To cut the middle out of a video, split the clip at the start and end of the part you don't want, delete that piece, and export the rest as one video. Basic trimmers like the iPhone Photos app only cut the start and end, so you need an editor with a split tool: iMovie on iPhone and Mac, QuickTime on Mac, or Clipchamp on Windows. All are free.
The short answer
| You're on | Free tool | Key step |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone | iMovie | Actions > Split, twice, then delete |
| Mac | QuickTime Player | Edit > Split Clip (Command-Y), then delete |
| Windows | Clipchamp | Split with the scissors tool, then delete |
| Android | Samsung editor or a free editor app | Split, delete, save |
| Only start and end to cut | Video Trimmer | Drag the handles |
Why can't I just trim the middle?
Trimming keeps one continuous section between a start and an end. Removing the middle leaves two sections that have to be joined, which is a job for an editor with a split tool. If your unwanted part is at the beginning or end, a plain trim is faster; see how to trim a video.
How do I cut out the middle of a video on iPhone?
Use Apple's free iMovie:
- Open iMovie and start a new Movie project with your video.
- Scroll the timeline so the playhead (the white line) sits where the unwanted part begins.
- Tap the clip, then tap Actions > Split.
- Move the playhead to where the unwanted part ends and split again.
- Tap the middle piece and tap Delete.
- Tap Done, then the Share button and Save Video.
The Photos app can't do this, since its editor only trims the ends, as Apple's trim guide shows.
How do I cut out the middle of a video on Mac?
QuickTime Player can split and delete:
- Open the video and choose View > Show Clips.
- Move the playhead to the start of the part you don't want and press Command-Y (Edit > Split Clip).
- Move to the end of that part and press Command-Y again.
- Click the middle clip, press Delete, then click Done.
- Save with File > Save or Export As.
Apple's QuickTime guide covers trimming in the same view. iMovie on Mac works too: put the playhead at each edge, press Command-B to split, and delete the piece.
How do I cut out the middle of a video on Windows?
In Clipchamp:
- Drag the video onto the timeline.
- Move the playhead to the start of the unwanted part and click the split (scissors) button.
- Split again at the end of that part.
- Select the middle piece and delete it. The rest snaps together.
- Click Export.
Microsoft's Clipchamp guide shows the editing tools.
How do I cut out the middle of a video on Android?
Google Photos only trims the ends. Samsung's built-in video editor, opened from Gallery, can split clips in recent One UI versions. Otherwise, any free editor app with a split tool works the same way: split twice, delete, save.
Can I keep only the middle part instead?
Yes, and that's easier: it's a normal trim. Open the Video Trimmer, drag the start handle to where the good part begins and the end handle to where it ends, and export. The trimmer can also mute or loop that section.
How do I make the jump less obvious?
Cutting a piece out of a talking video creates a jump. A few tricks hide it:
- Cut during a pause or a change of topic.
- Add a short fade or cross dissolve between the two pieces in iMovie or Clipchamp.
- For screen recordings, cut while the screen is still, such as during loading. Or speed that part up instead of cutting it, with Speed Up Video.
For screen recording tips, see how to trim a screen recording.
Where MobileStudio fits
The trimmer is one of our free tools. MobileStudio itself turns screen recordings into polished app demos, with trims, zooms, and device frames, right on your phone. Get MobileStudio.
Quick FAQ
How do I delete part of a video on iPhone?
Use iMovie: split the clip before and after the part, then delete the piece in between.
Can the Photos app remove the middle of a video?
No. Photos only trims the start and end.
What's the keyboard shortcut to split a clip in QuickTime?
Command-Y.
Does cutting out part of a video reduce quality?
Exporting re-encodes the video, but at normal settings the difference is very hard to see.
Can I cut several parts out of one video?
Yes. Split around each unwanted part and delete them all before exporting.
