Video Trimmer

Trim and Cut Videos Directly in Your Browser

This tool lets you trim any video to the exact segment you need without uploading a single byte to a server. Load a video file from your device, drag the start and end handles on a visual timeline to define the clip boundaries, and export the result as an MP4 file. The entire process runs locally in your browser, so your footage stays private and processing starts immediately.

How Client-Side Video Trimming Works

Traditional online video trimmers require you to upload your file to a remote server, wait for it to process, and then download the result. This tool takes a different approach by running FFmpeg compiled to WebAssembly (FFmpeg WASM) inside your browser tab.

When you load a video, the tool initializes FFmpeg WASM in a background thread. When you export, FFmpeg accesses your file directly from disk using a worker-based file system, copies the video and audio streams between your chosen start and end points, and writes the trimmed output without re-encoding. This technique is called stream copy and it preserves the original quality bit-for-bit while completing in a fraction of the time a full re-encode would take.

Why Client-Side Processing Matters

Processing video in the browser instead of on a server offers three practical advantages:

• Privacy. Your video never leaves your device. There is no upload, no server-side storage, and no third-party access to your footage. This matters for confidential recordings, personal videos, and anything you would rather not send over the internet.
• Speed. Because there is no upload or download step, trimming begins the moment you click Export. Stream copy is particularly fast since it skips re-encoding entirely. A one-minute clip from a large file typically exports in just a few seconds.
• No limits. There are no file-size caps, duration restrictions, or daily usage quotas imposed by a server. The only constraint is your browser's available memory.

Supported Video Formats

The tool accepts any video format that FFmpeg can read, including MP4, WebM, MOV, AVI, and MKV. These cover the vast majority of video files from phones, cameras, screen recorders, and editing software.

The output is always an MP4 container. MP4 is the most widely supported format across devices, browsers, social media platforms, and video editors, so your trimmed clip is ready to use anywhere without an extra conversion step.

Using the Visual Timeline

The timeline displays a strip of thumbnail frames extracted from your video, giving you a visual overview of the entire clip. Two draggable handles mark the start and end of the trimmed region. Drag either handle to adjust the boundaries, and the video preview updates in real time so you can see exactly which frame you are selecting.

A playhead scrubber lets you scan through the video at any point. Click anywhere on the timeline to jump to that position, or drag the playhead to scrub through the footage.

For precision work, the timeline supports zoom. Zoom in to spread frames apart and place your trim points with frame-level accuracy, then zoom out to see the full clip.

Keyboard Shortcuts

The tool supports keyboard shortcuts for efficient editing:

• Space — Play or pause the video.
• Left / Right arrow — Nudge the playhead by a small step for fine positioning.
• Shift + Left / Right arrow — Jump the playhead by a larger step to move quickly through the clip.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does trimming reduce the video quality?

No. The tool uses stream copy, which transfers the original video and audio data without re-encoding. The output is identical in quality to the source file.

Is there a maximum file size?

There is no hard limit set by the tool. The video is read directly from disk rather than loaded entirely into memory, so even very large files can be trimmed. The main constraint is your browser's available storage for writing the trimmed output.

Can I trim a video from my phone?

Yes. The tool works in mobile browsers that support WebAssembly, which includes Safari on iOS and Chrome on Android. Select a video from your camera roll, set the trim points, and export.

What happens to my video after I close the tab?

It is discarded. All video data exists only in your browser's memory for the duration of the session. Nothing is saved to a server or persisted locally after the tab is closed.

Why does the export take longer for some videos?

Stream copy is fast for most formats. Occasionally, the container format or codec requires FFmpeg to perform additional muxing work, which adds a small overhead. Very large files also take longer simply because more data needs to be written.

Related Tools

You might also find these tools useful:

• Screen Recorder — Record your screen directly in the browser and save the recording as a video file.
• Image Converter — Convert images between formats like PNG, JPG, and WebP.