How to turn a text into a chat video
You have the conversation written down — in your notes, a script, a DM you want to retell. What you need is a vertical video where those messages arrive one by one, with typing dots and a pause before the line that matters. Here is the whole process, and the parts people usually get wrong.
Step 1 — paste the text, one message per line
Open the editor and paste the conversation. Each line becomes a bubble; mark which side each one belongs to — the other person on the left, you on the right. The editor keeps your line breaks, so a message that should read as two bubbles is simply two lines.
If you are starting from a real chat, cut the greetings. The first two messages have to make the viewer want the third; "hey" and "hey, what's up" spend your first four seconds on nothing.
Step 2 — set the rhythm: typing dots and one real pause
Turn on the typing indicator for the replies that should feel hesitant, and put one long pause — two to three seconds — right before the line that turns the story. Everything else stays quick. Sprinkling pauses everywhere feels like padding, and retention sags in the middle.
- Typing dots on a reply that hides something.
- A pause of 2–3 seconds before the twist, and only there.
- Total length 20–35 seconds: room for a turn, not enough for the drop-off after it.
Step 3 — pick the look and the name on the screen
Choose the style: Telegram-like dark theme for late-night drama, WhatsApp-like daytime for everyday stories, iMessage-like for a clean cinematic feel, VK-like for a Russian-speaking audience. Then the contact name — "Unknown number", "Mom", "Him": the name is half the story. The status line and the avatar placeholder are yours to set too.
Step 4 — download the MP4 and post it
Press download. The file is a 1080×1920 vertical MP4 at 30 fps, exactly what TikTok, Reels and Shorts expect, and it is ready in about half a minute. The preview you watched is the same renderer that made the file, so there are no surprises in the export.
Why not just record the screen of a real messenger? Because a recording shows your status bar and battery, needs a second phone to type the other side, and gets compressed twice on the way up. A generated video is clean and repeatable: fix a typo and export again in seconds.
FAQ
Can I make it on a phone?
Yes — in Safari or Chrome on the phone, nothing to install. The MP4 saves to the gallery like any other file.
Does it need the real messenger or someone else's account?
No. The chat interface is drawn from scratch in the chosen style; no real app, account or number is involved. Everything on screen is text you wrote.
How long does the video take?
About half a minute after you press download, for a typical 20–35 second story.
Is there a free plan?
Yes. Free downloads carry a small "Made with textflick.app" watermark; Pro removes it and raises the monthly limits.