You're probably here because you've got a massive video file and just need a ten-second clip of your cat doing something stupid. Or maybe it's a recorded lecture and you only need the five minutes where the professor actually explains the exam. You open VLC Media Player because, let's be real, it plays everything. But then you look at the interface. Where's the "cut" button? Why is there no "trim" slider?
Honestly, the way you trim the video in VLC is kind of a lie. VLC doesn't actually "trim" in the traditional sense of dragging handles on a timeline like you would in Premiere Pro or iMovie. Instead, it uses a re-recording method. It's quirky. It's a bit old-school. But once you get it, it’s surprisingly reliable for quick edits without needing to download some bloatware "free" video cutter that puts a watermark over your face.
Setting Up the Secret Controls
Most people miss this because the necessary buttons are hidden by default. You have to go find them. Open VLC and look at the top menu bar. Click on View and then select Advanced Controls.
Suddenly, four new buttons appear above your standard play/pause icons. The one we care about is the big red circle. That’s the record button. This is your "trimming" tool. It feels weird to "record" a video that’s already playing, but that’s exactly how VLC handles extracting a specific segment.
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Why VLC Does It This Way
VLC isn't a non-linear editor (NLE). It’s a media engine. By "recording," it essentially captures the stream of data as it plays and dumps it into a new file. This is actually a plus for some because it doesn't require complex re-encoding settings for a simple snip. It basically copies the quality of what you're seeing.
The Step-by-Step Walkthrough to Trim the Video in VLC
First, get your video cued up. Drag the seeker bar to about five seconds before the part you want to keep. This gives the software a moment to "breathe" and ensure the frames are aligned correctly.
- Hit Pause. Don't try to time it while it's flying at full speed.
- Press the Red Record Button. It won't look like much happened. The button might look slightly "pressed in," but there’s no flashing "REC" on the screen.
- Press Play. Let the video run through the segment you want to save.
- The "Frame by Frame" Trick. If you need surgical precision, use the "Frame by Frame" button (the last one in the Advanced Controls row). Every click moves the video forward just a tiny bit.
- Stop the Recording. Once the clip is done, hit that red record button again.
That's it. You’ve just trimmed. But now the panic sets in: Where did it go?
VLC is notoriously quiet about where it saves things. On Windows, your new clip is almost certainly sitting in your Videos folder. On a Mac, check the Movies folder. The filename will usually start with "vlc-record" followed by the date and time. It’s a bit messy, so you’ll want to rename it immediately before you forget what "vlc-record-2026-01-15-12h46m" actually is.
Common Frustrations and How to Fix Them
Sometimes it doesn't work perfectly. You might get a clip where the audio starts two seconds after the video. This is usually due to "Keyframes."
Video files aren't just a series of pictures; they are compressed data. Every few seconds, there is a "Keyframe" (I-frame) that contains the full image data. The frames in between only store the changes between images. If you start recording in the middle of a group of frames without a keyframe, VLC might struggle to render the beginning of your clip. To fix this, always start your recording a few seconds before the action starts. You can always trim those extra two seconds later if you’re being a perfectionist, but it’s better than having a frozen screen with audio playing.
High-Resolution Woes
If you’re trying to trim a 4K 60fps video on an older laptop, VLC might skip frames during the "recording" process. Since it’s capturing in real-time, if your CPU lags, the output file will lag too. If you see stuttering, close other programs. Chrome is usually the culprit. Kill those extra tabs.
Is There a "Pro" Way? (The Manual Method)
If the record button feels too "approximate" for you, there is a way to use the Convert/Save feature to trim the video in VLC with more specific timestamps. This is for when you know exactly that you want the clip to start at 00:01:15 and end at 00:01:45.
Go to Media > Open Multiple Files. Add your video. Check the box that says Show more options. You’ll see a box labeled Start Time and Stop Time. Enter your values. Then, instead of clicking "Play," click the little arrow next to it and choose Convert.
Choose a profile (Video - H.264 + MP3 is usually the safest bet) and pick a destination. Hit start. This method is "faster than real-time" because VLC doesn't have to actually display the video on your screen while it processes the cut. It’s more clinical. Less "hand-held."
What VLC Can't Do (And When to Quit)
Look, I love VLC. It's the Swiss Army knife of software. But sometimes you need a scalpel.
If you need to join five different clips together, add transitions, put text on the screen, or color-correct your footage, VLC is going to make you miserable. It's a player first. For anything more complex than a single snip, you’re better off using CapCut (for ease of use), DaVinci Resolve (for professional power), or even the built-in Microsoft Photos/Video Editor on Windows.
Also, VLC's recording method doesn't always preserve subtitles or multiple audio tracks perfectly. If you're trimming a movie and want to keep the commentary track and the subtitles, the "Record" button might only grab the active audio and ignore the subs entirely.
Technical Nuances: Codecs and Containers
When you use the Record button, VLC usually keeps the original "container." If your source is an .MP4, the output is usually an .MP4. If it's an .MKV, it stays an .MKV.
However, sometimes the "Record" feature defaults to an .AVI or a .TS (Transport Stream) format depending on your version and OS settings. If you find your phone won't play the clip VLC made, you might need to run it through the Convert/Save tool to wrap it in a standard H.264 MP4 container.
Actionable Tips for Better Trims
To get the most out of this, stop thinking of it as "editing" and start thinking of it as "sampling."
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- Use Hotkeys. Instead of clicking the red button, use Shift + R. It’s much faster and prevents that slight mouse-click lag.
- Check your Disc Space. If you're "trimming" a 2-hour 4K movie down to 1 hour, make sure you have enough room on your C: drive. VLC records to the default system drive, which can fill up fast.
- Rename Immediately. As soon as the recording is done, open your Videos folder and rename the file. Nothing is worse than having a folder full of 50 files named "vlc-record..." and having to watch them all again to find the right one.
- Verify the End. Always play the last 5 seconds of your trimmed clip. Sometimes VLC cuts off a second early because of how it handles the file "closing" process.
Trimming video in VLC is a bit like using a screwdriver to pry open a paint can—it's not exactly what it was made for, but it gets the job done better than anything else within reach. Next time you need a quick clip for a presentation or a social media post, don't bother opening a heavy editor. Just turn on Advanced Controls, hit the red button, and you're golden.
Next Steps for Your Video Workflow
- Locate your default save path by going to Tools > Preferences > Input/Codecs and looking at the "Record directory or filename" box to change where your trims go.
- Test a 10-second clip now using the Shift + R shortcut to ensure your computer handles the encoding without lag.
- Update VLC to the latest version (3.0.20 or newer) to ensure you have the most stable recording codecs available.