Video editing

How to trim a video for free

Updated June 4, 2024

Heads up! This content is relevant for Clipchamp for personal accounts. Try this link If you're looking for information about Clipchamp for work accounts.

Clipchamp is a free online video editorTry for free
Share this post
An abstract image of video being trimmed using green handles in Clipchamp

Easily delete unwanted parts of a video, trim away mistakes, and cut your video or asset to the perfect length with our online video trimmer

Transform your video for free in seconds by trimming away excess footage, bloopers, and awkward silences without leaving your browser. You can even trim audio recordings, music, graphics, and images so you can keep your viewers entertained for longer. Once your MP4 file or MP3 file is the right length, polish your video with beginner-friendly video editing features like rotate, resize, crop and transitions.

Read on to explore how to trim videos, audio, images, and graphics using the video trimmer in Clipchamp.  

How to trim video online

Step 1. Import your own videos or add stock media 

To start editing, you’ll need to import your own media or add stock videos. Click on the import media button in the your media tab on the toolbar to browse your computer files, or connect your OneDrive.  

An image of a user importing media.

For more help, check out the adding video help article

If you would like to include any stock footage like videos and images, click on the video library tab on the toolbar. Browse the royalty-free video library to select the right stock for your video. Use the search bar to look for stock based on keywords or click on the see more button within a video category.    

An image of a user finding a stock video in Clipchamp.

Drag and drop your videos onto the timeline.  

An image of a user adding videos to the timeline.

Step 2. Trim videos on the timeline

Trim videos with the online video trimmer tool

To trim the length of your video, click on the video on the timeline so it’s highlighted green. Move the green handles to the left of the timeline to trim the video length. If you trim too much footage off your video, just drag the green handle back to the right to recover your footage. The video trimmer uses a dragging method to trim assets on the timeline.

An image of a user trimming a video on the timeline.

Check out the trim help article for more help. 

To trim multiple assets at once, try the multi-item editing feature.  Hold down the shift key (Windows) or command key (MacBook) on your keyboard, then click each asset on the timeline then dragging one of the green handles to trim.  

An image of a user trimming multiple videos at once on the timeline.

Your assets will now appear on the timeline with gaps between them. Gaps will appear when assets are trimmed using the video trimmer.

An image of a user having gaps between assets on the timeline.

To remove the gaps between your clips, simply right click on the gap, then click on the delete all visual gaps button. You can also click on the trash can icon or the delete this gap button on the timeline to remove gaps one by one.

An image of a user removing gaps on the timeline.

Trim videos using the split and delete tool

You can also trim assets by splitting clips and deleting the unwanted footage. Click on the asset on the timeline so it’s highlighted green, then move your seeker to the timestamp where you would like to split. Click on the split button to cut your clip. If it’s in the middle of a clip, split twice.  

An image of a user trimming a video using the split button.

Your video will now be split into two parts. Click on the excess footage on the timeline so it's highlighted green, then click on the delete button. You can also use the delete button on your keyboard to remove assets from the timeline.

An image of a user deleting excess footage off the timeline.

There will now be a gap on the timeline where your asset was trimmed. Click on the delete this gap button to remove the gaps between your clips on the timeline.

An image of a user clicking on the delete gaps button.

Check out the gap removal help article for more help.  

Step 3. Preview and save your video

Before saving your new video, make sure to preview by clicking on the play button. When you’re ready to save, click on the export button and select a video resolution. We recommend saving all videos in 1080p video resolution. Paid subscribers can save in 4K video resolution.     

An image of a user saving a video.

For more help, check out our YouTube tutorial on how to trim videos fast and free using the video trimmer.

Frequently asked questions

Can I trim my video’s audio in Clipchamp?

The online video trimmer lets you easily cut any unwanted audio, videos, images, or graphic assets free, without having to download any external software.

How do I trim part of a video?

If you would like to trim a specific section of a video or audio clip, use the split tool to separate your media into three sections. Go to the specific timestamp where you would like to split the clip, repeat the process at the ending timestamp and delete the clip in between. Use the split keyboard shortcut for faster editing. 

Can trimming change the meaning of a video clip?

Trim away parts of a clip that doesn’t suit your video’s style, aesthetic, or genre using the online video trimmer. You can communicate different meanings to your viewers by trimming clips, rather than keeping a lengthy clip.  

How do I trim a video on Windows 11?

Easily trim videos for free using the online video trimmer in the Clipchamp Windows app.  

If you're looking for more ways to personalize your videos, check out how to remove audio from video, or explore how to make an image transparent.

Transform your videos for social media my trimming any asset in seconds using the video trimmer in Clipchamp or download the Clipchamp Windows app.

More from the Clipchamp blog

How to make a time lapse video easily

April 18, 2024
Time lapses are an artistic video style where you can literally see time fly by…

10 best fonts for edits and social media videos

October 17, 2024
A stylish font can elevate your video, fill it with personality and help you create…

How to convert video from MOV to MP4

August 13, 2024
With hundreds of platforms available to upload and share your videos, choosing a…

Start creating free videos with Clipchamp