How to Trim a Video (Online & Mobile & Windows & Mac)

Nowadays our lives are filled with all kinds of visual content, so knowing how to trim a video is a valuable skill that can enhance your storytelling, save storage space, and optimize your creations for different platforms.

Whether you’re on a Windows PC, a Mac, a mobile device, or prefer the convenience of online tools, this blog will walk you through on how to trim a video, ensuring you can tailor your content precisely to your preferences and the demands of diverse audiences.

Table of Contents:

What is Video Trimming & Why Trim a Video?

Video trimming involves the selective removal of unwanted portions or segments from a video file, effectively reducing its overall duration.

This can be done for various reasons:

• Removing Unnecessary Content: Sometimes, a video may contain parts that are irrelevant, boring, or simply not needed. Trimming allows you to cut out these sections, focusing only on the essential content.

• Reducing File Size: If you need to share or upload a video online, trimming can help reduce the file size by eliminating unnecessary scenes. This is especially useful when dealing with storage limitations or slow internet connections.

• Highlighting Key Moments: Trimming allows you to emphasize the most important or interesting parts of a video. By removing less crucial content, you can create a concise and impactful video that holds the viewer’s attention.

How to Trim a Video on iPhone & Mac?

To trim or cut a video, you can use the iMovie app in your iPhone. iMovie is a powerful video editing app that comes pre-installed on many iOS devices. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to cut a video:

Step 1: Open iMovie

Locate the iMovie app on your iPhone. If you don’t have it installed, you can download it from the App Store.

Step 2: Create a New Project

Open iMovie and tap on the “+” button to create a new project.

Step 3: Select Movie

Choose the “Movie” option to start a new project.

Step 4: Import Your Video

Tap on “Create Movie” and select the video you want to trim from your camera roll.

Step 5: Add to Timeline

Once your video is imported, it will appear in the timeline at the bottom of the screen.

Step 6: Trim the Video

Tap on the video in the timeline to select it. You’ll see yellow handles at the beginning and end of the video clip. Then, drag the yellow handles to set the start and end points for the trimmed video. You can also use the precision editor for more accurate adjustments.

Step 7: Preview and Save the Trimmed Video

Tap the play button to preview the trimmed video and make sure it looks the way you want. Once you are satisfied with the trimmed video, tap the “Done” button. And choose “Save Video” to save the edited video to your camera roll or select “Share” to directly share it on social media or other platforms.

To trim your video content on Mac, you can follow the below steps:

Step 1: Open the iMovie on your macOS computer to commence the video trimming process.

Step 2: Navigate to “File” and then “Import Media” or simply drag and drop your chosen video into the editing panel.

Step 3: Locate your video’s timeline within the editing panel, using the white vertical line for precise navigation. Employ the Space bar to initiate or halt playback.

Step 4: Adjust the video’s length by dragging the start and end points on the timeline. Alternatively, if you wish to trim a section from the middle, position the white line accordingly. Use the “scissors” icon or press Command(⌘)+B to split the video.

Step 5: Select the segment for removal and press the Delete key.

Step 6: Hit the Space bar to preview the trimmed video and save the edit if satisfied with the result.

How to Trim a Video on Android?

The most straightforward method for trimming a video on Android devices involves utilizing the pre-installed Gallery app. Follow these steps to effortlessly trim videos:

Step 1: Access the Google Gallery App

Open the Gallery app on your Android device, providing you with a convenient overview of your stored photos and videos.

Step 2: Select Your Video

Identify and click on the specific video that you wish to shorten within the Gallery interface.

Step 3: Initiate Editing

Tap on the pen icon, labeled ’Edit,’ situated at the bottom of your screen. This action activates the editing features for your selected video.

Step 4: Utilize Handles for Trimming

Upon entering the editing mode, notice handles that materialize at the video’s commencement and conclusion. Employ these handles by dragging them to adjust the start and end points, effectively trimming the video to your desired section.

Step 5: Preview Your Trimmed Footage

Ensure the trimmed video aligns with your intentions by pressing the play button positioned at the video’s midpoint. This allows you to review the clipped footage before finalizing the editing process.

