Clip Cut guide
How to edit a video on your phone: trim, text, music and export
To edit a video on your phone, choose the shape first (9:16 for Reels, TikTok and Shorts), add your clips, trim each one to its best moment and put them in order. Then add text or captions, music, a filter and simple transitions, and export at 720p or 1080p. Keep it short: most good short videos hook the viewer in the first two seconds and finish in under 30.
How to edit a video, step by step
- Pick the shape. Choose 9:16, 4:5, 1:1 or 16:9 before you start, so text and framing fit.
- Add your clips and photos with New project.
- Trim every clip. Cut the slow start and the wobbly end. Use Split to cut a clip in two and Delete for the bit you don't want.
- Order the story. Drag clips on the timeline. Put the most striking shot first.
- Add text and captions. A short title in the first second tells people what they're watching.
- Add music, and use Beat sync to line cuts up with the beat.
- Add a filter and transitions, sparingly.
- Export, then share to your app of choice.
Which shape and length for each platform
| Where | Shape | Good length |
|---|---|---|
| Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts | 9:16 vertical | 7 to 30 seconds for most posts |
| Instagram and Facebook feed | 4:5 or 1:1 | Under a minute |
| YouTube, websites, TVs | 16:9 wide | As long as it needs to be |
| Messages to friends and family | Any | Short, so it sends quickly |
Platforms change their limits often, so check the current maximum if you're making something long. Keep important text away from the top and bottom of vertical videos, where app buttons and captions sit.
Editing tips that make videos better
- Cut shorter than feels right. Two to three seconds per shot keeps a montage moving.
- Cut on action. Change shot as something moves, and the cut feels smooth.
- Use one or two transitions, not ten. A plain cut is usually best.
- Add captions. Many people watch with the sound off.
- Mind the sound. Lower clip volume under music, or mute noisy clips.
- Use music you're allowed to use. Platforms can mute or remove videos with copyrighted tracks.
Worked example: a 20-second holiday reel
Shot 1 (2 s): jumping into the sea, with the title "Crete, day 3". Shots 2 to 7 (2 to 3 s each): breakfast, the harbour, a goat on the road, the beach, sunset, dinner. Last shot (3 s): the view from the balcony. Cuts land on the beat, one filter across everything, no transitions.
Editing in Clip Cut
Clip Cut is a video editor that runs in your browser. Your videos are edited and exported on your device; nothing is uploaded.
- Start with New project, or a template such as Photo Dump, Day in My Life or Glow Up and drop in your media.
- Edit on the timeline: select a clip for Split, Speed, Volume, Transition, Size, Replace, Duplicate and Delete. Undo and Redo are always there.
- Add more from the toolbar: Text, Stickers, Audio, Filters, Canvas, Captions and Beat sync.
- Export at 720p, choose the frame rate, and save the video. Export records in real time, so a 30-second video takes about 30 seconds.
- Share as a template link so friends can reuse your edit with their own clips.
Free exports are 720p and end with a short "Made with Clip Cut" card. Clip Cut Pro, a one-time $4.99, adds 1080p and 60 fps export with no end card, voiceover, Ken Burns motion and two more templates. Projects stay in your browser; back them up from Settings.
Common mistakes
- Choosing the shape last. Text and framing break when you switch from wide to vertical.
- Slow openings. Start with the best moment.
- Every transition at once. One style, used sparingly.
- Text in the danger zones. Keep it clear of the app buttons on vertical videos.
- Loud clip audio under music. Turn clip volume down or off.
- Clips that are too long. If a shot doesn't add anything, cut it.
Questions
What size should a Reel or TikTok be?
Vertical 9:16, usually 1080 × 1920 pixels. Clip Cut's 9:16 setting exports in that shape at 720p free or 1080p with Pro.
How do I trim a video on my phone?
Add the clip to an editor, select it on the timeline and drag its ends, or use Split at the point you want to cut and delete the part you don't need.
How long should a short video be?
For Reels, TikTok and Shorts, many successful posts are 7 to 30 seconds. Make it as short as the idea allows.
Can I edit videos without uploading them?
Yes. Clip Cut edits and exports on your device in the browser, so your videos are never uploaded.
What format does Clip Cut export?
MP4 (H.264) where your browser supports it, or WebM otherwise.
Is Clip Cut free?
Yes. Editing, text, stickers, filters, transitions, beat sync and 720p export are free. Clip Cut Pro adds 1080p and 60 fps export without the end card, voiceover, Ken Burns motion and more templates for a one-time $4.99.