panel.
4. If a tracking region or target selector is available, position it over the subject you want the text to follow.
5. Follow the editor’s prompts to analyze the movement and apply the tracking result.
6. Preview the footage carefully. Check whether the text follows the subject accurately, especially when the subject changes direction or leaves the frame.

If you cannot find a tracking option, check your CapCut version and platform before proceeding. Do not assume that every mobile, desktop, or web editor provides the same tracking controls. For an overview of CapCut’s text and motion-related tools, visit its official text-editing guide.

How to Create a Text Overlay Effect in CapCut

A text overlay places written content over video footage. For example, you might add a title over a landscape, display a quote over a moving background, or place a short label beside a person in a clip. For ordinary text overlays, you do not need to export a separate video first. Simply add a text layer to your project and position it above the footage.

The following alternative workflow is useful if you specifically want to composite an already-exported text treatment over another video.

1. Open CapCut and import the video you want to use as the base layer.
2. Add your text and customize its appearance. If you need the text treatment as a separate clip, export that version of the video.
3. Start a new project and import the original background video.
4. Add the exported clip as an overlay using the available overlay controls. Resize and position the overlay as needed.
5. Align the overlay with the background footage. If the subject moves, check the alignment throughout the clip rather than adjusting it at just one frame.
6. Review the result and export the finished video when you’re satisfied.

Important: Exporting a text treatment as a normal video can flatten the text into the footage, making it harder to edit independently later. For most projects, keeping the text as a separate layer is the more flexible option. If you need a transparent overlay, check whether your version supports the required export format and transparency settings.

Tips for Making Text Look Better in CapCut

Adding text is straightforward, but a few small adjustments can make the finished video much easier to watch.

• Prioritize readability: Choose a font size that works on a phone screen, not just on your editing display.
• Use contrasting colors: Add a background or shadow if the footage makes the words difficult to read.
• Keep messages concise: Break longer explanations into shorter sections instead of filling the screen with text.
• Match text timing to the footage: Make sure each title or caption appears when it is relevant.
• Use animation sparingly: Effects should support the message rather than distract from it.
• Review the exported video: Check the saved file for clipping, misplaced text, spelling errors, and timing problems.

If your text does not appear in the preview, check its position, size, opacity, animation settings, and layer order. CapCut provides additional troubleshooting steps in its official help guide for text that is not displaying.

Conclusion

Learning how to add text using CapCut gives you more control over how your videos communicate. You can create simple captions, customize titles, animate important messages, and use motion tracking where supported. For most edits, a separate text layer is all you need to create a clean overlay without complicating your workflow. Keep the wording clear, adjust the timing carefully, and preview the exported video before sharing it.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. How do I add text to a video in CapCut?

Open a project, import your video, select Text and Add text, then type your message. Customize the font and position, adjust the text clip’s duration, and export your video when you’re finished.

2. Can I animate text in CapCut?

Yes. Select your text layer and open the Animation controls. Choose an available entrance, exit, or looping effect, then preview it to check the timing and readability.

3. How do I make text follow a moving object in CapCut?

If your version supports motion tracking, select the relevant text layer and open the tracking controls. Follow the on-screen instructions to identify the moving subject and apply the tracking result. If the option is unavailable, that workflow may not be supported in your version.

4. Can I add text to videos using CapCut online?

Yes. CapCut’s web editor provides text tools for adding and styling text in a video. You can upload your footage, choose a text style, customize it, and export the finished project. Some options may vary by account or availability.

5. Why is my text not showing in CapCut?

Your text may be outside the visible frame, too small, transparent, hidden behind another layer, or affected by an animation. Select the text clip, check its position and opacity, move it above overlapping layers if necessary, and preview the result again.