Video

Record video with a visible timestamp

The recording date in a video’s information panel does not appear automatically when someone plays it. A visible overlay gives the viewer context inside the frame, but it needs its own setup and output check.

By Hui Quan Zhong Updated 2026-10-01 5 min read

Decide which kind of date you need

File metadata, a fixed title card and an updating on-screen timestamp serve different purposes. Metadata helps organize files; a title card labels a clip; a rendered overlay can remain visible throughout playback.

Three different records
Format	What the viewer gets
File information	The date in a compatible file viewer, not necessarily in the frame.
Title or caption	A label that may describe the whole recording.
Rendered watermark	Text inside the saved video frames.

Switch to videoOpen StampCam and select video mode before starting.

Choose the fieldsSet the watermark style and enable time; add location or notes only when needed.

Record a short clipCapture a few seconds with movement and, if required, spoken audio.

Illustration · not a test result

Make a short test recording

Switch to video Open StampCam and select video mode before starting.
Choose the fields Set the watermark style and enable time; add location or notes only when needed.
Record a short clip Capture a few seconds with movement and, if required, spoken audio.
Stop and save Wait for saving to finish before leaving the app.
Replay the result Check the stamp and audio in the saved video before the important recording.

Product presentation · interface varies by version — iOS — Product presentation · interface varies by version

Product presentation · interface varies by version — Android — Product presentation · interface varies by version

Keep the overlay readable

Choose a compact style, avoid important moving objects and check contrast against both light and dark parts of the scene. If the viewer will watch on a phone, a large address block can obscure more than it explains.

Use a note to identify the job or subject. Confirm how the time field behaves during your test instead of assuming that it updates every second in every style. A fixed date field can be useful without being a running clock.

A fixed phone records the steps of a bicycle repair.

Check permissions and offline limits

Camera access is needed to capture video; microphone access is relevant if you want sound. Apple documents both in its hardware permission guide. Review the Android app’s permissions too.

Time comes from the device clock. Addresses and weather can require network services, and GPS needs a usable position fix. Test the exact field combination in the conditions where you will record.

Review before sharing

Replay the saved clip, not just the live camera view.
Check the first frame, a frame in the middle and the end.
Listen to the sound if narration matters.
Inspect the version produced by your normal sharing or compression workflow.

Questions

Will the standard camera always print a date on video?

Do not assume so. A recording date in file information is different from text rendered into the video.

Why is the stamp visible in preview but not after saving?

Preview and export are separate stages. Confirm the selected mode and fields, then test a short saved clip; retain a sample and app version if the discrepancy continues.

Can I add a date to an existing video?

A video editor can add text to an existing clip. Check the actual recording date first and work on a copy; this is a different workflow from stamping during capture.

Sources

Every external source this article cites, with the link it was read from. None of them is a page about our own app.