How to Add Text to a TikTok Thumbnail

Adding clear, snappy text to your TikTok thumbnails is one of the easiest ways to get more views and followers. A good thumbnail grabs attention on your profile grid, tells people exactly what your video is about, and makes them want to tap play. This guide will walk you through exactly how to add text to your TikTok cover, both inside the app and using external tools for a more branded look.

Why Your TikTok Thumbnail Matters More Than You Think

Ever land on a TikTok profile and instantly know what the creator is all about? That’s the power of good thumbnails. Your profile grid is your digital storefront, and thumbnails are your window displays. When a potential follower visits your page, they scan your grid to decide if you’re worth a follow. Without clear thumbnails, your feed can look like a random jumble of videos.

Text on your thumbnail serves a few important functions:

• It adds context. A title like "3 SEO Mistakes" is far more informative than a random frame from your video. It tells viewers the value they'll get from watching.
• It creates a consistent look. Using a similar style or font across your thumbnails makes your profile feel cohesive, professional, and intentional.
• It encourages clicks. A great thumbnail sparks curiosity. A compelling headline can make the difference between someone scrolling past or tapping to watch.

By organizing your content with clear, easy-to-read thumbnails, you’re not just making your profile look better - you're making it easier for new fans to understand who you are and why they should follow you.

Two Ways to Add Text: The Quick Way vs. The Pro Way

You have two main options for adding text to your TikTok thumbnails. Neither is necessarily "better" than the other, they just serve different purposes.

1. The In-App Method: Adding text directly within TikTok’s editor.
   Pros: Fast, simple, and requires no other apps. Perfect for when you need to post quickly.
   Cons: Limited design options, fonts, and colors. It's harder to maintain a consistent brand look.
2. The External Tool Method: Designing a thumbnail in an app like Canva or CapCut and then adding it to your video.
   Pros: Complete creative control. You can use your brand's fonts, colors, and layout templates for a highly professional and consistent look.
   Cons: Takes more time and involves a few extra steps.

We’ll break down both methods step by step so you can choose the one that fits your workflow.

Method 1: Adding a Thumbnail Cover Within the TikTok App

This is the most straightforward method. You can do everything right inside the TikTok editor just before you hit "Post." It’s perfect for getting the job done quickly and efficiently.

Here’s how to do it:

Step 1: Get to the Post Screen

First, record your video or upload it from your camera roll. Make all your edits - add sounds, stickers, text overlays, and filters. Once you’re finished with the creative part, tap "Next" to go to the final Post screen where you write your caption and add hashtags.

Step 2: Tap "Select Cover"

On the Post screen, look at the preview of your video in the top left. You’ll see a small button with an icon and text that says “Select cover.” Tap on it.

Step 3: Choose a Frame and a Style

This will open the cover editor. Here, you have two things to do:

• Pick a frame from your video: At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a filmstrip of your video. Drag the pink box left or right to scrub through and find a visually appealing frame. Choose a moment that is clear, well-lit, and represents the video’s topic well. Avoid blurry frames or moments where you're mid-sentence with an awkward expression.
• Pick a text template: Right below the filmstrip, you’ll see various text styles in different designs. Swipe through them to see the options. TikTok offers everything from simple banners and transparent overlays to more dynamic, modern text styles.

Step 4: Customize Your Text

Once you tap on a style you like, a default text box will appear on your cover preview. Tap the text to edit it and type your title. Once done, you can reposition the text by dragging it around the screen, and you can resize it by pinching in or out with two fingers.

Step 5: Save and You're Done!

When you’re happy with how your cover looks, tap “Save” in the top right corner. You'll be taken back to the Post screen, and your new thumbnail will be ready. Now, just add your caption and post your video!

A Few Quick Tips for In-App Thumbnails:

• Less is more: Keep your title short and punchy. Aim for 3-5 powerful words that communicate the main idea.
• Positioning is everything: Don’t place your text where it will be covered by the user interface on your profile grid (like the view count at the bottom). Keep it closer to the center or top half of the screen.
• Just pick one: You cannot layer multiple text styles in the cover editor, so choose the one pre-made style that works best.

Method 2: Creating a Custom Thumbnail with an External Tool

If you want your TikTok profile to look ultra-professional and perfectly on-brand, creating custom thumbnails is the way to go. This method gives you total freedom over your fonts, colors, layouts, and logos. It's how top creators make their profile grids look so polished and intentional. We'll use Canva for this example, but the same idea applies to other tools like Adobe Express, CapCut, or even Photoshop.

