Video Editor
How to make a Short or a video
- Pick the format. 9:16 for YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels and TikTok, or 16:9 for a regular YouTube video.
- Add your clips and photos. They line up on the timeline in the order you add them. Drag them to change the order, and trim each clip to the part you need.
- Start from a template, or add text. Templates place a hook, labels or an end card for you. Click any text on the timeline to change the words, the style or when it shows.
- Add music. Set its volume, fade it in and out, and turn down the original sound of your clips if you want only the music.
- Export. You get an MP4 in 1080p with no watermark, ready to upload.
Templates
| Template | What it adds | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Hook + end card | A hook in the first 2.5 seconds and an end card in the last 3 | Almost any Short |
| Photo slideshow | 3 seconds per photo, crossfades, a slow zoom and a title | Trips, events, products |
| Before / After | Labels over the first two clips | Edits, makeovers, effects |
| Pick 1, 2 or 3 | A question, numbers over three clips and a comment prompt | Comparisons and polls |
Text styles
Every style sits on a dark band or card, so it stays readable over bright and dark footage. Hook is a small label with a big headline. Caption is the headline on its own. Label and Number mark a clip. Info card holds a tip with a second line. End card carries your channel or website. Big word is one huge word, like a comment prompt. All of them stay inside the area that YouTube, Instagram and TikTok don’t cover with buttons.
Music and copyright
Use music you made, bought a license for, or that is free to use, such as the YouTube Audio Library. Popular songs can get your video muted or blocked, even in a Short.
Questions
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. The editor runs in your browser. Your clips, photos and music are read from your device, and the finished video is made on your device.
Is there a watermark?
No. Nothing is added to your video, and you don’t need an account.
How long can my video be?
Shorts can be up to 3 minutes and the editor handles that easily. Longer videos work too, but the finished file is kept in memory until you download it, so very long projects can run out of memory, especially on phones.
Which browsers work?
Current versions of Chrome and Edge on a computer work best. Safari works for most files. If something isn’t supported, the editor tells you before you start.
Can I save my project and continue later?
Not yet. Your files stay on your device, so the project is gone when you close the page. Export the video before you leave.