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How to Add Text to TikTok Videos – Step By Step

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How to Add Text to TikTok Videos – Step By Step

What makes a TikTok video even better? Text! You can add details to a story, funny statements, or captions to help those who need to keep their phones on silent while scrolling. But how do you add text to a TikTok video?

Creating TikTok videos is easy once you get the hang of it. But there are so many editing options it helps to have a guide to follow. Review the steps below and learn how to add text to your TikTok creations.

How to Add Text to a TikTok Video

Before adding text to your TikTok video, you need to record it. Tap the + icon, select your music and any filters, then hold the red record button to record your video. When you’re happy with the video, tap the red checkmark at the bottom of the screen.

After the initial recording process, you can add text to your TikTok video on the next page. Follow these steps to add the text:

Step 1: Tap the Aa Icon

There’s a menu on the right side of the editing page. Tap the Aa icon to insert a text box on your TikTok video.

Tap the Aa Icon
Tap the Aa Icon

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Step 2: Type Your Text

A cursor will blink in the new text box, and your keyboard will appear on your screen. Start typing the text you want everyone to see.

Helpful Hint: You can repeat this process as many times as you need. Small bursts of text are often helpful for viewers, so keep the text short, and we’ll show you how to edit it to make sense in the next section.

Type Your Text
Type Your Text

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Step 3: Tap Done

Now that you typed the text you want to show on your TikTok video tap the Done button at the top of the screen.

Helpful Hint: You can change the font, duration, and placement of your text by following the steps in the following section.

Tap Done.
Tap Done

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Here is a brief, step-by-step video for visual reference:

How to Edit Text on a TikTok Video

Figuring out what to say is often more difficult than editing the text on your TikTok video. But once you add your text, you can edit and customize it any way you like. Here’s what to do:

Step 1: Tap the Text Box

By default, your text will have a standard font, be white, and last the duration of your video. You can change all of these aspects by tapping on the text after you add it.

Tap the Text Box
Tap the Text Box

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Step 2: Add Voice to Text

If you want an automated voice to read your viewers the text on the TikTok video, tap Add Voice to Text in the dropdown menu.

Choose one of the voice options by tapping the icon (for example, Wacky). Or, choose the Emotion or Vocals tab at the top of the menu to access more voice options.

Tap Apply voice to all text in this video to automatically include all text that you added in the previous section.

Add Voice to Text
Add Voice to Text

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Step 3: Set the Duration

When you tap the text box, a small dropdown menu will show up. Tap Set Duration to set the text to appear at certain intervals of the TikTok video (this works best if you have a lot to say in the video and want it to show consecutively).

Drag the red slider to set when your text shows.

When you have perfected the text’s duration, tap the white checkmark at the bottom.

Helpful Hint: Repeat this step for each text box you added. Position them at different intervals to make them appear consecutively.

Set the Duration
Set the Duration

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Step 4: Edit the Font and Color

You can also edit the text’s font and color. Tap Edit in the dropdown menu.

Select one of the font options at the top right side of the edit menu.

Tap the A with a box around it to add an outline to your text.

Choose one of the Color options located above the keyboard.

Edit the Font and Color
Edit the Font and Color

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Step 5: Move the Text

Lastly, you can move the text on your TikTok video. This is helpful when your text covers part of the video or you just don’t want it in the center of the screen.

Hold the text box and drag it where you want it to appear.

Helpful Hint: Be mindful of the pre-loaded options on the screen (the share/follow icon on the right, captions at the bottom, etc.

Move the Text
Move the Text

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How to Add Captions to a TikTok Video

Captions are helpful for those who can’t hear your audio. Perhaps someone needs to watch the video with the volume turned down, or your viewer is hearing impaired. Either way, it’s a good idea always to add captions to your TikTok videos.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Record the Video

As mentioned above, record your TikTok video, and add music and effects. Then, tap the red checkmark icon to move to the editing page.

Record the Video
Record the Video

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Step 2: Tap the Captions Icon

The menu on the right contains most of your editing options. You’ll see a caption icon (it looks like a white box with lines). Tap the Caption icon.

Tap the Captions Icon
Tap the Captions Icon

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Step 3: Tap Save

It takes a moment for TikTok to analyze and upload the captions on your TikTok video. When it completes, tap Save at the top.

Tap Save
Tap Save

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How to Edit Captions on a TikTok Video

TikTok lets us add text to our video in the form of captions. But captions aren’t always perfect. Sometimes, you need to edit them. TikTok’s automatic captions can blend in with your videos’ background, or they can misinterpret what’s said in the video. Nonetheless, you can fix all of that in a few simple steps.

Step 1: Tap the Caption

After adding your captions (following the steps above), tap the caption.

Tap the Caption
Tap the Caption

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Step 2: Tap Edit Captions

A small popup window appears when you select the Edit Captions button.

Tap Edit Captions
Tap Edit Captions

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Step 3: Change the Language

Your caption’s language appears in the default language for your account. If you wish to change this, tap the globe icon to the right of the edit window. Then, select the appropriate language.

Change the Language
Change the Language

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Step 4: Tap the Pen Icon

If errors appear in your captions or you want to customize what they say, tap the pen and paper icon at the top of the edit menu.

Then, select the caption you want to rewrite and type the new text.

Finally, tap Save at the top.

Step 5: Tap the A Icon

If you want to add a border or change your caption’s color, tap the A icon (with a box around it). Then, select any of the color or font options.

Tap the Pen Icon

Tap the Pen Icon

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TikTok Text is Tremendous

When you post a TikTok video, you’re posting for your audience. Adding text and captions to a TikTok video makes them easier to understand and gives your viewers more freedom to scroll without sound.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I add text or captions after I post my TikTok video?

No. When you publish your video, you can’t add, fix, or remove any text. Your only option is to save the video to your device and re-upload it with the appropriate corrections.

How do I add text to a draft?

If you have a video saved to your drafts and you want to add text or captions, it’s easy. Open the Draft from your Profile page. Tap the back arrow in the upper left corner to go to the editing page. Then, add your text and captions as explained above.

How do I add hashtags to my video?

Hashtags help boost your video in the algorithm and help those interested in your posts find your content. Before publishing your video, add any hashtags you like at the top of the publish page.

Can I get in trouble for adding profanity to my TikTok text?

While TikTok may not suspend your account or remove the video for the inclusion of profanity, there are many words the company flags that could put you in hot water. Any hate speech or threats will result in disciplinary action, even if it’s in text form.

If there’s a trigger word you must use in your video (some vary in context but can still get you in trouble), try a misspelling, adding a number in the middle, or something like that.

How many characters can I add in the text at the bottom of my video?

You can add text that appears at the bottom of your video. The section at the top of the publishing page lets you add 2200 characters. Your viewers can tap to expand it and read the entire text.

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