CapCut how-to
How to use keyframes in CapCut (zoom, move, fade)
Short answer
Select the clip, move the playhead to where the motion starts, and add a keyframe (the diamond icon next to Position, Scale, Rotation or Opacity on desktop; the diamond above the timeline on mobile). Move the playhead to where the motion ends and change the value; CapCut adds a second keyframe and animates between them.
Checked against: CapCut mobile (iOS, Android), desktop (Windows, Mac) and web, October 2026. Button names match CapCut's guides and the top independent guides; layouts move between builds.
Method 1: Desktop
Select the clip
Drag your media onto the timeline and click it.
Add the first keyframe
In the right panel, click the diamond icon beside Position, Scale, Rotation or Opacity.
Add the second keyframe
Move the playhead, then change the value; a new keyframe is created. Drag keyframes in the timeline to change timing.
Method 2: Mobile app
Start keyframe
Tap the clip, move the playhead to the start, and tap the diamond keyframe button above the timeline.
End keyframe
Move the playhead, then pinch, drag or change opacity; CapCut adds the next keyframe automatically.
Common keyframe moves
| Effect | Property | Values |
|---|---|---|
| Slow zoom-in | Scale | 100% to 115% over 3 to 5 s |
| Pan across a photo | Position | left to right over the clip |
| Fade in a layer | Opacity | 0% to 100% over 0.5 s |
If it doesn't work
| What you see | Fix |
|---|---|
| No keyframe icon on desktop | CapCut's help: select the clip first, use a standard clip rather than a template element, and open the Video, Transform or Adjust panel. |
| Animation jumps | Keyframes are too close together, or the second value equals the first. |
| Keyframe changes the whole clip | You changed the value with the playhead away from any keyframe and auto-keyframe off; add the keyframe first. |
Questions people ask
Where is the keyframe button in CapCut?
Desktop: the diamond next to each property in the right panel. Mobile: the diamond above the timeline when a clip is selected.
How do I make a smooth zoom in CapCut?
Two Scale keyframes a few seconds apart, with an ease curve if your version offers one.
How do I delete a keyframe?
Move the playhead onto it and click the diamond again.
More CapCut guides
Sources and how we checked
- CapCut: How to add keyframes in CapCut PC (checked 2026-10-05)
- CapCut Help: Why can't I see keyframes in CapCut on PC? (checked 2026-10-05)
Reviewed October 5, 2026 by the Koldflux team. Each step is compared with CapCut's own documentation (linked above) and with the top search results for this task; where they disagree, the maker's documentation wins. Steps without a source link follow the menu names that several current guides agree on.