Note: YouTube’s old Annotations feature was discontinued back in 2019, so if you’ve seen instructions referencing it, they’re out of date. Here’s how to actually add text to a video today.
Option 1: Add Text Before Uploading (Recommended)
The most reliable way to add text overlays, captions, or titles is to edit the video before you upload it, using any video editor — from free options like CapCut or DaVinci Resolve to paid tools like Adobe Premiere. This gives you full control over fonts, timing, animation, and placement, and the text becomes a permanent part of the video file.
Option 2: Use YouTube’s Built-In Editor for Shorts
If you’re making a YouTube Short directly in the app, YouTube’s own Shorts camera has a built-in Text tool — tap the text icon while recording or editing to add captions, titles, or callouts directly on the Short.
Option 3: Add Auto-Generated Captions
For spoken dialogue specifically, YouTube can auto-generate captions after upload (Studio > Subtitles), which you can then edit for accuracy. This isn’t the same as decorative on-screen text, but it’s the closest built-in equivalent for making spoken content accessible.
Why Editing Before Upload Works Best
Adding text during editing (rather than relying on a YouTube-native tool) means your text survives no matter how YouTube’s interface changes in the future, works identically across every device, and gives you far more creative control over fonts and animation than anything built into YouTube itself.
Related: See how to remove audio from a video and how to upload an HD 1080p video.
FAQ
Can I still use YouTube Annotations to add text?
No, Annotations were discontinued in 2019. Add text in a video editor before uploading instead.
Does adding text affect video quality?
No, as long as you export at the same resolution as your original footage.