Step 6: Save Your Edited Video

Once satisfied with the trimmed clip, tap on ’Save copy’ located in the top-right corner of your screen. This action preserves your edited video as a separate copy, ensuring the original video remains on your device until deliberately deleted.

How to Trim a Video on Windows

Easily trimming a video on Windows can be accomplished through the user-friendly Photos app, which provides fundamental video editing functions, including the convenient option of trimming.

Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to trim videos using the Photos app:

Step 1: Open the Photos App

Navigate to the “Start” menu on your Windows computer. And search for “Photos” and open the Photos app.

Step 2: Import Your Video

Once inside the Photos app, click on the “Import” button if your video is not already in the app’s library. Then, select the video you want to trim and click on the “Import selected” button.

Step 3: Open the Video Editor

After the video is imported, find it in your collection and click on it. At the top-right corner of the window, click on the “Edit & Create” button.

Step 4: Trim the Video

In the Edit & Create menu, select “Trim.” The video editor will open with a timeline at the bottom.

Step 5: Set Trim Points

Locate the handles (small white circles) on both ends of the timeline. Drag these handles to set the start and end points of the trimmed section. You can also use the playback slider to preview your trim before finalizing.

Step 6: Preview and Adjust

Click the “Play” button to preview your trimmed video. If adjustments are needed, drag the handles accordingly.

Step 7: Save Your Trimmed Video

Once satisfied with the trim, click the “Save a copy” button. You can choose the quality settings for your trimmed video. Then, click “Export” to save the trimmed video as a new file.

How to Trim a Video Online with Clipfly?

If you prefer a more convenient way for complete and detailed video editing, we recommend using Clipfly. Clipfly is a one-stop video editing platform that offers a range of basic editing functions, including video trimming, video splitting, adding text, inserting music, and more.

Importantly, Clipfly provides powerful AI tools to help you easily create stunning AI videos and use AI enhancement and AI dubbing functions to improve your videos in all aspects. Here’s how to trim an MP4 with Clipfly’s online video trimmer:

Step 1: Go to Clipfly

Open Clipfly.ai, and click “Try for free” button to get started.

Step 2: Upload Video

Click the blue “Upload” button to choose your video file from your PC, or you can directly drag and drop your file to the canvas.

Step 3: Select the Timeline and Start to Trim

Manipulate the timeline located beneath the video by dragging the start and end points to adjust the video’s length according to your requirements. Utilize Clipfly’s video splitting feature to divide a video into two or more segments, and subsequently trim each segment. To remove a specific segment, select the video’s timeline and click the “Delete” option above.

Step 4: Preview Your New Video

Once you’ve successfully trimmed your video, click the “Play” icon to preview the newly edited content. Upon satisfaction, select the purple “Export” button to save the trimmed video to your computer.

If needed, you can continue edit by exploring other tools to enhance your video further. Enhance clarity by incorporating subtitles and titles, introduce smooth video transitions for a more natural connection between multiple videos, and elevate your video with creative filters and effects for a heightened visual experience.

FAQs:

How do you cut out a certain part of a video?

It is easy for you to cut out a part of your video using Clipfly. Clipfly empowers you to divide your video into sections, allowing you to effortlessly trim, shorten, or entirely eliminate undesired portions. Start by uploading your video file to Clipfly.

Navigate to the timeline and opt for the “Split” tool in the toolbar above to segment your video. Subsequently, utilize the “Delete” tool to excise any unnecessary segments. That’s it!

How do I shorten the length of a video?

You can effortlessly shorten videos with Clipfly video trimmer. Go to Clipfly, upload the video you wish to trim, access the video timeline, and manipulate the start and end points by dragging them to your preferred length. It’s a straightforward process for achieving precisely the video duration you desire.

Conclusion

This comprehensive guide explores various methods for video trimming, spanning online platforms, iPhones, Android devices, Macs, and Windows systems. By following the detailed steps provided, you have the opportunity to refine your storytelling abilities and customize your content to meet the unique specifications of diverse platforms. Start trimming, start creating, and let your videos shine.