Trim Video Online (Cut Start and End)

xFormat trims video in your browser by setting a start and end time, with a fast no-re-encode mode that starts at the keyframe just before your start point and a precise mode that re-encodes, and nothing is uploaded.

Runs in your browser — files never leave your device.

How it works

Remove the dead air at the beginning or the extra footage at the end. Drag the two handles while the preview follows along, fine-tune by a tenth of a second, choose fast or precise, and save the clip. It all runs on your own device.

1
Select your video and find the part to keep.
2
Drag the start and end handles, nudge them by ±0.1 s or ±1 s, type exact times, or use the current playback position.
3
Choose Fast or Precise, click Trim and download.

Fast mode and keyframes

Video is stored as a series of keyframes (complete pictures) with partial frames between them. Fast mode copies the existing data without re-encoding, which is quick and lossless, but a copy can only begin cleanly at a keyframe. So the clip starts at the last keyframe before your start point and may include up to a second or more of extra footage at the beginning, depending on how often the video places keyframes. Nothing you asked for is cut off.

If your video has a keyframe every two seconds, a requested start of 1:31 might begin at 1:30.

Precise mode

Choose Precise when the exact frame matters, for instance when you must remove a spoken mistake. The video is then re-encoded so it can start precisely where you asked; the audio is still copied. It takes longer and is slightly lossy, since the video is compressed again, but the timing is accurate.

Tips

The selection starts out as the whole clip, so to cut only the beginning, move just the start handle. Play selection previews exactly what you will get. If your browser cannot preview the format, you can still type the times by hand. Trim first and compress afterwards, so you are not shrinking footage you plan to discard. Keep files within about 500 MB on desktop and 200 MB on phones.

Frequently asked questions

Why is my trimmed video a bit longer than I set?

In fast mode, the clip starts at the keyframe just before your start point. Switch to Precise if you need a frame-accurate start.

Does trimming reduce quality?

Fast mode copies the video as it is, so quality is unchanged. Precise mode re-encodes, which causes a small loss.

Can I trim a video without uploading it?

Yes. The video is cut locally in your browser and never sent to a server.

How do I cut only the end of a video?

Leave the start handle at 0:00 and drag the end handle, or type the time where you want the video to stop.

Does it work on phones?

Yes, in mobile browsers. Keep the video under about 200 MB.