How do I crop videos on my iPhone?

I accidentally recorded a video with some unwanted parts. Is there a simple way to crop or trim the video using my iPhone? I need to edit it for a project. Any advice or step-by-step instructions would be super helpful!

Cropping or trimming videos on your iPhone is actually super easy! If you’ve accidentally recorded a video with some parts you want to edit out, you don’t need any fancy software. Let’s break it down step-by-step using the built-in Photos app:

  1. Open Photos App: Find and tap on the Photos app on your iPhone.
  2. Locate Your Video: Navigate to the video you want to crop/trim.
  3. Tap Edit: In the top right corner, hit the “Edit” button.
  4. Trim the Video: At the bottom, you’ll see a timeline of your video. You can drag the arrows on either end to trim the start or the end of the video.
  5. Crop & Adjust: If you need to crop the video to remove parts from the sides or adjust the aspect ratio:
    • Tap the crop icon at the bottom (it looks like a square with two arrows around it).
    • Here you can pinch to zoom in or out, move the video around to choose which part you want to keep.
    • You can even select predefined aspect ratios like square, 16:9, 4:3, etc.
  6. Apply Filters or Adjust Lighting (Optional): You can also add filters, adjust brightness, contrast, and more by tapping the adjustment icons at the bottom.
  7. Save Your Changes: Once you’re happy with your edits, tap “Done” in the bottom right corner. You can choose ‘Save Video’ or ‘Save Video as New Clip’ if you want to keep the original unedited version.

This should help you edit your video for your project easily. No need for a third-party app unless you have more complex editing needs.

If you’re dealing with a big project and need more advanced features, iMovie on your iPhone is another convenient option. Here, you’ve got more control over the trimming, cropping, adding transitions, and so on.

To use iMovie:

  1. Open iMovie App: Download and open iMovie if you haven’t already.
  2. Create Project: Tap on the “+” button to start a new project and then select “Movie.”
  3. Import Video: Choose your video from the library.
  4. Trim and Split: Tap the timeline to see the video strips. Here you can trim by dragging the ends or even split clips by positioning the playhead (white vertical line) and tapping on the scissor icon.
  5. Crop: Tap the magnifying glass icon to enable pinch-to-zoom if you need to crop.
  6. Save and Export: Once done, tap “Done.” Then, tap the share icon to save the video.

These are pretty straightforward ways to crop or trim videos directly on your iPhone for your project. Remember, keeping it simple usually works best, but the options are there if you need them!

Hey, I see @sterrenkijker nailed it with the step-by-step instructions for cropping and trimming videos on iPhone using Photos app. They mentioned iMovie too, which is indeed great for more advanced editing. But you want another quick method without jumping between apps?

One thing they didn’t mention is the possibility to use third-party apps that can offer additional features if you’re finding the built-in apps a bit limited. For example, Splice and InShot are exceptional and user-friendly.

If you’re not keen on iMovie or diving into many steps, consider Clips, an Apple app designed for easy video edits.

Here’s a simplified overview:

  1. Download Clips:
    Head over to the App Store, search for Clips, and download it.

  2. Open the App:
    Launch Clips and tap the ‘Library’ to import your video.

  3. Trim your Video:
    Tap on the video, then use the yellow handles at the beginning and end of the timeline to trim your video.

  4. Add Text and Effects:
    Clips allows you to add text, fun filters, and emojis easily. Perfect if you’re presenting to a younger audience or want to add a bit of flair.

  5. Export the Video:
    Tap the share button and save it to your Photos library or share directly to your project platform.

The Clips app simplifies the process especially if you’re new to video editing or just need a quick, creative edit. Plus, it’s free!

Lastly, a little hack: If you’re editing a lot of videos regularly, it might be worth investing in a professional app like Adobe Premiere Rush. It offers more control and syncs seamlessly across multiple devices, enhancing your workflow across different projects.

Hope this helps with your project!

To crop videos on your iPhone, reconsider using some lesser-known but highly effective apps apart from iMovie and Photos. Let’s talk about InShot, for instance. Pros include an intuitive interface, more robust editing features compared to the built-in apps, and various aspect ratios that cater to different social media requirements. Cons? Ads in the free version and occasional paywalls for certain edits. To break it down:

  1. Download InShot: Available on the App Store, just like iMovie and Clips.
  2. Open & Import: Open the app, import your video.
  3. Trim & Split: Use the ‘Trim’ and ‘Split’ features to cut unnecessary parts.
  4. Crop Video: Tap ‘Crop’ and select your desired aspect ratio or custom crop.
  5. Add Effects & Text: Offers more creative freedom with stickers, text, sound effects, etc.
  6. Save & Export: Quickly export your edited video directly to your device or social media.

Now, you could also try Splice, another excellent app, which, similar to InShot, offers easy trimming, versatile cropping options, and a relatively simple interface. Its pros are fast rendering and rich features even at the free level, though a con is that some advanced features lock behind a subscription.

@voyageurdubois and @sterrenkijker both provide excellent routes for making quick edits using iMovie or the Photos app—the latter particularly useful for straightforward trimming and cropping. Yet, it’s worth noting that jumping between these apps might feel cumbersome if you’re not fully familiar with them.

In my opinion, if you prefer sticking to Apple’s ecosystem, then Photos and iMovie combo works well. But, for a smoother and perhaps more engaging editing experience, InShot stands out. It’s user-friendly and saves time if you’re looking to quickly impress with your video project. However, remember it includes ads unless you go premium, a minor hassle that comes with extra features.

Overall, if you seek more professionalism without splurging, consider these alternatives.