Can You Trim a YouTube Video After Uploading

Last Updated: 

February 2, 2025

There may come a time when you want to trim down your YouTube video after it’s already been uploaded. Maybe the final product is a bit longer than you intended, or some parts don’t need to be there.

Luckily, it’s easy enough to do.

The Answer: Yes, you can trim a YouTube video after uploading it. Let’s see how below.

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Can You Trim a YouTube Video After Uploading it?

Yes, you can trim a YouTube video after uploading it. You may need to trim a video for several reasons, such as removing blurriness or cutting unnecessary footage.

Trimming a video is easy to do and only takes a few minutes.

Trimming a video does not delete the original; it creates a new version with the selected footage. As such, you can always trim a different video section if needed.

While YouTube does offer some basic editing tools, they are fairly limited in scope.

That can be frustrating for users who accidentally include extra footage at the beginning or end of their video.

However, there are a few workarounds that can be useful.

a. Use YouTube’s built-in editor

b. use third-party video editing software

c. Use an online video editor

d. Use a screen recorder

e. Ask YouTube to trim your video for you

While neither of these methods is ideal, they can help to ensure that your YouTube videos are as you want them to be.

Five Ways to Trim a YouTube Video After it’s Already Been Uploaded

1. Use Youtube’s Built-In Editor

YouTube offers a built-in video editor that gives users basic tools for trimming their videos.

Just go to the YouTube site to access the editor and sign in. Then, click the “Upload” button in the top right corner.

Next to each video you’ve uploaded, there will be an “Edit” button. Click on that, and it’ll take you to the editor.

From there, you can use the trimming tools to select the portion of the video that you want to keep.

Just drag the purple sliders to select the section you want to keep, and then click on the “Trim” button.

YouTube will create a new video version without the trimmed section. Once you have selected it, click the “Save” button, and your trimmed video will be saved as a new file.

YouTube’s built-in editor is a quick and easy way to trim your videos, and it offers a few other features, such as the ability to add annotations and captions.

2. Use a Third-Party Video Editor

If you’re unhappy with YouTube’s built-in editor or want more control over the trimming process, you’ll need to use a third-party video editor.

There are many different editors available, like:

Adobe Premiere

Final Cut Pro

Which one you choose will depend on your specific needs.

Some editors are very simple and easy to use, while others are more complex and offer a wide range of features.

Whichever editor you choose, you’ll need to export your video from YouTube and then import it into your video editing software.

From there, you can trim the video however you want. Once you’ve made your changes, you can re-upload the video to YouTube.

3. Use an Online Video Editor

There are also some online video editors that you can use to trim your YouTube videos.

These video editors allow you to make changes to your video without downloading or installing any software.

Open the editor, select your video, and make your changes. Several editors are available, and you can find one that suits your needs and budget.

One option is WeVideo, which has a free plan that allows you to edit videos up to 5 minutes long.

To use WeVideo, go to the site and sign up for an account. Then, click the “Create New Video” button and select the YouTube video you want to edit.

Once the video is loaded, use the trim tool to cut out any unwanted sections.

Click on the timeline to select the section you want to keep, and then click on the “Trim” button.

WeVideo will create a new video version without the trimmed section. You can then save the trimmed video and re-upload it to YouTube.

With only a few clicks, you can ensure that your YouTube video is suitable for all audiences.

4. Use a Screen Recorder

If you only need to trim a small section from the beginning or end of your video, you can use a screen recorder like:

QuickTime Player (on Mac)

CamStudio (on Windows).

To do this, open the video in your browser and start playing it. Then, open the screen recorder and hit the “Record” button.

Once the recording is underway, you can pause it anytime by hitting the “Stop” button.

Then, use the trim tool to cut out any unwanted sections. When you have finished, hit the “Save” button and choose a location to save the file.

You can then upload the trimmed video to YouTube.

5. Ask YouTube to Trim Your Video for You

If you don’t want to trim your video or are unsure how to do it, you can always ask YouTube to do it.

To do this, go to YouTube’s help page and click on the “Submit a request” link. Then, fill out the form with your information and include a link to the video that you want to be trimmed.

In the “Description” field, include a description of what you want to be trimmed and where you want the trimming to start and end.

YouTube will review your request and get back to you within a few days.

Conclusion

These are some of the ways that you can trim a YouTube video after uploading. Remember that each method has its benefits and drawbacks.

For example, if you’re looking for the most precise trimming results, then using the YouTube Video Editor is probably your best bet.

If you need to trim many videos quickly, then using a third-party tool like Clipchamp might be a better option.

Ultimately, the best way to trim your YouTube videos will depend on your specific needs and preferences.

If you are looking for more YouTube tips check out the tips and tricks page.

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