How to Overlay Video on TikTok

Putting one video on top of another in TikTok is a game-changer for creating dynamic content, whether you're reacting to a clip, demonstrating a process, or adding a layer of visual storytelling. This powerful editing technique, often called a video overlay or picture-in-picture, is much easier to pull off than you might think. This guide will walk you through exactly how to overlay videos on TikTok using a few different methods, from the built-in tools to more advanced free apps.

Why Video Overlays Are Incredibly Effective on TikTok

Before getting into the how-to, it's worth understanding why this technique is so popular. In a fast-paced feed, video overlays give you a simple way to add context and personality to your content. They let you double your visual real estate, showing one thing while you talk about another.

This is perfect for:

• Reaction Videos: Film your live reaction while the original video plays in the background.
• Tutorials &, Demos: Show your face explaining a concept while a screen recording or product video plays behind you.
• Duet-Style Commentary: Offer your two cents on another creator’s video without covering their content.
• Creative Storytelling: Juxtapose two different scenes to create a visual metaphor or a funny contrast.

Mastering this skill adds a professional and highly engaging tool to your content creation toolkit, helping you stand out and keep viewers hooked.

Method 1: The Easiest Way Using TikTok's Built-in Green Screen Effect

The simplest and most direct way to overlay a video on TikTok is by using the Green Screen effect. It’s designed specifically for this purpose and doesn’t require you to leave the app. The name is a bit of a throwback, you're not actually using a green screen but rather telling TikTok to use a video (or photo) from your camera roll as your background.

Here’s how to do it step-by-step:

Step 1: Open the TikTok Camera and Find the Effect

Start by opening the TikTok app and tapping the plus (+) icon at the bottom of the screen to open the camera, just like you would to create any new video. On the left-hand side of the camera screen, tap on the Effects icon.

Step 2: Locate the Green Screen Video Effect

In the Effects panel, look for the "Green Screen" category. There are several different green screen effects, but the one you need for video overlays looks like a play button icon over a landscape with a person silhouetted in front. It lets you use a video, not just an image, as your background. Tap this effect.

Step 3: Select the Video You Want to Overlay

Once you select the Green Screen video effect, your phone's camera roll will appear at the top of the screen. Scroll through your albums to find the video you want to place in the background (your overlay). Select it, and TikTok will load it as your new background. At this point, you'll see yourself in the foreground via your selfie camera, superimposed over the video you just chose.

Step 4: Position and Size Yourself

Now for the fun part. You are the "top" layer of the video. Use two fingers to pinch, zoom, and drag yourself around the screen. You can make yourself a small circle in the corner for a classic reaction-style look, or keep yourself larger to be the main focus. Position yourself so you’re not covering a crucial part of the background video.

Step 5: Record Your Video

With your overlay video playing in the background and you perfectly positioned in the foreground, you are ready to record. Press and hold the red record button to capture your content. You can talk, react, or gesture as the background video plays. You can record one continuous clip or multiple segments by stopping and starting the recording, just like with a normal TikTok.

Step 6: Edit and Post

After you’ve finished recording, you'll be taken to the standard TikTok editing screen. Here, you can add text, stickers, sounds, and voiceovers before you write your caption and post. The video you chose from your camera roll is now permanently embedded as the background layer of your new TikTok.

Method 2: Using the 'Stitch' Feature for Commentary

While not a traditional picture-in-picture overlay, the Stitch feature accomplishes a similar goal. It allows you to use a 5-second clip from another user's public video and then record your own video immediately after it. This creates a powerful before-and-after effect perfect for commentary, fact-checking, or building on someone else’s idea.

It’s an excellent way to engage with trending content and join conversations happening on the platform.

How to Stitch a Video:

1. Find a video you want to Stitch. It needs to be public, and the original creator must have Stitches enabled in their privacy settings.
2. Tap the Share icon (the arrow) on the right-hand side of the screen.
3. In the menu that appears at the bottom, tap the Stitch button.
4. You’ll be taken to a trim screen. Select up to five seconds of the original video that you want to include in yours. Drag the red bars to select your clip.
5. Tap Next. Now, you’ll be in the TikTok camera screen, ready to record your own addition.
6. Record your video. Your content will appear immediately after the clip you just selected.
7. Edit your video as usual by adding a caption, hashtags, and any other effects, and then post it. TikTok will automatically credit the original creator in your caption.

Method 3: Gain Full Creative Control with a Third-Party App (Like CapCut)

If you want ultimate control over the size, positioning, and timing of your video overlay, you'll need to use a third-party video editing app. CapCut is the most popular choice for TikTok creators because it’s free, incredibly powerful, and made by the same parent company as TikTok (ByteDance), which means it integrates seamlessly.

Using an app like CapCut lets you create true picture-in-picture effects where both videos are visible simultaneously in any configuration you want.

Here's the complete workflow for creating an overlay in CapCut and uploading it to TikTok:

Step 1: Start a New Project in CapCut

Open CapCut and tap New project. From your camera roll, select the video you want to use as your main footage (the bottom or background layer). This might be the video you are reacting to or the screen recording you are explaining. Tap Add.

Step 2: Add Your Second Video as an Overlay

With your main video in the timeline, look at the toolbar at the bottom of the screen. Tap the Overlay button. Then, tap Add overlay. This will bring up your camera roll again. Now, select the second video - this is typically the one with you talking or reacting. Tap Add again.

Step 3: Edit the Overlay Clip

Your second video will now appear on top of your first video in the preview window and as a separate layer in the timeline below. Now you have total control:

• Repositioning: Drag the overlay video with one finger to move it anywhere on the screen. The corner is always a classic choice.
• Resizing: Use a two-finger pinch gesture to make it larger or smaller.
• Timing: In the timeline, you can drag the ends of the overlay clip to trim its start and end points. You can also press and hold the clip to slide it left or right, changing when it appears in the video.

Step 4: Adjust Audio Levels

This is a big advantage of using an external app. You probably don't want the audio from both videos playing at full volume. Select one of the video clips in the timeline, tap the Volume button in the toolbar, and adjust the slider. You can completely mute one clip or just lower its volume so your voice can be clearly heard over it.

Step 5: Export and Upload to TikTok

Once you are happy with how your overlay looks and sounds, tap the export icon in the top-right corner of CapCut (it looks like an arrow pointing up). Set the resolution (1080p is perfect for TikTok) and frame rate, then export the video to your camera roll.

Finally, open TikTok, tap the + icon, and tap Upload. Select your newly edited video from CapCut, add your favorite TikTok sounds, captions, and effects, and post.

Final Thoughts

From the native Green Screen effect to advanced editors like CapCut, overlaying videos is a technique every serious TikTok creator should learn. It’s a dynamic storytelling device that helps you pack more information, personality, and entertainment into your content, which is exactly what helps you stay relevant and grow your audience.

Creating these high-impact videos is a great start, but a strong social media strategy depends on consistency. After investing time getting an overlay just right, the last thing we wanted was a clunky, unreliable scheduler. We designed Postbase to streamline that final step. It helps you schedule your polished, short-form video content across TikTok, Reels, and Shorts from one visual calendar, so you can stop wrestling with your tools and focus more on creating awesome stuff.