How to Add Text and Style Titles in Edits

In Edits, text is a layer on the timeline, just like video. You can drag it to start and end where you want, stack it above clips, and adjust it independently. A title is simply text you use as a heading, such as a hook in the first second. Captions are a different tool: they are generated from speech and sit on their own caption layer. If you need spoken words on screen, use the captions tutorial; if you want a headline, label or callout, this is the right guide.

Menu names can vary a little between app versions, so the steps describe controls by what they do. Look for the Text tool in the editor toolbar.

1. Open your project and move the playhead to where the title should appear. Not sure about cutting first? See trim, split and reorder clips.
2. Open the Text tool from the toolbar and choose to add a new text box.
3. Type your words. Keep a title to a handful of words; you can resize later.
4. Drag the box where you want it and pinch to scale it.
5. Set the duration by dragging the ends of the text layer on the timeline so it appears and leaves when you want.

Edits has a large library of fonts and text effects. The main families to pick between are bold sans-serifs for clear, modern headlines, handwritten fonts for a personal, casual feel, and elegant serifs for a polished or editorial look. Match the font to the mood of your video, and stick to one or two across a whole Reel.

Some tutorials also show importing your own fonts, and reports describe AI-assisted font styling being added to the fonts tool. These can depend on your app version and region, so check what your own Text tool offers before you plan around them.

Once the font is set, shape how the text looks against your footage:

• Colour. Pick a colour with strong contrast against the video behind it. White is the safest all-rounder.
• Size and alignment. Scale the text, then align it left, centre or right to suit the layout.
• Shadow and outline. Add one to separate text from a busy background; it is the quickest readability fix.
• Background. Add a box or fill behind the text when the footage is bright or patterned.

Reports also mention newer effects such as gradients and 3D shadows. Try them on one title, not all of them, so the video stays clean. For other visual changes, see the effects tutorial.

Static text is fine, but a short animation draws the eye. Edits offers text animations such as fade in and typewriter, which reveals letters one at a time. Apply an effect to the text layer, preview it, and shorten the layer if it lingers too long.

For custom movement, use keyframes to fine-tune a text box's position frame by frame, for example sliding a title in from the side. Our keyframes tutorial explains the technique. If you use the same title style often, a template saves rebuilding it every time.

These are general video-design rules rather than Edits settings, and they apply to any editor:

• Contrast first. If you have to squint, viewers will scroll. Test your title on a phone in daylight.
• Keep it short. Three to six words is plenty. One idea per title.
• Build a hierarchy. A large title with a smaller subtitle beneath guides the eye. Don't make everything the same size.
• Stay in the safe area. Instagram puts buttons and your username over the bottom and right edge of a Reel. Keep text clear of them.
• Be consistent. Use the same font, colour and animation throughout one video.

Problem	Likely cause	Fix
Text hard to read	Low contrast against bright or busy footage	Add an outline, shadow or background box; change colour
Text appears too late or lingers	Text layer's start or end is mistimed	Drag the layer's ends on the timeline
Text hidden behind Instagram buttons	Placed too low or too far right	Move it up into the safe area
Animation looks jumpy	Effect plays too long or two effects clash	Use one short effect per title
Font looks different after export	Imported font or version difference	Preview the finished video, then re-export with a standard font

If an export fails or looks soft, see export failed and set quality in the export settings guide.