Part 1: Designing Your Thumbnail in Canva

1. Start with the right size. Open Canva and in the search bar, type “TikTok Video.” This will pull up a blank template perfectly sized for TikTok at 1080x1920 pixels.
2. Design your cover. Now for the creative part. You can either:
   • Upload a still frame from your video to use as the background.
   • Use a solid color from your brand palette.
   • Find a relevant stock photo or graphic.
3. Add your text and branding. Use Canva’s text tools to add your title. This is where you can use your brand’s specific fonts and colors. Arrange it exactly how you want it, making sure it’s big, bold, and easy to read. You can also add your logo or other branded elements.
4. Download your design. Once your thumbnail looks spot on, download it as a JPG or PNG and save it to your phone's camera roll.

Part 2: Adding Your Custom Thumbnail to Your Video

This next part is the trick to making it all work. You need to attach your newly created thumbnail to your video file *before* you upload it to TikTok. Here’s how to do it using what's often called the "one-frame trick."

1. Open a video editor. You can use a mobile video editing app like CapCut, InShot, VN Editor, or even iMovie on an iPhone. Open your finished TikTok video in the editor.
2. Add the thumbnail to the end. Import your thumbnail image from your camera roll into the project. Drag it to be the very last clip in your video's timeline.
3. Make it super short. Here’s the key: you don't want the thumbnail to be a noticeable part of the video. Trim its duration down to the absolute minimum, usually 0.1 seconds. This is so brief that it's practically invisible when the video plays, but the frame will still be there for you to select as a cover.
4. Export the video. Save and export this new, slightly longer video file to your camera roll.

You now have a video file with your custom thumbnail discreetly attached to the very end.

Part 3: Final Steps in TikTok

The last part is just like the first method, but even simpler.

1. Upload your new video file (the one with the thumbnail frame at the end) to TikTok.
2. Go through your usual editing process and tap "Next" to get to the Post screen.
3. Tap "Select cover."
4. Drag the filmstrip slider all the way to the right, to the very end of the video. Your custom thumbnail will be the last frame. Select it.
5. Since you’ve already designed it, you don’t need to select one of TikTok’s text styles. Simply press "Save."

That's it! Your video now has a professional, fully custom thumbnail that matches your brand perfectly.

Best Practices for Stand-Out Thumbnails

Knowing how to add text is only half the battle. Here are a few tips to make sure your thumbnail text is actually effective.

1. Be Clear, Not Clickbaity

The best thumbnails promise specific value and deliver on it. Instead of a vague title like "You Won't Believe This," try something more direct like "How to Style a White Tee" or "My Favorite Chicken Recipe." Viewers appreciate knowing what they're about to watch.

2. Use High-Contrast, Legible Fonts

Your thumbnail needs to be readable at a glance, especially on a small phone screen. Use bold, clean fonts (sans-serif types like Montserrat or Arial work well). Avoid thin, light, or overly scripted fonts that are hard to read. Make sure your text color stands out against the background. Placing text in a colored box or giving it a solid outline can dramatically improve readability.

3. Keep it Short and Sweet

No one is going to read a paragraph on your thumbnail. Stick to a short, impactful headline - ideally three to six words. Think about what will make someone stop scrolling. Words that convey value, like "Hack," "Mistakes," "Guide," or "Review," work well.

4. Think of Your Profile as a Whole

When someone is considering following you, they don’t see just one thumbnail - they see your entire grid. A cohesive feed makes a much stronger first impression. Use a consistent template, font, or color scheme across all of your thumbnails to build a recognizable brand identity. This tells viewers you're a serious creator who puts thought into your content.

5. Mind the Safe Zone

Remember that TikTok overlays UI elements on top of your video in the feed and on your profile. Text, especially your caption, can cover the bottom of your video, and buttons for liking, sharing, and commenting live on the right side. While it matters less for the profile grid view, it's good practice to keep key text centered and away from the edges to avoid getting cut off.

Final Thoughts

Adding text to your TikTok thumbnails is a small step that brings a massive return. Whether you opt for the quick in-app method or create fully branded covers with an external tool, taking a moment to title your videos will make your profile more organized, professional, and easier for new fans to connect with.

Creating great content is one piece of the puzzle, and planning it all out is the other. We built our social media management platform, Postbase, for today's visual, short-form world. A favorite feature is our visual planning calendar, where you can schedule your TikToks, Reels, and Shorts, seeing at a glance how your incredible new thumbnails look together in a grid. It lets you build that cohesive, professional look we've talked about, turning individual good videos into a great, long-term content strategy. Focus on making brilliant content, and trust Postbase to handle the rest.