How to use Trim Video
- 1Drop a video into the box (MP4, MOV, WebM or MKV).
- 2Drag the start and end handles on the timeline, or play the video and press Start here and End here. You can also type exact times like 1:05.5.
- 3Choose Fast, no quality loss or Exact cut.
- 4Click Trim video, check the result in the player and download it.
Fast mode vs exact cut
Compressed video stores a full picture (a keyframe) only every few seconds; the frames in between only describe changes. Fast mode copies the original data, so it has to start from a keyframe. For MP4 and MOV the tool adds an edit list, so normal players start playing exactly at your start point, and the file keeps the original quality. Some editing apps and WebM files ignore that and show up to a few seconds earlier.
Exact cut decodes and re-encodes the selection to H.264 MP4, so the first and last frames are exactly the ones you chose. It takes longer and the size depends on the bitrate, which is set close to the original.
A trimmer that respects big files
Phone videos are often several gigabytes, which online trimmers have to upload first. This tool reads the file directly from your device, so a fast trim of a 4 GB video takes about as long as copying the part you keep. The output keeps the original format: an MP4 stays MP4 and a MOV stays MOV.
The timeline shows thumbnails, the preview player loops your selection, and the arrow keys move a selected handle by 0.1 second (1 second with Shift).
What to do next
- Still too big to send? Compress Video after trimming.
- Need only the sound of the clip? Use MP4 to MP3.
- Want it to loop in a chat? Make a GIF.
Frequently asked questions
Does trimming reduce video quality?
Not in fast mode: the video and audio are copied as they are. Exact cut re-encodes the clip, which is very close to the original at the bitrate used.
Why does my fast trim start a little early in some apps?
Fast mode can only start at a keyframe. Players that honor the MP4 edit list start at your exact time; some editors show the frames before it. Choose Exact cut if that matters.
Does it use FFmpeg?
Most of the time it uses your browser's built-in audio and video engine. For formats the browser can't handle, it uses FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly (GPL, source linked at /tvid/FFMPEG-NOTICE.txt), a one-time download of about 10 MB that then stays in your browser cache.
Is my video uploaded?
No. It is trimmed inside your browser and never leaves your device.
Can I trim iPhone videos?
Yes. MOV files from iPhone trim in fast mode and stay MOV. If your browser can't preview HEVC, you can still set times with the time fields.
Can I type exact times?
Yes. Type times like 75, 1:15 or 1:15.5 into the Start and End fields, or use the arrow keys on a selected handle to move it by 0.1 second (1 second with Shift).