How do I trim or cut a video?
To trim a video, open FixDoks's Trim Video tool, drag the start and end handles or type exact times, choose Precise for a frame-accurate cut or Fast for an instant cut with no re-encoding, then click Trim video. Your file is uploaded over an encrypted connection to our server, which trims it and sends back an output in the same format as your original clip.
Trim Video at a glance
| Input | MP4, MOV, M4V, WebM, MKV, AVI, 3GP, up to 200 MB |
|---|---|
| Modes | Precise (re-encode) or Fast (no re-encode) |
| Processing | On our server over HTTPS; files are deleted right after conversion |
| Max file size | 50 MB per file |
| Price | Free to use, no watermark |
| Download | First download free, then ₹49 for 2 months of unlimited downloads (US$3 outside India) |
| Files at once | 1 free, up to 30 with a plan |
| Works on | Chrome, Edge, Safari and Firefox on Windows, Mac, Android and iPhone |
How to use Trim Video
- Click Select video and choose your file.
- Drag the two handles under the preview, or play the video and click Set to current for the start and end.
- Choose Precise for frame-accurate cuts or Fast for an instant cut without re-encoding.
- Click Trim video and download your clip.
What are the two ways to cut a video?
Video files are not a simple list of pictures. To save space, most frames only store the difference from the previous one, and a complete picture (a keyframe) appears every few seconds. This is why video cutters offer two modes, and why it helps to know which one to use.
Precise mode
Precise mode decodes the video and encodes the part you selected again, starting exactly at the time you chose. It is accurate to the frame, so a cut at 1.5 seconds starts at 1.5 seconds. The output is an MP4 with H.264 and AAC, which plays everywhere. The downside is time: every kept frame has to be re-encoded, so speed depends mostly on your upload speed and the length of the clip you keep.
Fast mode (no re-encode)
Fast mode copies the original video and audio data without changing it, so it finishes in seconds and quality is exactly the same. The catch is that the clip can only begin on a keyframe, so the start may be up to a few seconds earlier than you chose. The format stays the same as your file (MP4, MOV, WebM or MKV). Use fast mode for rough cuts of long recordings, such as removing the first minute of a meeting recording.
Setting the start and end
- Drag the handles on the bar under the preview. The video jumps to the start handle so you can see where the clip begins.
- Set to current: play or scrub the video, pause at the right moment and click the button next to Start or End.
- Type a time: seconds like
75.5or minutes and seconds like1:15.5. Leave End empty to keep everything to the end.
If your browser cannot preview a format (some MKV and HEVC files), you can still type the times and trim.
What to do next
Trimming is often the best first step before other jobs. A shorter clip compresses to a smaller file with better quality in Compress Video, and makes a lighter GIF in Video to GIF. To keep only the soundtrack, use MP4 to MP3, and to cut audio files use Audio Cutter.
Private by design
Your video is uploaded over an encrypted connection only to trim it, then deleted automatically within about 30 minutes. It is not kept or looked at.