To add text to a TikTok, record or upload your video, open the editor and tap Text, type your words and tap Continue. To control when it shows, hold the text below the video track and drag the arrows on either side to make it appear for a shorter or longer stretch. You can add as many text boxes as you like.
Text on screen is one of the simplest ways to hold attention on TikTok, because plenty of people scroll with the sound off. The tools are all inside the app, but they're split across two screens, which is why so many people find the font options and never find the timing.
Here's how to do both, using the steps from TikTok's own help centre.
Add text in the editing screen
- In the TikTok app, tap the Add post + button at the bottom.
- Record a video, take a photo or tap Upload to choose one from your device.
- Tap the Edit button on the side panel to open the editing tools. If you recorded a video, you may need to tap Continue first, and if you uploaded, tap Next first.
- Tap Text at the bottom of the editing screen.
- Type your text and tap Continue.
Make text appear and disappear at the right moment
This is the step people miss. Once your text is added, it shows up as its own strip below the video track. TikTok's help page says:
- To change how long it shows: hold and drag the arrow on either side of the text to make it shorter or longer.
- To move when it appears: hold the text below the video track and slide it along.
- To duplicate a line: tap the text and tap Copy. The copy is inserted directly below the original, ready to move.
- To change the words: tap the text on the preview, or tap Edit at the bottom.
Layering several short text strips one after another is how you get captions that change in time with what you're saying.
Change the font, colour and size
TikTok's editing page describes the styling tools on the quicker Text button, found on the side panel after you record or upload:
| What you want | How to do it |
|---|---|
| Pick a font | Select a font after typing your text |
| Change text or background colour | Tap the colour wheel at the top |
| Change alignment or add a highlight | Use the alignment and highlight options |
| Move the text | Press and hold, then drag it into place |
| Make it bigger or smaller | Slide two fingers outwards or inwards on the text |
| Delete it | Press and hold, then drag it to the Delete button at the top |
Tap Done to save your edits. TikTok notes that multiple text boxes and stickers can be added to one video.
A text-only post is a separate option
If you don't have a video at all, TikTok lets you make a text post. Tap Add post +, tap Text, type your words and adjust the size, style, alignment, font and colour, then add stickers or a background colour before posting to your feed or Story.
Save it as a draft before you post
If you're still tweaking the timing, tap Drafts on the post screen instead of Post. Drafts are saved to the videos tab on your profile and only you can see them. One warning from TikTok's help page: drafts can be lost if TikTok is uninstalled and reinstalled, or if the account is moved to a different device, and they can't be moved between accounts. Post anything important rather than leaving it in drafts for weeks.
While you're on the post screen, tap Select cover to choose the frame that shows on your profile. TikTok says you pick the cover before posting, so a frame with your text on it makes a good thumbnail.
Limits worth knowing
- You can upload up to 35 items in a single editing session, mixing photos and videos.
- Overlays are capped at 8 items, and you can add one sound to a post.
- Uploading through a web browser uploads your whole video. TikTok says to trim the length, use the app.
- You can't open your phone's own camera inside TikTok, only TikTok's camera tool.
- Editing tools work on Duets and Stitches too.
If you'd rather design your text somewhere with more control, adding text in CapCut gives you more styles before you upload. And if you're planning longer clips, check how long a TikTok video can be first.
And if a line of text is wrong after you've placed it, you don't need to start again. Tap it on the preview screen to edit the words, or press and hold and drag it to the Delete button at the top. Your timing on the other strips stays as it was.
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My advice
Use the editor's Text tool, not the quick button, when timing matters. Keep each line short, give it its own strip, and drag the arrows so it only shows while you're saying it. That one habit makes a talking-head video far easier to follow with the sound off.
Frequently asked questions
How do you add text to a TikTok video?
Open the editor after recording or uploading, tap Text at the bottom, type your text and tap Continue.
How do I make text appear and disappear on TikTok?
Hold the text strip below the video track to move it, and drag the arrows on either side to make it show for a shorter or longer time.
Can I add more than one text box on TikTok?
Yes. TikTok says multiple text boxes and stickers can be added to one video, and you can tap Copy to duplicate a line.
How do I change the text colour on TikTok?
After typing your text, tap the colour wheel at the top to change the colour of the text and its background.
How many photos and videos can I add to one TikTok?
TikTok says you can upload up to 35 items, photos and videos combined, in a single editing session.
Can I add text to a TikTok photo post?
Yes. After choosing your photos, tap Next and you can add text, sound, stickers or a filter, or crop the photos.
Can I lose my TikTok drafts?
Yes. TikTok says drafts may be removed if the app is uninstalled and reinstalled, or the account is moved to another device.
How do I delete text on a TikTok?
Press and hold the text, drag it to the Delete button at the top until it's selected, then let go.
