Easily Trimming Video Files With QuickTime Player

If you want to trim some video from the beginning or end of a movie file, you don't need to use a video editing app. You can do it right in QuickTime Player. Trimming is lossless and can be done with precision. You can also cut sections out of the middle of your video and export a new copy. You can trim in the Photos app as well, though the original full-length video is always available if you wish to revert.

Comments: 14 Responses to “Easily Trimming Video Files With QuickTime Player”

    rusty
    5 years ago

    In Quicktime, after you edit a video clip, click on the red close button in the upper left corner (not something you would normally do if you want to save a video) and you will be presented with a dialogue box that allows you to save the file, even after you have split the video and removed a section. A bit counter intuitive, but the file will be saved in the original format.

    cashxx
    5 years ago

    My problem is you trim it down, what if you have video within that trim you want to trim out and video at the beginning and end you want to keep? QT7 was perfect how it let you use the tick marks and quickly select beginning and ending spots by the frame and delete the video you didn't want and end with the video you wanted. QTX is the opposite and counter intuitive I think. I won't be upgraded to the new macOS in fear of loosing QT7 as I use it often to quickly edit small videos.

    cashxx
    5 years ago

    I guess the split clip allows it to be close and I actually think that was put in after my feedback when QTX was beta. Just seems so much more simple with QT7. Loosing the exporting options is bad as well, but QTX is keeping them in standard formats if using mp4.

    Pete
    5 years ago

    Quick time player is nit in the App Store.

    5 years ago

    Pete: It is part of macOS. You should have it already.

    Sherry
    5 years ago

    So how do you place the other video clip inside the previous one?

    5 years ago

    Sherry: Do you mean like I do in my videos? I use pro-level software for that, to record both at the same time. Screenflow.

    nick
    5 years ago

    hi Gary
    any idea if you can add text in Quicktime? For example a simple on screen title. thx

    5 years ago

    nick: No, you can't do that in QuickTime Player. Use iMovie for that.

    nick
    5 years ago

    Right after I posted my question I remembered that Keynote allows export to a movie, so I created a slide, exported it as a movie and inserted it into the QT movie. The only thing is, QT allows a clip to be inserted at the end, after which you can manually move it to the beginning. Happy to report it worked great :)

    Patrick Harrington
    5 years ago

    Hi, just followed the video, only thing is, when I go to trim, at the bottom, my whole video clip isn't there, just the first section... rest is blank, when it plays the first section, it goes to the next section, removing the last one... Just wanna be able to see the whole clip,to be able to trim it.. Thanks...PH

    5 years ago

    Patrick: Perhaps it is something about that one video. Did you try it with another video? Not sure why it would work this way for you.

    Hanish
    5 years ago

    Whenever I trim a video and save or export it, I keep getting the trimmed section back. Is it me or what? I tried trimming a few videos by chopping the beginning, saved and also exported the vid. Hey ho they trimmed bit is still there. Any suggestions ?

    5 years ago

    Hanish: Not sure what you could be doing wrong, sorry. Just take it one step at a time carefully.

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