How to Use a Template on TikTok

TikTok templates are one of the fastest and smartest ways to create eye-catching videos, letting you piggyback on current trends without spending hours in a complicated editing app. This guide breaks down exactly how to find the perfect template, customize it with your own photos and videos, and share it with the world. We'll cover everything you need to know, step by step, to make your content pop.

What Exactly is a TikTok Template?

Think of a TikTok template as a pre-built video skeleton. The creator of the template has already done the heavy lifting: they’ve selected a trending song, synced a series of clips and effects to the beat, and added text boxes and transitions. All you have to do is drop in your own photos and videos, and the template automatically edits them into a slick, professional-looking video.

These templates are incredibly popular because they level the playing field. You don’t need to be a video editing guru to create content that looks amazing. For brands and creators, they are a powerful tool to:

• Jump on Trends Instantly: When a new sound or format goes viral, a template allows you to participate in minutes, not hours.
• Save Time & Effort: It drastically cuts down on editing time. What might take an hour to edit from scratch can be done in less than five minutes with a good template.
• Maintain a Polished Look: Templates give your videos a consistent, high-quality feel, which helps build a stronger brand aesthetic on your profile.

Most of the templates you'll see on TikTok are powered by CapCut, TikTok's sister editing app. While TikTok has some of its own native photo templates, the vast majority and the most creative ones are CapCut templates that integrate seamlessly into the TikTok platform.

Finding TikTok Templates: Your Treasure Map

The first step is actually finding a template you want to use. Luckily, TikTok and CapCut make this pretty easy. There are four main ways to track down the perfect template for your next video.

Method 1: The 'For You' Page (Your Easiest Bet)

The most organic way to find templates is simply by scrolling through your "For You" Page (FYP). As you watch videos, keep an eye out for a special button just above the creator’s username.

• Look for the "CapCut - Try this template" or "Use this template" sticker. It often has a little cube or scissors icon next to it.
• When you see a video format you love that has this sticker, you've found a public template you can use instantly. Just tap the button to get started.

Pro-Tip: If you see a template you like but aren't ready to use it, just tap the "bookmark" icon to save the video. You can come back to your saved videos later, find the one with the template, and start editing from there.

Method 2: Straight From the Source (the CapCut App)

If you prefer to browse without the distraction of the FYP, you can go directly into the CapCut app to find a massive library of user-submitted templates. This is often the best way to find exactly what you're looking for.

1. Open the CapCut app.
2. At the bottom of the screen, tap on the "Template" tab.
3. Here, you can scroll through a dedicated feed of templates curated for you. You can browse categories at the top like Beat, Meme, Vlog, and Marketing.
4. Use the search bar at the very top to find something specific. Try searching for terms like "photo dump," "monthly recap," "before and after," or even the name of a viral trend.

This method gives you much more control and is perfect for brainstorming ideas even before you’ve filmed or collected your clips.

Method 3: Searching on TikTok Itself

You can also use TikTok's own search function to hunt down videos that were made using templates. From there, you can piggyback off of their video to use the same template for yourself.

1. Go to the "Discover" / Search page on TikTok.
2. In the search bar, type terms like "CapCut template," "photo dump template," or "[trend name] template."
3. When the search results appear, you’ll find tons of videos created with templates.
4. Just scroll through until you find a video that has the "CapCut - Try this template" sticker above the creator's username, and tap it to begin.

Method 4: Following Template Creators

There's a whole cottage industry of creators on both TikTok and CapCut whose main goal is to create and share popular templates. If you find a creator whose template style you really like, give them a follow! Their profiles are often goldmines of creative video ideas and formats. Browsing their backlog of videos is a great way to find unique templates that not everyone is using yet.

How to Use a CapCut Template on TikTok (The Step-by-Step Guide)

Okay, you've found the perfect template. Now it’s time for the fun part: making it your own. The process is almost identical whether you start from TikTok or the CapCut app.

Step 1: Open the Template in CapCut

Find the template you want to use and tap the "Use template" or "CapCut - Try this template" button. If you start from TikTok, you’ll be automatically redirected to the CapCut app to begin the editing process.

