How to trim a video
- Drop a video into the box.
- Play the video and click Set to now for the start and end, type the times, or click the timeline bar to jump.
- Choose WebM or MP4 output (as available in your browser) and tick Remove audio if you want a silent clip.
- Click Trim and keep the tab visible while the selection plays through, then preview and download the clip.
What you can do with Video Trimmer
- Start and end selection
- Mark points from the playhead with Set to now or type exact times like 1:23.5, with the selection shown on a timeline bar.
- Remove audio option
- Tick Remove audio to export a silent clip, handy for background loops, GIF-style posts or replacing the soundtrack later.
- WebM or MP4 output
- Save in the formats your browser can record. The format list only includes options that work on your device.
- Preview before download
- The trimmed clip appears in a player with its length, file size and format, so you can check it before saving.
- Cancel any time
- A progress bar follows the trim, and you can cancel midway without losing the original video.
How browser video trimming works and its trade-offs
Browsers can play almost any common video, but they have no built-in tool for cutting a file directly. This trimmer works around that by playing your selection and recording it in real time with MediaRecorder, the same engine used for screen recording. The result is a new, re-encoded clip at the original resolution, which is why a 30 second selection takes about 30 seconds to process and why the tab needs to stay visible. It also means the output is WebM or MP4 regardless of the input format, which conveniently converts MOV or MKV clips.
Real-time re-encoding suits short clips: trimming the dead air from a screen recording, cutting a highlight for social media, or shortening a webcam message. Because the video is re-encoded, quality can be slightly lower than the original and the frame rate may vary on a slow device, so close other heavy tabs while trimming. For long videos, cut the highlight first and then use the Video to GIF tool or Extract Audio tool on the shorter clip. Always keep your original file, since trimming creates a new copy.
Frequently asked questions
Is my video uploaded when I trim it?
No. The video plays in your browser and the selected part is recorded into a new file on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, which also means there is no file size limit beyond your device's memory.
Why does trimming take as long as the clip?
Browsers don't include a file video encoder that websites can call directly, so the trimmer plays your selection and re-records it in real time. A 20 second selection takes about 20 seconds. Keep the tab in the foreground, because browsers slow down hidden tabs.
Will the trimmed video lose quality?
The clip keeps the original resolution, but it is re-encoded, so there can be a small loss of detail, especially in fast motion. On slow devices the frame rate may drop slightly during recording. For best results close other demanding tabs and apps while trimming.
Can I remove the sound from a video?
Yes. Tick Remove audio before clicking Trim and the exported clip has no audio track. To keep the whole video but silent, set the start to 0:00 and the end to the full length.
Does the video trimmer work on iPhone?
Yes. Safari on iPhone and iPad is supported through a fallback that draws the video to a canvas and records it, usually as MP4. Keep the screen on and Safari in the foreground while the clip plays through.