How to Add Text to Video on iPhone

Adding text to a video on iPhone can make a clip easier to follow, identify people or places, or work as a title card. You can add a simple title in Apple’s iMovie app, which is free to download, or use a video editor that offers more control over captions and text timing. Have your video saved in Photos and enough free storage to export an edited copy.

What You’ll Need

An iPhone with the video you want to edit in the Photos app.
iMovie, if you want to use Apple’s free editor. If it is not installed, get it from the App Store.
For other styles, a video-editing app with text or title tools. Available controls vary by app and version.
A few minutes to preview the edit and save the finished video.

Step-by-Step

Choose the right method. iMovie is a straightforward choice for adding a title or text overlay to a video. The Photos app can trim and adjust clips, but its built-in editing tools do not provide a general text-overlay feature for ordinary videos. For multiple timed captions or more elaborate text animation, use an editor with a timeline and text layers.
Open iMovie and start a project. Open iMovie. If it asks permission to access your photos and videos, allow access to the clip you want to edit; you can choose limited access if that option is offered. Tap Start New Project or the plus button, then choose Movie. Labels can differ slightly between app versions.
Select your clip. Browse the video picker, tap the video, and use the play control to check that it is the right one. Tap the checkmark or Create Movie to add it to the project. The clip should appear in the timeline at the bottom of the screen.
Position the playhead. Drag the white vertical line, called the playhead, to the point where you want the text to appear. If you want a title over the opening shot, move it near the start. You can zoom the timeline with a pinch gesture if it is difficult to place the playhead accurately.
Open the title controls. Tap the video clip in the timeline so it is selected, then tap the Titles button (usually marked with a T). Look through the available title styles and tap one to preview it. Some styles place text near the middle of the image; others use a lower-third position or a full-screen title treatment.
Enter your words. Tap the sample title in the viewer, then tap Edit if shown. Type your text using the iPhone keyboard and tap Done or the checkmark. Keep the wording concise so it remains readable on a phone screen. If the selected style offers separate title fields, fill in only the fields you need.
Set when the text appears. In iMovie, a title is associated with the selected video clip. Depending on the title style and version, it may show for the whole clip or for a title interval you can adjust. Check the timeline and preview the result. If you need text to begin or end at a precise moment, split the video at that point or use an editor that allows you to trim a text layer independently.
Preview and refine. Tap the play button and watch the clip from before the text appears until after it disappears. Check spelling, contrast, placement, and whether the text covers an important face or object. Try another title style if the text is hard to see. Keep text away from the very edges, where it may be cropped on some screens.
Export the video. Tap Done to leave the timeline, then tap the Share button. Choose Save Video and select an export resolution offered by the app. Wait for the save to finish, then open Photos and play the exported copy to confirm that the text is included. The original clip remains a separate item unless you delete it yourself.

Common Mistakes

Editing the wrong clip: Preview the selected video before creating the project, especially if several clips have similar thumbnails.
Expecting a Photos text tool: Photos supports basic video adjustments, but its standard video editor does not add ordinary text overlays. Open the clip in a video editor instead.
Putting text too close to the edge: Cropping, different screen shapes, or social-app interface elements can obscure edge-positioned words. Leave a comfortable margin.
Using text that is too small or long: A title that looks fine while editing may be difficult to read on a smaller screen. Preview at normal playback size and shorten the message if needed.
Assuming the title has its own timing: Some title styles are tied to the full clip. Confirm the timing in the preview rather than assuming the text will vanish when you expect.
Leaving without exporting: A project in iMovie is not the same as a finished video in Photos. Use Save Video and check the exported file.

Tips

Use a short phrase, a clear font style, and strong contrast between the letters and the background.
For text over busy footage, choose a title style with a solid or shaded background if one is available.
Use consistent capitalization and punctuation across titles. For spoken dialogue, keep captions in short, readable phrases rather than placing a full paragraph on screen.
Watch the exported video with sound off. This helps reveal whether essential information is clear without narration.
Keep the original video until you have checked the saved version. You can return to it if the export has the wrong text or timing.
If you need several different captions at separate points, choose an app that supports multiple text layers on a timeline; a single title setting may not be enough.

Troubleshooting

The video does not appear in iMovie: Check that it is saved in Photos and that iMovie has permission to access it. If access is limited, grant permission to the specific clip or change photo access in the iPhone’s Settings. Also check that the clip has finished downloading if it is stored in iCloud.

I cannot find the Titles button: Tap the video clip in the timeline first. Editing controls may not appear until a clip is selected. If they still do not show, close and reopen the project, then check that iMovie is updated through the App Store.

The text is missing from the saved video: Play the project inside iMovie to confirm the title is visible, then export again using Share and Save Video. Make sure you open the newly exported copy in Photos rather than the original clip.

The text is difficult to read: Pick a simpler style, move it away from distracting details, shorten the wording, or choose a contrasting title treatment. Preview it over the exact footage where it appears.

The export fails or stalls: Check the iPhone’s available storage, close apps you are not using, and try exporting again. If the clip is long or high resolution, allow time for processing and keep the phone powered on until saving completes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add text to a video using only the iPhone Photos app?
Photos can trim and adjust videos, but it does not normally add text overlays. Use iMovie or another video editor for that.

Is iMovie free on iPhone?
iMovie is Apple’s free video-editing app. If it is not already on your iPhone, check its listing in the App Store for availability on your device.

Can I add text to just part of a video?
Often, yes, but timing controls depend on the title style and editor. Preview the project and use an editor with adjustable text-layer timing if you need precise start and end points.

Can I change the font, color, or position?
Options depend on the title style and app. iMovie offers a set of title designs, while other editors may provide more detailed controls. Check the selected title’s settings.

Will adding text change my original video?
Typically, the editor saves an exported copy and leaves the source clip in Photos. Keep the original until you have checked the export.

How do I add subtitles for spoken dialogue?
For dialogue that changes throughout the clip, use an editor that supports multiple caption or text layers and set their timing to match the speech. A single title overlay is better for a heading than full subtitles.

General steps for current mainstream versions; menus can differ by device and version. See the disclaimer or report an error.

More in this bed

The whole Tech How-To bed →