Step 2: Add Your Photos and Videos

After you open the template, CapCut will show you placeholders for all the media the template requires. You'll see outlines for each clip, and it will often tell you the required length for any video clips.

• Tap the "Use template" button in the bottom right corner of CapCut.
• Your phone's photo library will open. Select the number of photos and videos required by the template. Most templates tell you exactly how many clips you need (e.g., "Select 12 clips").
• Important Tip: Select your media in the sequence you want it to appear in the video. The first photo you tap will go into the first slot, the second into the second, and so on. This will save you time rearranging things later.
• Once you've selected your clips, tap "Preview."

Step 3: Edit and Adjust Your Clips

CapCut will now generate a preview of your video with your media dropped into the template. The music and timing are already done, but you can - and should - make some small but important adjustments to make it look just right.

• Tap on an individual clip in the timeline at the bottom of the screen to edit it.
• Crop & Reposition: This is the most important adjustment. The template may automatically crop your photo in a weird way, cutting off someone's head. Tap "Crop" and then you can pinch to zoom, shrink, or drag your photo around to frame it perfectly within the shot. Do not skip this detail if you want a professional video!
• Replace: Selected the wrong photo? Tap on the clip in the timeline and choose "Replace" to swap it for a different one from your camera roll.
• Edit Text: Some more advanced templates include editable text boxes. Look for a "Text" option or tap directly on the text on screen to customize the message.

Step 4: Export Your Masterpiece

Once you’re happy with how everything looks, it's time to export. Click the bright "Export" button in the top right corner.

• Make sure you set the resolution to 1080p for the best quality on TikTok.
• You'll be given two options. For a seamless experience, choose "Save and Share to TikTok." This option exports the video without the CapCut watermark, which makes your video look more native and professional on the platform.

Step 5: Post Your Video on TikTok

After exporting, you’ll be automatically taken to the final publishing screen on TikTok. You’re in the home stretch!

• Write an engaging caption. Use this opportunity to add context, ask a compelling question, or include a clear call-to-action.
• Add Relevant Hashtags: Include a mix of popular trend hashtags as well as niche-specific keywords that relate to your content and target audience.
• Tag People: If others are featured in your video, tag their accounts. This can help increase engagement by reaching their audience as well.

Once you've added your final touches, post your video and watch the views roll in!

Tips for Making Your Template Videos Stand Out

Using a template is easy, but making it stand out requires a bit more thought. Anyone can drop photos into a template, but here are some tips to make your video feel unique and polished.

Choose High-Quality Media

A template is only as good as the pictures and videos you put into it. A viral format can’t save blurry, pixelated, or poorly lit media. Always use the clearest, sharpest content you have. Quickly review your assets before exporting to make sure they look great.

Tell a Mini-Story

Even though it's a template, it doesn't mean you can't tell a compelling story. Think about the order of your clips and what kind of narrative they create.

• For a "glow up": Start with an old photo and build toward a recent one to show a clear transformation journey.
• For a travel dump: Order your clips chronologically to take the viewer on a mini-adventure from start to finish.

Fine-Tune Your Edits

The tiny details matter. Taking an extra 30 seconds to adjust each clip can make the difference between an average video and a great one. Tap on each clip and use the "Crop" feature to reposition it perfectly, ensuring the main subject is framed well.

Hop on New Trends Fast

TikTok trends move at lightning speed. When you see a new template format gaining popularity, jump on it immediately. Being one of the first to use a trend can significantly improve your video's visibility and chances of going viral.

Final Thoughts

TikTok templates are a cheat code for creating slick, relevant, and engaging video content without a steep learning curve. They handle the technical editing work for you - syncing clips to music and adding effects - so you can focus on the creative side: telling great stories with your photos and videos.

Once you get into the swing of using templates to make fantastic TikToks, keeping your content schedule filled and consistent becomes the next challenge. We actually built Postbase for this exact reason. After creating your videos, you can use our visual calendar to plan out your TikToks, Reels, and YouTube Shorts all in one place. Its powerful scheduling was designed for the short-form video formats that drive growth today, making it so much easier to manage your presence without bouncing between a dozen different apps.