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Clipchamp helps you crop videos in seconds with our online video cropper, perfect for removing unwanted background footage, bulky black borders and even pesky watermarks.
Easily crop videos for platforms like YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook, using our freehand crop tool to suit any size videos. Then, take your videos to the next level by adding a colored background or a filter effect.
Read on to learn how to crop videos for free with Clipchamp.
How to crop a video
Step 1: Import a video or select a stock video
To import your own videos and images, click on the import media button in the your media tab on the toolbar or connect your OneDrive.
You can also use our free stock videos. Click on the content library tab on the toolbar and click on the visuals drop down arrow before selecting a video.
Drag and drop your media onto the timeline to start cropping with the video cropper.
Step 2: Crop your video
There are two different ways to crop a video. Option A is using the automatic crop feature to remove black borders. Option B is cropping videos using the freehand crop tool.
Option A)
To start automatic cropping, click on any video on your timeline so it's highlighted, then click on the fit button in the floating toolbar.
The fit button will remove any black borders on your video to suit the aspect ratio.
Option B)
You can freely crop unwanted areas of your video using the cropping handles. Click on any video on your timeline so it's highlighted green, then click on the crop button on the floating toolbar.
Cropping handles will appear on all sides and corners of your video preview. Drag the handles to crop your video freely to any size. Click on the done button when you're finished.
Drag and drop your video around the preview window to recenter or reposition it. Click on the done button to apply your action.
If you would like to undo your cropping changes, click on the undo button.
You can also delete your video using the delete button then drag and drop the original video onto the timeline from the your media tab.
Step 3: Add a background to your cropped video (optional)
If you want to keep your video in its new size without using the fill or fit buttons, add a background to your video to hide the black border. Go to the content library tab on the toolbar, click on the visuals drop down arrow then click backgrounds.
Browse through the collections or use the search bar to find a suitable background. Click to add a background onto the timeline below your video.
Step 4: Preview and save your video
Before saving your video, preview it by clicking the play button. When you’re ready to save, click on the export button and select a video resolution. Choose from 480p, 720p, and 1080p video resolution.
For more help, watch our YouTube tutorial on how to crop a video.
How to crop a GIF
Follow these steps to learn how to crop a GIF in just a few clicks:
Import a GIF or select a GIF from the GIPHY integration in the content library tab on the toolbar, then add it to the timeline.
Click on the GIF on the timeline so it’s highlighted.
Click the crop button on the floating toolbar and follow the same cropping steps as above to crop your GIF using the cropping handles.
Click on the done button to apply your action.
How to crop a watermark out of a video
Follow these steps to learn how to crop out a watermark:
Import your watermarked video and add it to the timeline.
Click on the video in the timeline then click on the crop button on the floating toolbar.
Resize your video footage to remove the watermark then click the done button.
Frequently asked questions
How do I crop an unwanted area in a video?
Crop out unwanted areas in a video using the freehand crop tool in Clipchamp. Click on the video on the timeline then click the crop button on the floating toolbar. Adjust the corners or side handles to freehand crop out unwanted areas in your video.
How to crop a video without losing quality?
Cropping a video in Clipchamp will not affect the quality. To make sure you maintain the quality of your cropped video, export it at the highest possible resolution. Cropping a video in Clipchamp doesn’t affect its quality. You can ensure you maintain the quality of your videos by exporting at the highest possible resolution. If you want to level up your videos, you can also enhance your cropped video.
Can I crop an image in Clipchamp?
Yes. You can crop an image in Clipchamp but it must be in a video. Use your cropped image to create picture-in-picture videos, or overlay images over your video for creative effect. To save a cropped image, you must export the video.
Can I crop videos for TikTok?
Crop your social media videos for TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube in just a few clicks. Us the freehand crop tool, or simply change the aspect ratio in the Clipchamp video editor to resize a video for TikTok.
Discover more ways to enhance your videos like adding filters or color correcting your video footage.
Get started today with Clipchamp video editor or download the Microsoft Clipchamp Windows app to use the video cropper on Windows devices.
