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Video Trim

Trim a video to a specific duration from the start using FFmpeg, cutting it to 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 2 minutes, or 5 minutes, useful for creating previews, short clips, or social media content

Our free video trimmer keeps the opening of any clip in seconds, so you can cut a long recording down to a short, shareable piece without editing software. Upload your file, choose how much of the start you want to keep, and download a trimmed video that plays cleanly from the first frame. This online video trimmer runs on the professional FFmpeg engine and trims your clip to a set length measured from the beginning, so the result is fast, predictable, and ready to post. It is completely free, with no watermark, and nothing to install.

How to Trim a Video Online

Trimming a video with File Tools Online takes three quick steps, and you do not need Premiere, iMovie, or any desktop editor. Everything runs online in your browser.

  1. 1

    Upload your video

    Drag and drop your video into the box above, or click to browse and select the file from your device.

  2. 2

    Choose the length to keep

    Pick how much of the start to keep: 30 seconds, 60 seconds (the default), 2 minutes, or 5 minutes. The tool keeps everything from the first frame up to that point.

  3. 3

    Download your trimmed video

    Trim and download the shorter clip. Your file is processed securely and deleted within 30 minutes.

The trimmed video opens in any player exactly like the original, just shorter, keeping the opening portion of the clip. That makes it easy to share a preview, post a quick social clip, or send a sample without asking anyone to sit through the whole recording.

Why Trim Video With File Tools Online

Plenty of "trim video" tools bury a simple task under timelines, exports, and paid upgrades. Ours uses FFmpeg, the same professional engine trusted across the video industry, to cut your clip to a set length quickly and cleanly, with a handful of clear duration choices instead of a fiddly editor.

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Fast, Clean Cut

Trim your clip to a preset length measured from the start, so the file is shorter and ready to share in seconds.

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FFmpeg Engine

Powered by FFmpeg, the professional-grade tool behind countless video apps, for reliable trimming across common formats.

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Simple Duration Presets

Choose 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 2 minutes, or 5 minutes. No timeline to scrub, no confusing controls to learn.

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100% Free, No Watermark

Trim video free online with no trial, no watermark stamped on your frames.

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Private & Secure

Files are processed securely over an encrypted connection and automatically deleted within 30 minutes.

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Works on Any Device

Runs online on Windows, Mac, Linux, Chromebook, Android, and iPhone. Nothing to download and nothing to install.

Keep the First 30 Seconds, 60 Seconds, 2 Minutes, or 5 Minutes

It helps to know exactly how this tool works before you upload, so there are no surprises. This video cutter keeps the beginning of your clip up to a preset length. You choose one of four fixed durations, and the tool keeps everything from the very first frame up to that mark, then stops. There is no slider and no set of custom durations to type in, just four clear options.

PresetWhat you getGood for
30 secondsThe first 30 seconds of the clipShort social clips and quick teasers
60 seconds (default)The first minute of the clipPreviews, reels, and one-minute posts
2 minutesThe first two minutes of the clipSamples and short segments
5 minutesThe first five minutes of the clipTrimming a long recording down to a manageable piece

Because the cut always starts at the beginning, this is the fastest way to grab the opening of a video. If your clip is already shorter than the length you pick, you simply get the whole clip back. To keep a different part of the video, you would trim to a length and then work with the front portion, since this tool does not cut from the middle or the end.

When You Need to Trim a Video

Long clips get in the way everywhere: they take too long to watch, bump into length limits on social platforms, and make a simple point harder to find. Trimming the opening into a short piece fixes that in one step.

  • Previews and teasersKeep the first 30 or 60 seconds of a longer video as a quick preview that hooks viewers without giving everything away.
  • Social clipsCut a clip down to a short, postable length for reels, stories, and feeds that reward a fast opening.
  • SamplesShare the first couple of minutes of a course, talk, or demo as a free sample of the full recording.
  • Shorten a recordingTrim a long screen recording or meeting capture down to the opening five minutes that actually matter.
  • Trim off a long tailKeep just the start of a clip that runs on far past the point you care about, so viewers are not left waiting.
  • Quick uploadsGet a shorter file that uploads faster and slots inside the duration caps on messaging and social apps.

Related File Tools

File Tools Online offers more than 100 free tools to convert, edit, and manage your files. These are the ones people use most alongside the video trimmer.

Trim by Duration vs Custom Cut Points

It is worth being clear about the difference between two kinds of trimming, because they solve different jobs. This tool trims by duration from the start. You pick a length, and it keeps the video from the first frame up to that length. It is a duration trimmer, not a full timeline editor.

