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How to Trim or Cut a Video

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You have a video clip and only need part of it — a 10-second segment from a 5-minute recording, the middle of an interview, the funny part of a longer clip. Trimming is one of the most common video operations.

On iPhone (Photos app)

Built-in, no app required:

  1. Open the video in Photos
  2. Tap Edit
  3. Drag the yellow trim handles at the bottom — left for start, right for end
  4. Preview to confirm
  5. Tap Done
  6. Choose Save Video (replaces original) or Save Video as New Clip (keeps original)

Save Video as New Clip is safer if you want both versions.

On Android (Google Photos)

  1. Open video in Google Photos
  2. Tap Edit
  3. Use the trim slider
  4. Drag handles to set start and end
  5. Tap Save copy

Some Android phones have built-in video editor in Gallery with similar features.

On Mac (QuickTime Player)

Built into every Mac:

  1. Open video in QuickTime Player
  2. Edit → Trim (or Cmd+T)
  3. Drag the yellow handles
  4. Click Trim to apply
  5. File → Save As with new filename

QuickTime trim is fast — it’s a lossless operation (doesn’t re-encode) for compatible formats.

On Mac (iMovie)

For more advanced trimming:

  1. Open iMovie
  2. Create new project
  3. Drag video to timeline
  4. Use trim handles or split tool (B key) to cut
  5. Delete unwanted segments
  6. Export → choose quality

iMovie re-encodes (slower) but offers more editing features.

On Windows (Photos app)

Built into Windows 10/11:

  1. Open video in Photos app
  2. Click Edit & Create → Trim
  3. Drag handles to set start and end
  4. Click Save a copy

On Windows (Clipchamp)

Free, included with Windows 11:

  1. Open Clipchamp
  2. Import video
  3. Drag to timeline
  4. Use trim handles
  5. Export

More features than Photos app trim.

Desktop: HandBrake (free)

For technical trimming with output control:

  1. Open HandBrake
  2. Add video
  3. Range dropdown: select “Seconds” or “Frames”
  4. Set start and end times
  5. Choose preset, output filename
  6. Click Start Encode

HandBrake re-encodes (re-compresses) but lets you control output settings.

Desktop: FFmpeg (command-line)

For technical users:

ffmpeg -ss 00:01:30 -to 00:02:45 -i input.mp4 -c copy output.mp4

This trims from 1:30 to 2:45, copying streams without re-encoding (fast and lossless).

For batch operations or scripting, FFmpeg is unmatched.

Lossless vs re-encoding

When trimming:

Stream copy (lossless): keeps the original encoding; copies the relevant time range. Fast, no quality loss. May have keyframe-related issues (can only cut on keyframes; usually within 1-2 seconds of your target).

Re-encoding: decodes the video, applies the trim, re-encodes from scratch. Slower, slight quality loss, but precise cuts.

For:

  • Most uses: stream copy is fine; the keyframe limitation is minor
  • Precise cuts (e.g., exactly mid-word): re-encoding gives frame-accurate trimming
  • No quality loss needed: stream copy

QuickTime, iPhone Photos use stream copy when possible. HandBrake re-encodes. FFmpeg lets you choose with the -c copy flag.

Cutting out a middle section (not just trimming ends)

For removing a middle chunk:

iPhone Photos / iMovie: split the clip at two points, delete the middle.

Desktop tools (Clipchamp, iMovie): create multiple clips on timeline, delete the unwanted ones.

FFmpeg: more complex; split into segments, concatenate. Doable but involved.

For complex multi-cut editing: use a real video editor (iMovie, CapCut, DaVinci Resolve, etc.).

On the web

We don’t currently have a browser-based video trimmer. Browser-based video processing is computationally heavy; tools that exist are slow or upload-required.

Free online options if you accept upload:

  • Clideo
  • Kapwing
  • 123apps

For privacy-sensitive content: use phone or desktop tools.

Common scenarios

Cutting silence at the start/end of a clip: trim is the right tool.

Removing a mistake middle section: split-and-delete in a video editor.

Extracting a clip for social media: trim to platform-appropriate length (Twitter 2:20, TikTok up to 10 min, Instagram up to 60 sec for stories).

Saving just the highlight of a long video: trim to that highlight, optionally compress.

Quality preservation tips

  • For lossless trim: QuickTime (Mac), iPhone Photos, FFmpeg with -c copy
  • For frame-precise cuts: use a re-encoding tool
  • Don’t repeatedly trim and save: each re-encoding round (if using re-encoding tools) loses a bit of quality
  • Keep the original: until you’ve verified the trimmed version meets your needs

After trimming

Extract just audio: MP4 to MP3 if you wanted the audio portion.

Compress for sharing: see our Compress Video guide.

Combine multiple trimmed clips: video editor (iMovie, Clipchamp, FFmpeg concat).

TL;DR

  • iPhone: Photos app → Edit → drag trim handles
  • Android: Google Photos or built-in gallery editor
  • Mac: QuickTime Player (lossless) or iMovie (more features)
  • Windows: Photos app or Clipchamp
  • Cross-platform free: HandBrake (re-encode) or FFmpeg (lossless)
  • For middle cuts (removing a chunk): use a real video editor with split tool
  • For audio only: extract with MP4 to MP3

Tools that solve this directly

No signup, runs in your browser, nothing uploaded.

Audio Trimmer & MP3 CutterCut a section out of an audio or video file and save it as MP3 or WAV. Visual waveform with draggable handles for precise selection. Accepts MP3, WAV, M4A, FLAC, OGG, plus MP4/MOV/WebM (audio extracted). Runs in your browser — nothing uploads.MP4 to MP3 ConverterExtract the audio track from any MP4 video as an MP3. Runs in your browser using your device's built-in audio decoder — no upload, no 30MB ffmpeg download, no waiting in queue. Works on music videos, podcast recordings, screen captures, anything.