Trim a Video for YouTube Shorts (Under 60 s, 9:16) — Free
YouTube Shorts requires a 9:16 vertical clip under 60 seconds. This guide trims, reframes, and exports to the right size — all in the browser.
Step-by-step
Trim to under 60 seconds
Open the Video Trimmer, drop in your clip, and pick the most engaging 50–55 seconds. Keep a small buffer in case the platform truncates.
Reframe to 9:16 vertical
Open the Video Crop tool, choose the 9:16 preset, and slide the crop window to keep the subject centered.
Resize to 1080×1920 and export
Resize to the official Shorts spec (1080×1920) so YouTube does not upscale or recompress aggressively.
Recommended settings
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 × 1920 |
| Max duration | 60 s (use 55 s for safety) |
| Frame rate | Match source (24/30/60 fps) |
| Codec / format | H.264 in MP4 |
Quality check before publishing
- Play the first and last three seconds to catch bad trims, black frames, missing audio, or a visible jump at the end.
- Confirm the exported file matches the important settings above, especially duration, aspect ratio, resolution, codec, and file size.
- Preview once on the target platform or device before deleting the original source file.
- If the clip will be reposted publicly, strip metadata first and verify no private names, GPS data, or device fingerprints remain.
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FAQ
Why does YouTube reject my Shorts?
The most common reasons: clip is over 60 seconds, aspect ratio is not 9:16, or the file uses HEVC/H.265 which YouTube re-encodes (often poorly). Trim to 55 s, reframe to 9:16, and export H.264 MP4 to avoid all three.
Should I export at 60 fps?
Only if your source is already 60 fps. Up-converting from 30 fps does not add smoothness and just doubles the file size.
Does this run in my browser?
Yes — every step in this guide uses an in-browser FFmpeg WebAssembly tool. Your video never uploads to a server and never leaves your device.