How to Add a Keyframe in CapCut for PC

Adding a Keyframe in CapCut PC

A keyframe is a marker you place on your video or audio timeline that tells CapCut to remember a specific setting—like position, size, opacity, or color—at that exact moment. When you place two keyframes with different settings, CapCut automatically creates a smooth transition between them. To add a keyframe in CapCut PC, select the clip you want to edit, click the effect or property you want to animate (like Scale or Position), and click the keyframe button next to that property. The button looks like a diamond shape and appears in the Inspector panel on the right side of your screen.

The keyframe button only appears when you have selected a clip and opened a property that can be animated. If you do not see the diamond button, make sure you have clicked on the clip itself in the timeline, not just opened the Inspector panel. Once you click the keyframe button, CapCut places a marker at your current playhead position and locks in whatever value that property has at that moment.

Key Takeaways

Select your clip in the timeline, then open the property you want to animate (Scale, Position, Opacity, or Rotation) in the Inspector panel on the right.
Click the diamond-shaped keyframe button next to the property name to place a keyframe at your current playhead position.
Move your playhead forward in the timeline, change the property value, and click the keyframe button again to create a second keyframe and trigger the animation.
CapCut automatically smooths the transition between two keyframes, so you only need to set the start and end points.
You can delete a keyframe by right-clicking it on the timeline or by clicking the keyframe button again when your playhead is exactly on that keyframe.

Finding the Keyframe Button in the Inspector Panel

The Inspector panel sits on the right side of your CapCut window. When you click a clip in the timeline, the Inspector shows all the properties you can change for that clip—things like Scale, Position, Rotation, Opacity, and Color. Each property has a name on the left and a value field on the right. To the left of the value field, you will see a small diamond icon. That diamond is the keyframe button.

If you do not see the Inspector panel at all, go to the top menu and click View, then make sure Inspector is checked. The panel should appear on the right side of your screen. If the Inspector is open but you still do not see the keyframe button, scroll down in the Inspector to find the property you want to animate. Some properties are hidden by default and only appear when you expand a section.

Setting Your First Keyframe

Before you place a keyframe, move your playhead to the exact moment in your timeline where you want the animation to start. You can do this by clicking directly on the timeline or by dragging the playhead (the vertical line with a circle at the top) to the position you want. Once your playhead is in the right spot, click the clip you want to animate in the timeline so it is selected and highlighted.

Now open the Inspector panel and find the property you want to animate. For example, if you want to move a clip across the screen, click on the Position property. The current position values will appear in the Inspector. Click the diamond keyframe button next to the Position values. CapCut will place a keyframe at your current playhead position and remember the position value at that moment. You will see a small diamond marker appear on the timeline at that exact frame.

Creating the Second Keyframe and the Animation

After you place your first keyframe, move your playhead forward to the moment where you want the animation to end. Drag the playhead to a new position on the timeline—this could be one second later, five seconds later, or anywhere else you choose. The further apart your two keyframes are, the slower the animation will move.

Now change the property value in the Inspector. If your first keyframe locked in a Position of (100, 200), you might change it to (500, 300) for the second keyframe. As soon as you change the value, click the keyframe button again. CapCut will place a second keyframe at this new playhead position with the new value. The animation is now complete—when you play your video, the clip will smoothly transition from the first position to the second position over the time between the two keyframes.

Adjusting Keyframes After You Place Them

Once you have placed keyframes, you can move them, delete them, or change their values. To move a keyframe on the timeline, click and drag the small diamond marker left or right. To delete a keyframe, right-click the diamond marker and select Delete, or click the keyframe button again when your playhead is exactly on that keyframe—clicking the button a second time removes the keyframe.

To change a keyframe's value without moving it, click on the keyframe diamond on the timeline to move your playhead to that exact frame, then change the property value in the Inspector. The keyframe will update to the new value. You can also select multiple keyframes at once by holding Shift and clicking each one, then drag them all together to shift the timing of your entire animation.

Common Mistakes When Adding Keyframes

The most common mistake is forgetting to click the keyframe button a second time. Many new users change a property value and expect the animation to happen automatically, but CapCut needs you to place a second keyframe to know where the animation should end. If you only have one keyframe, the property will jump to the new value at that frame instead of smoothly transitioning.

Another mistake is placing keyframes too close together. If your two keyframes are only one or two frames apart, the animation will happen so fast it looks like a jump. For smooth, visible motion, space your keyframes at least half a second apart—that is about 12 to 15 frames at standard video speed. You can also accidentally place a keyframe on the wrong clip if you do not click to select the clip first. Always make sure the clip you want to animate is highlighted in the timeline before you click the keyframe button.

Animating Different Properties with Keyframes

The keyframe method works the same way for any property in the Inspector. Scale lets you make a clip grow or shrink. Rotation spins it. Opacity makes it fade in or out. Color lets you shift the color tone over time. You can even place keyframes on multiple properties at the same time—for example, you could make a clip move across the screen while it shrinks and fades out, all with separate keyframes for Position, Scale, and Opacity.

To animate multiple properties on the same clip, place your first keyframe for the first property, then move your playhead to the same starting position and click the keyframe button for the second property. Then move forward and set the second keyframe for both properties. This way, both animations will happen at the same time and speed. If you want them to happen at different speeds, place their keyframes at different distances apart on the timeline.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between a keyframe and an effect?

An effect is a filter or change you explore to a clip, like blur or color correction. A keyframe is a way to make any property—including effect settings—change over time. You can place keyframes on effect properties too, so a blur could start weak and become stronger, or a color correction could fade in gradually.

Can I copy a keyframe from one clip to another?

CapCut does not have a direct copy-paste feature for keyframes between clips. However, you can manually recreate the same keyframes on a different clip by placing keyframes at the same timeline positions and using the same property values. Some users export the keyframe data or take screenshots to remember the exact values.

Why does my animation look jerky instead of smooth?

Jerky animation usually means your keyframes are too close together or your video frame rate is set too low. Try spacing keyframes further apart so the change happens more gradually. You can also check your project frame rate in the project settings—24 fps or higher usually looks smooth, while lower frame rates can appear choppy.

How do I make an animation speed up or slow down?

CapCut animates at a constant speed between two keyframes by default. To make it speed up or slow down, place a third keyframe in the middle. If you want the animation to start slow and speed up, place the middle keyframe closer to the starting keyframe. If you want it to start fast and slow down, place the middle keyframe closer to the ending keyframe.

Can I delete all keyframes at once?

There is no single button to delete all keyframes on a clip at once. You must right-click each keyframe diamond on the timeline and select Delete, or click the keyframe button when your playhead is on each keyframe. If you have many keyframes, this takes time, but it ensures you do not accidentally remove an animation you want to keep.

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