A custom cut point editor is different: it lets you set an exact start time and end time, or pull a clip out of the middle of a recording. This tool does not do that. It does not let you choose a start point, an end point, or a segment in the middle, and it does not cut from the tail of the video. It keeps the first N of the clip, where N is the preset length you picked, and that is the whole job. If you only need the opening of a video shortened to a set length, that is the fastest possible way to do it, and there is nothing extra to learn.

Tips for Trimming Video

  • Front-load what matters. Since the tool keeps the opening, make sure the important part of your clip is near the start before you trim.
  • Match the preset to the platform. Use 30 or 60 seconds for social clips, and 2 or 5 minutes when you need a longer sample.
  • Start with 60 seconds. It is the default and a solid length for previews and reels; step up only if you need more.
  • Compress after trimming. If the trimmed file is still large, run it through our video compressor to shrink it further.
  • Convert first if needed. If your player will not open the file, use Video Convert or MKV to MP4 before trimming.
  • Keep the original until you have confirmed the trimmed clip covers everything you wanted to keep.

Trim Video on Windows, Mac, and Mobile

Because this is an online video trimmer, it works the same on every device. There is no program to install on Windows, no app to download on Mac, and nothing to add to your phone, you use the exact same page whether you are on a laptop, a Chromebook, an Android device, or an iPhone.

That makes it easy to trim a video on Mac, on a work computer where you cannot install software, or on your phone before posting a clip. The trimming runs on our servers using FFmpeg, so even a long recording is cut quickly no matter how powerful your own device is. All you need is a browser and an internet connection.

Is It Safe to Trim Video Online?

Yes. The clips people trim are often personal recordings, work footage, and unreleased content, so security is built in. Files are uploaded over an encrypted HTTPS connection, processed on a secure server, and automatically deleted within 30 minutes. We never share, sell, or reuse your videos.

Video Trim Frequently Asked Questions

How do I trim a video?

Upload your video to the tool above, choose how much of the start to keep (30 seconds, 60 seconds, 2 minutes, or 5 minutes), and download the shorter clip. The whole process runs online in your browser, there is nothing to install.

How do I trim a video for free?

The File Tools Online video trimmer is free to use, with no watermark added to your clip. Just upload the video, pick a length, and download the trimmed file.

What part of the video does this tool keep?

It keeps the beginning. The tool trims from the very first frame up to the length you choose, so you always get the opening portion of the clip. It does not cut from the middle or the end.

Can I choose a custom start and end time?

No. This is a duration trimmer, not a full timeline editor. You pick one of four preset lengths and it keeps the video from the start up to that point. There is no way to set a custom start point, end point, or a segment from the middle.

What lengths can I trim to?

You can keep the first 30 seconds, 60 seconds, 2 minutes, or 5 minutes of the clip. Sixty seconds is the default. These are the exact options, so trimming stays simple and predictable.

What if my video is shorter than the length I pick?

If your clip is already shorter than the preset you choose, you get the whole clip back. The tool keeps everything up to the chosen length, and a shorter video simply falls within that.

Does trimming reduce the quality of my video?

Trimming keeps the opening of your video and drops the rest, so the frames you keep stay as they were. The result plays in any standard video player exactly like the original, just shorter.

What video formats can I trim?

The tool runs on FFmpeg, which handles the common video formats people use every day. If your file will not open in a player, convert it first with Video Convert or MKV to MP4, then trim it.

How do I trim a video on Mac?

Exactly the same way as on any other device: open this page in your browser on your Mac, upload the video, choose a length, and download the trimmed file. There is no separate Mac app to install.

Can I make the trimmed file smaller?

Trimming already reduces the size by keeping only the opening. If you need the file smaller still, run the trimmed clip through our free video compressor afterward.

Is my data safe when I trim a video online?

Yes. Files are transferred over an encrypted connection, processed securely, and automatically deleted within 30 minutes. We never share or sell your videos.

Can I trim several videos at once?

Trim your files one at a time for full control over each result. Upload a clip, pick a length, download it, then move on to the next one.

About Trimming Video Files

Video files are everywhere, from phone recordings and screen captures to downloads and exports, and most of them run longer than they need to. A long clip is slow to upload, awkward to share, and easy to lose interest in, which is why trimming a video down to a short, focused piece is one of the most common things people need to do with footage.

A simple video cutter keeps the part you care about and drops the rest. This free online tool does that using the FFmpeg engine, keeping the opening of your clip up to a preset length so you get a shorter file in seconds. It is a duration trimmer built around four clear choices (30 seconds, 60 seconds, 2 minutes, and 5 minutes), not a heavy timeline editor, which is exactly why it is fast. It is free to use, with no watermark and no software to install: upload your video, choose a length, and download a trimmed clip that is ready to post, send, or store.