Add Text in Final Cut Pro: Titles, Captions, and Tips

Updated 9 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

To add text in Final Cut Pro, place a title above your video in the timeline, then edit its wording, appearance, and timing in the viewer or inspector. This works for simple labels, opening titles, lower thirds, and captions; the exact controls depend on which kind of text you need.

Choose the right kind of text

Final Cut Pro treats on-screen words as titles or captions, and they serve different purposes. A title is a visual graphic layered over footage. You can style it, animate it, and position it for a design. Captions are timed text intended to represent spoken dialogue or other audio, often to make a video accessible or easier to follow without sound.

Title: Use for a video heading, speaker name, location label, callout, or end card.
Lower third: A title positioned near the lower part of the frame, commonly used for a name or role.
Caption: Use for synchronized dialogue or sound descriptions. Caption formats and delivery requirements depend on the intended platform.

A title may look like a caption, but it is not automatically a properly timed or formatted caption track. If accessibility or a platform’s caption requirements matter, use Final Cut Pro’s caption tools and check the exported file’s format.

Add a title to the timeline

Open the project and move the playhead to the point where the text should begin.
Open the Titles and Generators sidebar. You can use the sidebar button above the timeline or the relevant command in the Window menu; the shortcut and layout can vary with workspace configuration.
Browse or search the title choices. Select a simple title, such as a basic centered title, if you want to start without elaborate animation.
Drag the title into the timeline above the video clip, positioning it where it should appear. You can also select a title and use the interface’s add-to-timeline command.
Select the title clip, then double-click its text in the viewer to edit it. Type the replacement wording and confirm the edit.

Titles sit on a layer above the footage, so they can appear over video without replacing it. If a title is placed before or after the footage rather than above it, it may appear against a blank background. Drag it vertically until it is connected above the intended clip.

Edit wording, position, and style

After selecting a title clip, use the onscreen controls in the viewer for quick adjustments and the inspector for more detailed settings. Depending on the title template, available controls can include font, size, color, alignment, spacing, outline, shadow, and animation parameters. Templates do not all expose the same options.

Change the words: Double-click the text in the viewer and type. Some templates contain separate text elements, so select the specific line you want to change.
Move the text: Drag it in the viewer or adjust its position controls in the inspector. Keep important words inside the visible frame, particularly if the video will be cropped for another aspect ratio.
Adjust the design: Select the text element or title clip and edit the controls that appear in the inspector. If a setting is missing, that template may not support it.
Change the background: A title may have a transparent background, or its template may include a graphic panel. For a separate solid background, add an appropriate generator beneath the title.

For readability, use strong contrast between letters and footage. A subtle shadow or opaque backing can help text remain legible over changing images, but avoid covering faces or other important visual information. Preview the result at the size and aspect ratio where viewers will see it.

Set how long the text stays on screen

The title clip’s duration in the timeline determines how long it appears. Drag either edge of the clip to shorten or extend it, subject to the available media and timeline arrangement. For a precise duration, select the clip and use the duration controls or timecode editing available in the interface.

Scrub or play through the start and end of the title. Make sure the words appear when the relevant person or subject is introduced and disappear before the next shot makes them confusing. A title can have its own animation, so its visible appearance may begin slightly after the clip starts or finish before the clip ends.

Add captions instead of decorative titles

For dialogue captions, create a caption rather than placing ordinary title graphics over the video. Open the captions tools or caption role controls in the current interface, choose a supported caption format, and add caption segments aligned to the audio. Enter the spoken words, then adjust each segment’s timing and line breaks while reviewing playback.

Caption workflows and export compatibility can depend on the selected format and destination. Review the project’s caption settings and export options, and verify that the receiving platform accepts the resulting caption format. Do not assume that text burned into the picture is equivalent to a selectable caption track: burned-in text cannot normally be turned off by the viewer and may not meet a delivery requirement for a separate caption file.

Common problems and practical fixes

The text does not appear: Check that the title clip overlaps the footage and is above it in the timeline. Confirm that the clip is enabled, its opacity is not set to zero, and the playhead is inside its duration.
The words will not edit: Select the title clip first, then double-click the text in the viewer. If the template has several text fields, click the intended field rather than another graphic element.
The title is cut off: Move it inward and check the project’s framing. A vertical or square crop can remove text placed safely within a widescreen frame.
The title looks different after export: Review the exported file, not only the editing viewer. Check the project frame size, title position, font availability, and export settings; a different display or crop can change how the design reads.
The title is difficult to read: Increase contrast, reduce competing background detail, or add a restrained backing or shadow. Test it over the brightest and busiest parts of the shot.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I add text in Final Cut Pro?
Open the Titles and Generators sidebar, choose a title, and place it above the video in the timeline. Select the title and edit its text in the viewer.

How do I change the font of a title?
Select the title or text element, then look for font controls in the inspector. The available choices depend on the title template and fonts installed on the computer.

Can I add text without a background?
Yes. Many titles have transparent backgrounds and appear directly over the footage. If the selected template includes a panel or other graphic, choose a simpler title or adjust its controls if available.

How do I make text stay on screen longer?
Extend the title clip by dragging its edge in the timeline or changing its duration with the clip controls.

Are titles and captions the same in Final Cut Pro?
No. Titles are designed graphics; captions are timed text associated with audio and intended for captioning. Use the caption workflow when you need a caption track or caption export.

Why can’t I see my title in the video?
Check that the title is above and overlapping the video clip, that the playhead is within the title’s duration, and that the title has not been disabled or made transparent.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.