Guide
How to trim a video
Trimming removes footage from the start and end of a video, or keeps a single section. Pick a start and end time, then export. Fast trimmers copy the original data and cut on keyframes, which is lossless but may be off by a second. Precise trimmers re-encode, so they can cut on any frame.
The video trimmer lets you scrub the preview, set exact start and end points, and choose fast lossless trimming or frame-exact cutting, in your browser.
How to trim a video with Videozify
- Open the Video trimmer and drop in your video.
- Play the preview and set the start point where you want the clip to begin.
- Set the end point, either by scrubbing or by typing a time like 00:01:23.5.
- Choose Fast (lossless, cuts on the nearest keyframe) or Precise (frame-exact, re-encodes).
- Press Trim and download the result.
Fast (lossless) vs precise trimming
Video codecs store full images (keyframes) every one to ten seconds, and only the changes in between. A fast trim copies the compressed data from the keyframe nearest your start point. It's instant and lossless, but the clip may start up to a few seconds early.
A precise trim decodes the video around your start point and re-encodes it, so it can begin on any frame. It takes longer and re-encodes once, but at a sensible quality it's visually identical. Use fast trimming for rough cuts and long recordings, and precise trimming when the first frame matters, as in social clips, intros and memes.
Trim on iPhone
Open the video in Photos, tap Edit, and drag the yellow handles at either end of the timeline. Tap Done and choose Save Video, or Save Video as New Clip to keep the original. It's lossless in most cases and the quickest option on a phone.
Trim on Android
Google Photos: open the video, tap Edit, drag the white handles on the timeline and tap Save copy. Samsung Gallery: tap the pencil icon and drag the handles. Most gallery apps offer the same.
Trim on Windows
The Photos app in Windows 11 includes a Trim option in the video viewer's menu (or the Edit menu, depending on version), which saves a trimmed copy. Clipchamp can trim on the timeline and export. The old Movies & TV app also offers trim on some versions.
Trim on Mac
QuickTime Player: open the video, choose Edit > Trim (Command-T), drag the yellow handles, click Trim, then File > Save. It's fast and keeps quality. iMovie can trim precisely on the timeline too.
Cutting out the middle
To remove a section from the middle, such as an interruption, trim twice: export the part before the cut and the part after it, then join them with the merge videos tool. Simple trimmers only keep one continuous range.
Finding the exact frame
For precise cuts, pause near the point, then step frame by frame. Many players use the period and comma keys, or arrow keys, to move one frame at a time. Note the timestamp to the tenth of a second and type it into the trimmer. At 30 fps, each frame is about 0.033 seconds, so 01:23.40 and 01:23.43 are adjacent frames.
Trimming long recordings
Hour-long meeting or lecture recordings are large, and re-encoding them takes time. Fast (lossless) trimming is ideal: it copies data without decoding, so removing the first 10 minutes of a 1-hour recording takes seconds, even in a browser. Use precise mode only for short clips where the exact first frame matters.
Audio-only trimming
If you only need the sound, such as a section of a lecture or a voice memo, trim the audio instead. The audio trimmer works the same way on MP3, M4A and WAV files, and audio files are small, so it's instant. You can also extract audio from the trimmed video.
Social clips from longer videos
To post a highlight, trim a 15–60 second section, crop it to 9:16 for vertical platforms, and add captions. Start the trim right at the moment of action or speech, without lead-in, because viewers scroll past slow starts. End on a strong moment or a natural loop point.
Trimming on a Chromebook or Linux
ChromeOS's Gallery app can trim videos (open the video, choose Trim, drag the handles, Save). On Linux, desktop apps like Shotcut or Kdenlive (both free) can trim and export, and ffmpeg can do lossless trims from the command line. Videozify runs in any modern browser, so it works on Chromebooks and Linux without installing anything.
What happens to quality
In fast mode the trimmed file is an exact copy of the original data between the cut points, so quality is identical and the file is proportionally smaller. In precise mode, the video is re-encoded once at a high quality setting that's visually indistinguishable from the source on normal screens. Audio is kept in sync in both modes. If you plan further edits, trim first and do other processing afterwards, so the video is only re-encoded once.
Keeping the original
Most trimmers, including Videozify, save a new file and leave the original untouched. Phone galleries sometimes overwrite the original; on iPhone, choose Save Video as New Clip to keep both. Keep the full recording until you're sure the trimmed version has everything you need.
Trim first, then everything else
Trimming before compressing, converting or adding captions saves time, because there's less footage to process, and it saves space. When a file is over a size limit, trimming the dead air at the start and end is often enough on its own.
- Trim, then compress
- Trim, then convert to GIF
- Trim, then generate captions so timings match the final cut
Frequently asked questions
Does trimming reduce quality?
- Fast trimming is lossless. Precise trimming re-encodes once at high quality.
Why does my trimmed clip start a bit early?
- Fast trimming cuts on keyframes. Use Precise mode for an exact start.
Can I trim a video on my phone?
- Yes. Use Photos (iPhone), Google Photos (Android), or Videozify in your mobile browser.
Is my video uploaded?
- No. Trimming runs in your browser.
How do I remove the middle of a video?
- Trim the before and after parts, then merge them.
Can I trim MKV or MOV files?
- Yes. Common formats are supported.
Can I trim a video into a GIF?
- Trim it here first, then open Video to GIF with the trimmed clip to make a small, looping animation.
Can I trim several sections at once?
- Trim each section separately, then merge them if needed.
What's the most accurate way to trim?
- Precise mode, with the start time typed to the tenth of a second.
Can I trim a video on a Chromebook?
- Yes, with the Gallery app or Videozify in Chrome.
Does trimming change the resolution?
- No. Resolution and frame rate stay the same.
Can I trim without re-encoding?
- Yes. Fast mode copies the original data, cutting on the nearest keyframe.
Is there a length limit?
- No fixed limit; very long files simply need more memory.
Can I trim on a Mac without QuickTime?
- Yes, with Videozify in any browser.