If you are wondering how to add text to a slideshow on TikTok, the short answer is this: build your slideshow from photos, open the editor, tap the text tool, type your words, then style, place and time them on each slide. This guide walks through it step by step, then covers tips and fixes. Menus can differ by app version, so the names below are general.
How to add text to a slideshow on TikTok
There are two common slideshow types: a photo post you swipe through, and a video made from photos with music. The text steps are similar for both.
- Start a new post. Tap the plus button, then choose photos from your camera roll. Pick them in the order you want them to appear.
- Open the editor. After selecting your photos, continue to the editing screen. You should see your first slide with tools along the side or bottom.
- Tap the text tool. It is usually an icon with a letter A or the word Text. A keyboard opens.
- Type your words. Keep it short. One idea per slide reads best.
- Style the text. Choose a font style, color, alignment and background option from the options above the keyboard. Many versions offer a highlight or outline style that helps with busy photos.
- Place the text. Tap Done, then drag the text where you want it. Pinch to resize it and twist to rotate.
- Repeat for each slide. Switch to the next slide and add its text. Some versions let you copy a text style by reusing the same look.
- Set the timing. In video-style slideshows, tap the text and look for a duration or timing option so it shows for the right slides. Menus differ, so check what your version offers.
- Preview, then post. Play the slideshow from the start. Check every slide for typos and cut-off words, then add your caption and publish.
You may also see this search phrased as how to add text on TikTok slideshow, how to add texts to TikTok slideshow, or how to add text to a TikTok slideshow. They all point to the same steps above.
Size your slides before you add text
Text looks best when your photos already fit the frame. TikTok marks vertical video as the recommended orientation at 9:16, with a minimum of 540 × 960 px. Square is also supported at 1:1, and landscape at 16:9.
If your photos are the wrong shape, TikTok may crop or add bars, and your text can end up too close to an edge. Resize your images first with the Social Media Image Resizer. For full specs, see the TikTok video size guide.
TikTok does not publish pixel insets for its safe zone in the sources we checked, so treat the edges with care. As a general habit, keep text away from the top, the bottom and the right side, where the caption, username and buttons appear.
Tips for readable slideshow text
Keep it short
A slide is seen for a moment. Aim for a handful of words, not a paragraph. If you have more to say, spread it across slides or move it into the caption.
Use contrast
White text on a light photo disappears. Use a text background, an outline or a darker photo. Preview on a bright screen and a dim one.
Stay consistent
Pick one font style and one or two colors for the whole slideshow. Consistency makes the post feel planned.
Put the hook on slide one
The first slide decides whether people keep swiping. Make the first line a clear promise or question, then deliver on the next slides.
Leave breathing room
Center your text in the middle area of the frame. Do not stack lines tightly. Padding makes it easier to read at a glance.
Write the caption separately
Slide text and the post caption do different jobs. Slide text carries the story. The caption adds context and search terms. If you want help drafting captions, a TikTok caption generator can give you starting ideas, but always edit the result so it sounds like you.
Use fancy fonts from outside TikTok
The built-in font choices are limited. Some creators type stylized text into a generator, copy it and paste it into the TikTok text box. The Instagram Fonts generator works for this too, since it makes copy-and-paste text. The same trick is popular for an Instagram stories font or any font for Instagram Stories.
A caution: stylized characters are not real fonts. Some devices show empty boxes in place of certain characters, and screen readers may read them poorly. Use them for short accents, not for full sentences.
Reuse your slideshow on Instagram
Many creators post the same slides on Instagram. The sizes differ, so check them before you export.
| Format | Size | Ratio |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram carousel, tall portrait | 1,080 × 1,440 px | 3:4 |
| Instagram carousel, portrait | 1,080 × 1,350 px | 4:5 |
| Instagram carousel, square | 1,080 × 1,080 px | 1:1 |
| Instagram story | 1,440 × 2,560 px | 9:16 |
A carousel allows 20 photos and videos, and the orientation you pick applies to all slides. See the Instagram carousel size guide for details.
For stories and Reels, the safe area inside the 1,440 × 2,560 px canvas is 1,267.2 × 1,305.6 px. Keep 358.4 px free at the top and 896 px free at the bottom. These values come from Meta’s ad guide, so use them as a careful guide for organic posts too. More on that in the Instagram story size guide.
Plan your Instagram grid
If your slides also feed an Instagram profile, an Instagram grid planner helps you see how posts will sit together before you publish. Instagram grid planning is mostly about consistent colors and spacing. If you want one large image to span several tiles, the Instagram Grid Maker cuts an image into pieces in your browser. Search results may call this a grid planner Instagram tool, but cutting and planning are two separate jobs.
Common problems and fixes
The text option is missing
Update the app and check that you are in the editing screen after selecting photos. Some post modes show different tools. Menus can differ by app version, so look for a letter A icon or a Text label.
Text is cut off or hidden
You likely placed it too near an edge. Move it toward the center and away from the bottom caption area. Preview the full slideshow before posting.
Text disappears too soon or stays too long
In video-style slideshows, adjust the text timing option if your version has one. If not, add the text separately to each slide.
Text is hard to read
Switch to a style with a background or outline. Increase the size slightly and simplify the photo behind it.
Photos look stretched or have bars
The photos do not match the frame. Resize them to 9:16 first, then add the text.
Fancy characters show as boxes
The device does not support those characters. Switch back to a normal TikTok font.
I cannot copy my text style to the next slide
Not every version supports this. Retype the text and repeat the same style choices by hand.
Quick checklist before you post
- Photos are cropped to the vertical frame.
- Slide one has a clear hook.
- Text is short, high contrast and away from the edges.
- Fonts and colors match across slides.
- You previewed the whole slideshow.
- Caption is written and checked.