How to Add Text in Final Cut Pro (Titles, Fonts, Shortcuts)

Final Cut Pro calls on-screen text titles, and it gives you two speeds: a one-key basic title for everyday captions and names, and a big library of animated titles for intros and graphics. Here's how to use both, and how to make text look consistent across a whole video.

The fastest way: add a basic title

1. In the timeline, move the playhead to where the text should appear.
2. Press Control-T to add a Basic Title, or choose Edit, Connect Title, Basic Title.
3. For a name or caption at the bottom of the screen, press Control-Shift-T for a Basic Lower Third.
4. Double-click the title clip in the timeline and type your text in the viewer.
5. Press Command-Return to finish editing.

Use a styled or animated title

1. Move the playhead to the right spot.
2. Open the Titles and Generators sidebar with the button in the top-left corner, or press Option-Command-1.
3. Click Titles, or a category under it, to browse styles.
4. Skim a thumbnail to preview the animation, then double-click it to add it at the playhead.
5. Double-click the title in the timeline and type your words.

Apple notes the title connects to the clip in your main storyline, so it moves with that clip if you rearrange your edit. If the playhead isn't over a clip, the title sits over a plain background instead.

How to change the font, size and colour

1. Double-click the title clip in the timeline.
2. Open the inspector with Command-4, or the Inspector button on the right of the toolbar.
3. Click the Text button at the top of the inspector.
4. Change the font, size and alignment.
5. Use the colour well in the Face section to change the text colour.

Title shortcuts at a glance

Action	Shortcut
Add default title (Basic Title)	Control-T
Add default lower third	Control-Shift-T
Open Titles and Generators	Option-Command-1
Open the inspector	Command-4
Finish editing text	Command-Return

The catch: set your own default title once and save hours

If you're adding the same style of caption over and over, don't restyle a Basic Title every time. Final Cut Pro lets you change the default. Find a title you like in the browser, Control-click it and choose Make Default Title or Make Default Lower Third. From then on, Control-T or Control-Shift-T drops in your chosen style instantly. Pair that with a title you've already styled in your brand font and colours, and every caption in every video matches without thinking about it.

Tips for text people can read

• Keep titles short; viewers read in a glance, not a sentence.
• Use lower thirds for names and roles, centred titles for section headings.
• Add a subtle shadow or background behind text over busy footage.
• Leave text on screen long enough to read twice.
• Check readability on a phone, where most people will watch.

Titles vs captions

Titles are designed text: headings, names and key points. If you need every spoken word on screen, use Final Cut Pro's caption tools instead, which are built for subtitles and can be exported for platforms that support them. Mixing the two is common: captions for speech, titles for emphasis.

Can't find a title?

If a title you've seen in a tutorial isn't in your browser, Apple suggests checking the Filter pop-up menu at the top of the browser, because titles can be stored in other locations. Some come from third-party packs that need installing separately.

For tutorial videos that mix text with screen footage, my picks for screen recording software help you capture clean recordings, and my guide to making effective short videos covers pacing your text.

A quick workflow for captioned business videos

Here's how I'd set up text for a series of talking-head videos. Style one lower third in your brand font and colours, with your name and what you do, then set it as the default lower third. Do the same with a centred title for section headings. Now, for every video in the series, it's Control-Shift-T for your name at the start and Control-T for each heading, and they all match. Keep text in the same position each time, too, so viewers know where to look. Consistency is what makes a series of videos feel like a brand rather than a collection of clips.

If you work with an editor or assistant, share the styled titles with them so everything matches, whoever does the edit.

My verdict

Press Control-T for a quick title or Control-Shift-T for a lower third, double-click to type, and use the inspector's Text tab with Command-4 for fonts and colours. Set your favourite styled title as the default, and every caption after that is one key away. It's the single biggest time-saver for anyone editing regular business videos in Final Cut Pro.

Frequently asked questions

Can I animate text in Final Cut Pro?

Yes. Many titles in the Titles and Generators browser are already animated. Skim a thumbnail to preview the movement.

What is the shortcut to add text in Final Cut Pro?

Control-T adds the default title and Control-Shift-T adds the default lower third.

Where are titles in Final Cut Pro?

In the Titles and Generators sidebar. Open it with the top-left button or Option-Command-1.

How do I change the font of a title in Final Cut Pro?

Double-click the title, open the inspector with Command-4 and use the Text tab.

How do I change the default title in Final Cut Pro?

Control-click a title in the browser and choose Make Default Title or Make Default Lower Third.

How do I stop editing text in Final Cut Pro?

Press Command-Return.

Why doesn't my title move with my clip?

Titles connect to the clip under the playhead. If it was added over a different clip, move it to the clip you want.