Social media platforms today use different aspect ratios, so creating a video that fits them all can be tricky. Cropping your video to fit each platform can be a lifesaver since it ensures compatibility and helps remove unwanted distractions, keeping the focus on your main subject. Cropping can also enhance the balance and overall visual appeal, making your video more polished and engaging.

Wondering how to crop a video? This guide covers the process using built-in tools and popular apps for Windows, Android, and iOS.

But first, let’s see the difference between cropping a video and trimming it.

What’s the Difference Between Cropping & Trimming?

Cropping and trimming may seem similar, but they have distinct roles in video editing. Trimming involves shortening the video by removing parts from the beginning, middle, or end, essentially cutting down the duration without affecting the visual content. It’s useful when you need to get rid of unnecessary footage or tighten up your video’s timing. But trimming doesn’t change what’s inside the frame.

Cropping, on the other hand, alters the video’s frame itself. By cutting out the edges, you can refocus on a specific area, change the aspect ratio, or eliminate distractions. This method is especially handy if you want to zoom in on a key subject or make your video fit a particular format, like transforming a widescreen shot into a square for Instagram.

How to Crop a Video Online with AI

Cropping videos manually can be tedious, but AI tools are making the process easier and faster. One such tool is AI Video Cut. Designed to simplify video editing tasks, this platform does the heavy lifting for you. The AI not only crops your video but also offers automatic captioning. AI Video Cut provides two main output formats: Trailers and Topics clips. It’s web-based, meaning you don’t need to install anything.

Here’s how to use AI Video Cut for cropping:

Visit the AI Video Cut website and sign in with Google.
Paste the video link in the provided field.

Choose your preferred video type.
Set the desired video duration.
Select the aspect ratio you need for your final clip.
Click “Submit,” and once processed, download your cropped video.

If you’re not satisfied with the result, you can tweak it and repeat the process. It’s straightforward and user-friendly, offering multiple versions of the cropped video.

How to Download a Video Before Cropping It

Sometimes, you might need to download a video from YouTube, Facebook, Dailymotion, or other sources to crop it later, especially if you have lost the original file but have already uploaded it elsewhere. 4K Video Downloader Plus is a perfect tool to get the job done. This app is compatible with Windows, macOS, Ubuntu as well as Android devices and allows you to save videos from dozens of different sources, convert videos to audio, save YouTube subtitles, download members-only videos from YouTube, save search results and a lot more!

Follow these steps to download a video with 4K Video Downloader Plus. In our example, we’ll be using YouTube.

Install 4K Video Downloader Plus on your device and launch it.

Find the video you want to download and copy its URL.
Open the 4K Video Downloader Plus app and find the Paste Link button. Click on it.

Select the desired format, quality, and the output folder.

Wait until 4K Video Downloader Plus stops downloading your video.
Open it on your device and upload it to any video editing software we’ll be talking about below.

Alternatively, you can use the in-app browser and download any content right within the app.

How to Crop a Video on Windows

Windows users have a variety of tools at their disposal for cropping, though built-in options like the media player won't get the job done. Here are some third-party tools that can help:

VLC Media Player

VLC isn’t just a video player; it can also crop videos. While the process requires adjusting values manually, it provides precision.

Open VLC and load your video.
Go to Tools > Effects and Filters, then click the Video Effects tab.
Select the Crop tab and set your desired crop parameters.

Save the video by navigating to Media > Convert/Save, adding the video, and adjusting the conversion settings.

Camtasia

Camtasia is a premium video editor, but it comes with a free trial. Its cropping feature is intuitive:

Open Camtasia and import your video.
Select the video clip in the timeline, then click the Crop tool.
Adjust the cropping area as needed.
When satisfied, export your cropped video.

How to Crop a Video on Mac

For Mac users, the built-in tools make cropping a breeze.

Photos App

The Photos app on macOS allows you to crop videos easily, and it’s synced across your Apple devices:

Open Photos and select your video.
Click Edit in the top-right corner, then select the Crop function.

Adjust the cropping area and click "Done" to save your changes.

iMovie

iMovie is another solid choice, offering more advanced editing features than Photos:

Open iMovie and create a new project.
Import your video, and add it to the timeline.
Click the Crop icon above the preview window.
Use the Crop to Fill option, adjust the area, and confirm by clicking the checkmark.

Ways to Crop a Video on iOS

Cropping on iOS is seamless and can be done directly through the Photos app. Here’s how:

Launch the Photos app on your iPhone. Tap on the video you want to edit to view it in full screen.
Once the video is open, tap Edit in the top-right corner, then select the Video icon.

As you crop, you can use the Undo or Redo buttons at the top of the screen to go back or reapply any edits.

Tip: If you want to compare the edited version to the original, just tap the video. To revert your changes after saving, open the edited video, tap More > Revert to Original.

Adjust the video frame. You can fine-tune your crop using these options:

Manual Crop: Drag the handles at the corners of the video to select the area you want to keep, shading out the rest.
Preset Ratios: Tap the aspect ratio icon to choose from preset sizes.
Rotate: Use the rotate icon to change the video’s orientation.
Flip: Tap the flip icon to switch the video horizontally or vertically.

Once you’re satisfied with your crop, tap Done to save the changes.

If you’re not happy with the result, tap Cancel and then Discard Changes to undo your edits.

For more advanced video cropping on iOS, you can explore apps like Video Crop or Video Cropper. These tools allow you to adjust aspect ratios, add filters, backgrounds, music, and more to enhance your video.

This method works on both iPhone and iPad, making it convenient for quick edits.

How to Crop a Video on Android

Cropping videos on Android can vary slightly depending on the phone’s OS version. While some native gallery apps offer basic cropping options, Google Photos is a reliable tool across all Android devices:

Open Google Photos and select your video.
Tap Edit, then choose the Crop tool.
Adjust the crop area, and save your edited video by tapping Save copy.

This method works across different Android devices, ensuring compatibility no matter which brand you use.

Final Thoughts

Cropping videos is essential when adapting content to different platforms, eliminating distractions, or zooming in on key subjects. While trimming simply reduces the length, cropping transforms the frame, allowing for better focus and aspect ratio adjustments. Whether you’re using AI-powered tools like AI Video Cut or relying on manual methods across Windows, Mac, iOS, or Android, there are plenty of ways to crop your videos effectively. These methods can make your content more appealing and better suited for the platform of your choice, ensuring that your audience gets a polished and professional result.