How to Add Text in CapCut on Desktop and Phone

Most people watch social video with the sound off, which means the words on screen often do more work than the voice. A headline in the first second, a label on a product, a step number in a tutorial: it's all text, and CapCut makes it quick once you know where the Text option lives.

I've set out the steps below as CapCut's own pages describe them, for the desktop editor and the phone app, then covered what to do when your words go missing, which is the thing that trips people up most.

Adding text in CapCut on a computer

CapCut's text writing page gives this route for the desktop editor:

1. Open CapCut, start a new project and click Import to bring in your video.
2. Drag the video onto the timeline.
3. Open the Text option.
4. Add your text, then type or paste your words.
5. Use the right-hand toolbar to change how it looks, then drag the text clip on the timeline to set when it appears.

The Text area also lists AI generated styles, Text templates and Text effects, so you can start from a ready-made look instead of building one from scratch. Each piece of text sits on its own track, which makes it easy to move, shorten or delete without touching your video.

Adding text in the CapCut app on iPhone or Android

On the phone, the same page describes this flow:

1. Open the app, tap New Project and choose your video from the gallery.
2. Tap the Text option in the toolbar.
3. Choose Add Text and type your words.
4. Pick a font, size, colour and style.
5. Drag the text to where you want it on the picture, then set how long it stays on screen.
6. Add an animation if you want the words to move in or out.

Menus vary by app version, so if the labels look slightly different from mine, the Text icon in the bottom toolbar is the one to look for.

Styling CapCut text so people can read it

The tools are the easy part. Readable text is harder. Here's what I'd do for any clip that's going on a phone screen:

• Keep it short. A handful of words reads at a glance, while a sentence gets skipped.
• Choose a colour that contrasts with the footage behind it. White on a bright wall disappears.
• Make it bigger than feels comfortable on a laptop. It'll look smaller on a phone.
• Keep text away from the very edges, where app buttons and captions can cover it.
• Use one or two fonts across the whole video, so it looks planned.

Animating and timing text in CapCut

The pages I checked mention animations and motion tracking among the options for text. On desktop, the right toolbar is where you change the background and animate the text. On mobile, you set how long the words stay and then add animations.

A good rule is to let the words sit still long enough to read them aloud once. Animation is fine for the entrance, but if words keep moving the whole time, viewers have to chase them.

Why your CapCut text isn't showing up

This is the problem I'd expect most readers to have. CapCut has a help article about text that won't display, and it names the usual causes: text can be hidden, transparent, too small or covered by other layers. It also notes that some entry animations can delay or hide the text. The fixes it gives are:

• Select the text track on the timeline, then open Text and Basic, and move the text until its box appears in the preview.
• Move the text layer above picture-in-picture clips, stickers or other content layers.
• Raise the Opacity slider if the text is fully transparent.
• Increase the font size if it's too small to see.
• Remove or disable entry animations, then check whether the text comes back.

If the words still don't appear, the help article says to contact CapCut support with your project details.

Text styles to try in CapCut, by purpose

What you're making	Text idea
Tutorial	Short step labels that appear as you talk
Product clip	A name and one benefit near the product
Quote or tip	Large centred words on a plain background
Intro	Your name or brand on the first frames

Using CapCut text for small business and creator videos

Text is a quiet branding tool. If the same font and colour appear in every video, people start to recognise your clips before they've read a word. Pick a style once, then reuse it.

• Put your business name in the same corner of every clip.
• Use the same intro line style for a series, so each episode feels connected.
• Add on-screen words for key points, so the clip still works when it's watched silently.

If you'd rather have spoken words appear as a running caption, my guide to adding captions on TikTok covers that side of it, and adding subtitles to a YouTube video does the same for longer videos.

If you can't find the Text option in CapCut

• Make sure a project is open and a clip is on the timeline.
• On desktop, look in the media panel for the Text option. On the phone, look along the bottom toolbar.
• Swipe the toolbar sideways. Some buttons sit off screen.
• Update the app. Menus move between versions.

Frequently asked questions

How do I add text in CapCut?

Put your video on the timeline, open the Text option, choose Add Text, type your words, then style it and drag it on the timeline to set when it appears. On mobile, tap Text in the bottom toolbar.

How do I change the font and colour of text in CapCut?

Select the text, then use the styling controls. On mobile CapCut's page lists font, size, colour and style. On desktop the right-hand toolbar holds the options for the text.

Why isn't my text showing in CapCut?

CapCut's help article says text can be hidden, transparent, too small or covered by other layers. Move it into view, put it above other layers, raise opacity, enlarge it, or remove entry animations.

Can I animate text in CapCut?

Yes. CapCut's pages describe animations for text on both desktop and mobile. Keep the movement short so the words are readable once they land.

How long can I keep text on screen?

You decide. On desktop, drag the text clip on the timeline. On mobile, set how long the text stays on screen after you position it.