Key Takeaways

  • iPhone/iPad: iMovie lets you trim clips, split scenes, and remove parts you do not need..

  • Mac: iMovie gives you more room to trim clips and make precise cuts on the timeline.

  • Tipard: Tipard Mac Video Converter Ultimate lets you trim, split, and add fade-in and fade-out effects to your videos.

iMovie offers users plenty of simple tools to refine their clips. They can trim out extra scenes, adjust clip lengths, add text, modify speed, and more. Speaking of trimming, this write-up will show you how to trim a video clip in iMovie on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you need to learn this skill, please keep reading until the end.

How to Cut Video in iMovie

Part 1: How to Cut a Video on iMovie on iPhone/iPad

Got a video that feels too long? Learning how to cut video using iMovie can help make each scene fit better. iMovie gives you a simple way to shape your clips on an iPhone or iPad. You can focus on the parts that matter. You can also speed up or slow down the video to match the flow.

Step 1 Open iMovie on your iPhone or iPad. Start a new movie project. Choose the video you want to edit. Then, press Create Movie. Your video will appear on the timeline.

Open Imovie And Add Your Video

Step 2 Press the video clip on the timeline to select it. Yellow handles will appear around the clip. Press and hold a yellow handle. Drag it to cut the beginning of the video. You can do the same at the end.

Trim The Start Or End Of The Video

Step 3 Move the playhead to the frame where you want to make the cut. Tap Actions. Then, press Split. iMovie will divide the video into two clips.

Split The Video Where You Want To Cut It

Step 4 Tap the new clip that you want to remove. Then, press Delete. The unwanted part will disappear from the timeline. The remaining clips will stay in your movie.

Delete The Part You Do Not Need

Step 5 You can now make more changes to your video. Adjust the speed or volume. Add text or filters. You can also detach the audio. Add a transition between clips for a smoother change.

Part 2: How to Trim a Video Clip in iMovie on Mac

Want to trim your video with more room to work? If you are wondering how to trim a video in iMovie, the Mac version gives you a larger timeline for your clips. This makes it easier to spot extra footage. You can also crop video clips when you need to change the visible frame. You can work with each scene at your own pace.

Step 1 Open iMovie on your Mac. Click Create New under Projects. Then, choose Movie. Click Import Media and select your video. After that, move the video to the timeline.

Open Imovie And Import Your Video

Step 2 Click the video clip on the timeline. Move the playhead to the frame where you want the clip to start. Hold the R key. Then, drag across the part you want to keep.

Choose The Part You Want To Keep

Step 3 After you select the part you want to keep, press Option + /. iMovie will trim the clip to your selected range. You can also use the playhead to make a more exact cut.

Trim The Selected Video

Step 4 Place the playhead where you want the video to end. Right-click the clip. Choose Trim to Playhead. Select the unwanted clip. Then, choose Cut or Delete. You can also press Command + X to cut it.

Cut And Remove Unwanted Parts

Step 5 Check the video to make sure the cut looks right. Once you are happy with it, click the Export button. Choose Export File. Follow the on-screen instructions to save your finished video.

Export Your Trimmed Video

Part 3: The Best Alternative to Trim Videos on Mac

When simple trimming is not enough, choose the best alternative to trim videos on Mac: Tipard Mac Video Converter Ultimate.

But besides trimming, it can do much more for your videos. It offers video stabilization, color correction, and AI tools that can improve video quality.

It also offers music video templates and collages for fun edits. Plus, it supports many input and output formats. You can edit, enhance, and save your videos with ease.

Key Features:

  • Precise start and end points for quick video trimming.
  • Split long videos into smaller clips or segments.
  • Merge trimmed clips or separate video files into one video.
  • Support for many video formats, including MP4, MOV, and AVI.

Step 1 Start by downloading and installing Tipard Mac Video Converter Ultimate. Once done, open the program on your Mac.

Step 2 Head over to the More Tools tab. Find Video Trimmer and click it. It is beside Video Enhancer.

Go To Video Trimmer

Step 3 Click Add to bring in your clip. Find the video on your Mac and select it. Tipard Mac Video Converter Ultimate will place it in the trimmer. You will then see the clip on the timeline.

Add The Video You Want To Trim

Step 4 Drag the start point to remove extra footage from the beginning. Move the end point to cut unwanted footage from the end. You can also click Split to break the video into several segments. Turn on Fade In or Fade Out to achieve a softer start or ending.

Cut Away The Parts You Do Not Need

Step 5 Give your file a clear name. Then, click Output to fine-tune the video settings. Choose the format you need. You can also modify the quality, frame rate, and other settings. Once the settings are ready, click OK to save them.

Set The Output

Step 6 Choose a folder in the Save to option. Everything is set. Click Export and let Tipard Mac Video Converter Ultimate create your trimmed video.

Save Your Trimmed Video

Part 4: FAQs on How to Cut Video on iMovie

Can I undo a cut in iMovie?

Yes. You can undo a cut if you make a mistake. Click the Undo button to reverse your latest edit. This is handy when you remove the wrong part of a clip.

Does cutting a video lower its quality in iMovie?

No. Cutting a clip in the timeline does not lower the quality of the original video. The final quality depends on the settings you use when exporting the finished video.

Can I cut a video and keep the audio?

Yes. The audio can stay with the video while you cut the clip. iMovie also lets you detach the audio from the video. This gives you more control when you want to edit the sound separately.

Conclusion

No more "how do I cut a video on iMovie?" You already know how! You can cut videos on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac. You can edit your clips on the device you have. We also covered Tipard Mac Video Converter Ultimate as an alternative. It can trim and split videos. You can also enable and apply fade-in and fade-out effects. Explore its other tools for more fun edits!

About the Author

Kenny Kevin

Kenny Kevin

This article was written by Kenny Kevin, a Senior Editor at Tipard Studio specializing in video conversion and editing. After earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Film Production, Kenny joined the Tipard team to share his extensive knowledge of the digital landscape. His work focuses on video conversion, editing, remuxing, and re-encoding. Kenny’s technical expertise and hands-on experience make him a reliable guide for users seeking professional video solutions.

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