How to Trim Videos on Windows: Easy Step-by-Step (2 Methods)

Whether you want to shorten a meeting recording or grab that power moment for a clip you want to share, trimming your video is straightforward. 

In fact, Windows PCs come with built-in trimming tools that will do just fine for basic trimming. If you want to trim something more professionally, try a dedicated editing platform.  

We’re here to help. This Riverside guide walks you through a step-by-step on how to trim videos on Windows PCs. Plus, we share some dedicated trimming tools to try.

Is there a quick way to trim videos on Windows?

The right software tools and skills can help you quickly and efficiently trim your content for a variety of purposes. 

The quickest, easiest way to trim videos on Windows is using it’s built in features like the Photos App. This is ideal for a simple trim of a short recording, but if you’re going to need to sift through a long recording to cut out parts, we suggest trying a text-based editor like Riverside. With a text-based editor, trimming videos is literally as simple as deleting text. They use AI transcriptions which link to your recording and any text you delete in these transcripts removing the matching video and audio in your recordings. 

How to trim videos on Windows with the photos app

One of the easiest ways to trim videos on Windows is using the photos app, which is built into the Windows 10 system. 

The photos app includes simple, streamlined video editing tools and features that make it easy to trim content quickly, even with limited video editing experience. This makes it a great choice for beginners! 

Step 1: Launch the app

Open the Windows photos app on your device, and select the video you want to edit from your device’s camera roll. 

Step 2: Edit and create

At the top right of your screen, select Edit & Create. Next, choose the Trim option from the dropdown menu. 

Step 3: Trim your video

Use the two white circular pins that appear at the bottom of your screen to select the part of your video you want to trim. Use the blue pin to scrub footage and ensure you’re trimming the correct section. 

Step 4: Save and share

To finalize your edits, select Save a copy at the top right of your screen. The photos app will process your project and save a new video that includes only your trimmed footage. You can save and share this as desired. 

How to trim videos on a Windows device with an online trimmer

While the Windows photos app can be helpful for beginners, there are also resources you can turn to. There are several online video trimmers, often including extra features and controls. 

Online video trimming software for Windows

Many of the best online video trimming software programs are compatible with Windows devices and can help you achieve great quality for your video. 

Riverside

Riverside is an intuitive video recording and editing platform offering studio-quality results. With Riverside, you can capture high-resolution video at up to 4K resolution using local recording. This means everything records directly on each user’s own device to minimize connectivity disruptions. You can also use remote recording to capture content from participants anywhere in the world. 

On the editing end, Riverside’s Editor works with AI and text-based editing so that you can easily find and alter specific video sections, even with minimal editing skills. The Editor comes with an array of other automated tools. You can remove background noise and long silences, plus normalize audio levels, all at the tap of a button. And, if you’d like you can also add video captions then style them as you please. 

If you’d like to repurpose your recording into multiple short-form videos, try our Magic Clips tool. Riverside Magic Clips feature uses AI which finds key moments and automatically extract short-form content from long-from videos. 

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Online Video Cutter

Online Video Cutter is an open-source video trimmer. The user-friendly software program is built for beginners, offering support for various file formats. The Online Video Cutter also allows you to crop and rotate footage with a file size of up to 4GB. After a few hours, your files will be automatically deleted from the server to ensure effective security.

Adobe Express

Adobe Express offers a free video trimmer tool where you can upload a pre-recorded video project up to an hour in length. The site allows you to apply trim edits using click-and-drag handlebars or by manually adding time cuts. When you are happy with your video project, you can immediately save and download it to your device.

Step-by-step: How to trim videos on Windows PCs with Riverside’s editor

Want to trim your video project using the Riverside editor? Great! Follow these simple steps to get started. 

Step 1: Log in to your Riverside account and navigate to your Studios.

Step 2: Select the Studio where your desired recording is stored, and click the View recordings button. (You can also create a new recording by following the guidelines here.)

Step 3: Select the video recording you want to edit.

Step 4: At the top right of your screen, select Go to Editor. 

Step 5: Choose the correct aspect ratio for your video project.

Step 6: At the bottom of your screen, click and drag the purple bar to adjust video length and trim unselected content. 

Alternatively, you can use the text-based editor to trim your video via its transcription. Any text you delete, automatically removes the matching video and audio in your recording. You can also also select sections of text and remove everything besides what’s selected. 

Step 7: When you’re happy with your edits, select Export at the top right of your screen to save and download. 

FAQs on how to trim videos on Windows

Still unsure about how to trim videos on a Windows device? Here are our answers to a few frequently asked questions. 

How do I trim a video in Windows Media Player?

The Windows Media Player may also allow for simple video trimming edits! However, you’ll likely need to install a third-party plugin, SolveigMM WMP Trimmer, first. 

Once you’ve done this, you’ll need to launch the Windows Media Player. Select Tools, then Plugins, then SolveigMM WMP Trimmer Plugin Home Edition. Select the folder icon on the trimmer, and import your video project. Then tap Edit File, and select where you’d like to trim before entering a folder path. Use the Trim button to apply your edits. 

How do I trim a video on PC?

The video trimming process may vary depending on what kind of PC device you are using. However, the steps provided for the various software programs listed in this article will generally apply, so long as you are using a compatible and up-to-date operating system. 

Are you looking for an easy-to-use software tool that will help you get more out of your video projects? Try Riverside today!