3 Easy Steps to Add Text to iMovie for Beginners

Written by Daisie Team

Published on 21 June 2023 5 min read

Step 1: Import Video into iMovie

Open iMovie
Create a New Project
Import Video File

Step 2: Add Text to Video

Select Text Style
Customize Text
Position Text on Video

Export Video
Share to Social Media
Save to Local Storage

Adding text to your iMovie project can greatly enhance the final product, whether you're creating a simple video montage or a full-blown movie. In this beginner-friendly tutorial, we'll walk you through three easy steps on how to add text to iMovie. By the end, you'll be able to import your video, add customized text, and share your masterpiece with the world!

Step 1: Import Video into iMovie

The first step to adding text to iMovie is to import your video into the program. This is a straightforward process, and we've outlined the necessary steps below.

Open iMovie

Start by opening the iMovie application on your Mac. If you don't have iMovie installed, you can download it for free from the Mac App Store. Once iMovie is open, you'll see the main interface, which is divided into sections: the Library, the Browser, and the Viewer.

Create a New Project

To begin, you'll need to create a new project in iMovie. To do this, click on the "Create" button in the upper left corner of the screen, and then select "Movie." This will open a new blank project where you can add your video and text.

Import Video File

Now it's time to import your video file into the iMovie project. You can do this by clicking on the "Import Media" button in the Browser section of the iMovie interface. This will open a new window where you can navigate to the video file you want to add to your project. Select the file and click "Import Selected" to add the video to your iMovie Library. Finally, drag the video from the Library to the timeline in the Browser section. Now you're ready to add some text!

Step 2: Add Text to Video

With your video imported into iMovie, you can now focus on adding text. This step involves selecting a text style, customizing the text, and positioning it on the video.

Select Text Style

iMovie offers a variety of text styles to choose from. To access these styles, click on the "Titles" button, which you'll find above the Viewer section. This will open a panel displaying various text styles. Browse through the styles and find one that best suits your video. To preview a style, hover your cursor over it, and the Viewer will show a live preview. Once you've chosen a style, simply drag it onto the timeline, placing it above the video clip where you want the text to appear.

Customize Text

Now that you've added a text style to your video, it's time to customize the text itself. Double-click on the text box that appears in the timeline, and the Viewer will switch to a text editing mode. You can now type in your desired text and adjust its formatting, such as font, size, and color. Don't forget to experiment with different fonts and sizes to see what works best for your video.

Position Text on Video

Once you're satisfied with your text, you may want to adjust its position on the video. To do this, click on the "Video Overlay Settings" button (located above the Viewer), and choose the "Picture in Picture" option. Now you can click and drag the text box in the Viewer to adjust its position. If you want to resize the text, simply click and drag one of the corners of the text box. When you're happy with the placement and size, click the blue checkmark to confirm your changes.

With the text added to your video, you're ready to export and share your creation. iMovie offers various options for exporting and sharing your video, including sharing directly to social media or saving it to your local storage.

Export Video

Before sharing your video, you'll need to export it. To do this, click on the "File" menu in the upper left corner of the screen and select "Share" followed by "File." This will open the "Export" window, where you can adjust settings like resolution, quality, and compression. Once you've chosen your settings, click "Next" and choose a destination for your exported video file. Click "Save" and iMovie will begin exporting your video.

If you'd like to share your video directly to social media platforms like YouTube or Facebook, iMovie makes it easy. In the "File" menu, select "Share" and then choose your desired platform from the list. You'll be prompted to sign in to your account and provide information about your video, such as a title and description. Once you've filled in the necessary details, click "Share" to upload your video directly to the platform.

Save to Local Storage

If you prefer to save your video to your local storage for future use, simply follow the "Export Video" steps mentioned earlier. This will save the video as a standalone file on your computer, making it easy to share via email, messaging apps, or other methods.

And there you have it! With these three easy steps, you've learned how to add text to iMovie and enhance your videos. Now it's time to get creative and make your videos even more engaging and memorable. Happy editing!

Now that you've added text to your video, it's time to export and share it with others. iMovie offers various options for exporting and sharing your video, including sharing directly to social media or saving it to your local storage.

Export Video

Save to Local Storage

Congratulations! You've successfully learned how to add text to iMovie in three easy steps. Now it's time to unleash your creativity and make your videos even more engaging and memorable. Happy editing!

If you're looking to expand your creative skills and dive into lyric video animation, check out the workshop 'Animating Your First Lyric Video' by George Dyson. This workshop will provide you with the essential knowledge, techniques, and inspiration needed to create your own engaging and visually stunning lyric videos.