How to Cut and Trim a Video in VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player can trim a video by recording the part that plays between your chosen start and end points. It saves that section as a new video file, while leaving the original video unchanged.

Part 1: Can VLC Cut or Edit Videos?

VLC can create a short clip from a longer video with its Record feature. You start recording at the point you want to keep, let the video play, and stop recording at the end point. VLC then saves the recorded section as a separate file.

For a simple highlight, lecture excerpt, screen-recording clip, or social media preview, this is often enough. For precise edits, several cuts, transitions, captions, or lossless trimming, use dedicated video editing software instead.

In short: VLC is useful for quick trimming, but it is not a replacement for dedicated video editing software.

Part 2: How to Trim a Video in VLC on Windows

Use this method when you want to save one continuous section of a video. VLC records the selected part as it plays, so let the video play normally between your chosen start and end points.

Step 1. Open Your Video in VLC

• Open VLC Media Player.
• Click Media → Open File.
• Select the video you want to trim, such as an MP4, MOV, or MKV file.
• Click Open to load the video.

Step 2. Turn On Advanced Controls

VLC hides the Record button by default. Enable it before choosing your clip.

• Click View → Advanced Controls.
• A second control bar will appear above the regular playback buttons.
• Find the red Record button in the new control bar.

Step 3. Record the Part You Want to Keep

• Move the playhead slightly before the point where you want the new clip to begin.
• Pause the video, then click the red Record button.
• Click Play and let the video run through the section you want to keep.
• Click Record again when the video reaches the end point.

VLC saves a new video file containing the recorded section. The original video is not changed.

Step 4. Find the Trimmed Video

On Windows, VLC usually saves recorded clips in the Videos folder. The file name often begins with vlc-record-.

• Open This PC > Videos.
• Sort files by date if you cannot find the new clip immediately.
• If you use a custom recording directory, go to Tools → Preferences → Input / Codecs and check the Record directory setting.

Part 3: How to Trim a Video in VLC on Mac

The Mac workflow uses the same recording method, but the Record command is in a different menu. You do not need Advanced Controls to begin.

Step 1. Open the Video

• Open VLC Media Player on your Mac.
• Click File → Open File.
• Select the video you want to trim and start playback.

Step 2. Set the Start Point and Begin Recording

• Move the playhead to the point where you want the clip to begin.
• Click Playback → Record.
• Press Play and let the video run through the section you want to save.

Step 3. Stop Recording at the End Point

• When the video reaches the end of the clip, click Playback → Record again.
• VLC stops recording and saves the new clip separately from the original file.

Step 4. Find the Saved Clip

VLC commonly saves recordings to the Movies folder on Mac. If the file is missing, check VLC preferences under Input / Codecs for the configured Record directory.

Part 4: How to Crop a Video Frame in VLC

Cropping and trimming are different actions. Trimming removes time from the beginning or end of a video. Cropping removes pixels from the top, bottom, left, or right edge of the visible frame.

Crop the Video While Playing It

• Open the video in VLC.
• Click Tools → Effects and Filters.
• Open the Video Effects tab.
• Select Crop.
• Enter the number of pixels to remove from the top, bottom, left, or right side.
• Preview the result and adjust the values as needed.

This setting changes the way VLC displays the video during playback. It does not automatically create a new permanently cropped file.

When You Need a Saved Cropped Video

If you need to export the cropped frame as a new video, use VLC's conversion settings only after testing the result on a short copy of the file. For regular crop-and-export work, a dedicated video editor is usually faster because it provides a visible timeline, export controls, and easier frame positioning.

Part 5: Common VLC Trim Problems and Fixes

The Trimmed Video Is Not in the Videos or Movies Folder

Check the custom Record directory in VLC settings. On Windows, go to Tools → Preferences → Input / Codecs. On Mac, open VLC preferences and look for the Record directory under Input / Codecs.

The Clip Starts Too Late or Ends Too Early

Start recording a few seconds before the intended first frame and stop a few seconds after the intended end. VLC records playback, so it does not provide a frame-accurate trim timeline.

The New Clip Has the Wrong Length

Keep playback at normal speed and avoid jumping far ahead on the timeline while recording. Letting the section play continuously creates more predictable results.

The Clip Has Lower Quality Than Expected

VLC's Record feature is intended for quick clips, not lossless editing. Avoid repeatedly recording the same clip. When maintaining the original quality is important, use a dedicated lossless cutter or video editor.

You Need to Remove Several Parts of One Video

VLC is not built for multi-cut editing. Use a timeline-based editor when you need to remove a middle section, join clips, add transitions, include subtitles, or prepare a finished video for publishing.

Part 6: FAQs About Cutting Video in VLC

How do I cut out part of a video in VLC?

Open the video, enable View → Advanced Controls on Windows, move to the start point, click Record, let the video play, and click Record again at the end point. VLC saves the recorded portion as a new file.

How do I trim an MP4 video with VLC?

The process is the same for MP4 files. Open the MP4 in VLC, use the Record function to capture the part you want to keep, and find the new clip in your Videos folder on Windows or Movies folder on Mac.

Does VLC Media Player allow you to edit videos?

VLC can handle basic tasks such as recording a section of playback, changing playback speed, applying effects, and previewing a crop. It is not a full video editor with a timeline, multiple tracks, precise cuts, transitions, or advanced export controls.

How do I crop a video frame in VLC?

Go to Tools → Effects and Filters → Video Effects → Crop, then enter crop values for each edge. This changes the displayed frame in VLC. Use a tested conversion workflow or a dedicated editor when you need to save a cropped copy.

Can I cut a video in VLC without recording?

VLC's standard desktop trimming method uses recording while the selected section plays. If you need a fast, lossless, or frame-accurate cut without real-time playback, use a dedicated video cutter instead.

Can VLC trim videos on Android or iPhone?

VLC Mobile is mainly designed for playback and does not provide the same desktop Record workflow described above. For trimming on a phone, use the built-in Photos or Gallery editor, or a dedicated mobile video editor.

Where does VLC save trimmed videos?

On Windows, VLC usually saves recordings in the Videos folder. On Mac, it commonly saves them in the Movies folder. The exact location can be changed in VLC preferences under Input / Codecs.

Conclusion

VLC is a practical free option when you only need to trim one continuous section from a video. Open the file, start recording at the beginning of the clip, stop at the end, and find the new file in your default recording folder.

For fast highlights and simple excerpts, that workflow is enough. For lossless cuts, multiple edits, precise timing, or permanently cropped exports, move to a dedicated editing tool built for those tasks.