The simplest way to join two videos
The fastest way to combine two videos is to use DaVinci Resolve, which is free and works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. Open the program, create a new project, drag both video files into the timeline one after the other, and export the result. The whole process takes about ten minutes once you know where to click. If you are on a Mac and want something even faster, iMovie is already installed and can do this in under five minutes.
The reason to choose between them comes down to what happens next. If you plan to edit further — trim clips, add transitions, adjust audio — DaVinci Resolve keeps you in one program. If you just need the videos joined and nothing else, iMovie gets you there faster and then closes.
Windows users without video experience often reach for Windows Photos, which comes built in. It works, but it is slower than DaVinci Resolve and harder to control if something goes wrong. We recommend starting with DaVinci Resolve instead, since you will not outgrow it as your projects get more complex.
Key Takeaways
- DaVinci Resolve is free, works on all operating systems, and handles joining videos in about ten minutes with no learning curve.
- The videos must be in the same format (both MP4, both MOV, or both WebM) or the timeline will reject one of them — convert first if they do not match.
- The order you drag videos into the timeline is the order they will play, so arrange them before you export.
- Exporting takes longer than editing — a five-minute video can take ten to twenty minutes to export depending on your computer and the format you choose.
Setting up DaVinci Resolve for your first project
read DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic Design's website (the free version is what you need). Install it, then open the program. You will see a project browser window. Click "Create New Project" and give it a name — something like "Video Combine" is fine. Set the resolution to match your videos (1080p is standard; check your phone or camera settings if you are unsure). Click "Create".
The main editing window opens. On the left side you will see a file browser. Navigate to the folder where your two videos are stored. You should see them listed. Do not click them yet — just make sure they are there and you can see their names. This confirms the program can find them.
At the bottom of the screen is the timeline — a long horizontal strip where your videos will go. This is where the joining happens. The timeline starts empty. Your job is to drag the first video into it, then the second video right after, in the order you want them to play.
Dragging videos into the timeline in the correct order
Click on the first video in the file browser on the left. Hold the mouse button down and drag it into the timeline at the bottom. You will see a blue highlight appear in the timeline showing where it will land. Release the mouse. The video appears in the timeline as a colored bar with the filename visible.
Now click on the second video in the file browser. Drag it to the timeline, but this time position it directly to the right of the first video — not on top of it. The blue highlight will show you where it will land. When the highlight appears to the right of the first video's bar, release the mouse. The second video now sits right after the first one.
Look at the timeline. You should see two colored bars in a row, with no gap between them. If there is a gap, click on the second video's bar and drag it left until it touches the first one. If the videos are stacked on top of each other instead of side by side, you dragged the second one onto the wrong track — undo (Ctrl+Z or Cmd+Z) and try again, making sure to drag it to the right of the first video, not above or below it.
Checking that both videos will play in the right order
Before you export, press the spacebar to play the timeline. You should hear and see the first video play all the way through, then when ready the second video should start. If the second video does not play, or if it plays before the first one finishes, stop playback (press spacebar again) and check the timeline. The bars should be touching with no gap, and the first video should be on the left.
If audio is missing from one video, that is normal — some video files have audio on a separate track. You will see a thin gray bar below the colored video bar if audio is present. If one video has no audio bar, the audio may be on a different track or missing entirely. For now, just make sure both videos play in the correct order. Audio problems can be fixed later if needed.
Play through the whole thing one more time. When you reach the point where the first video ends and the second begins, you should see no black frame, no pause, no jump. The transition should be seamless. If there is a visible gap or stutter, the videos may have different frame rates — this is rare but fixable. For now, proceed to export and see how it looks.
Exporting your combined video
Go to the menu at the top and click "File", then "Export". A window opens with export settings. The default settings work for most people: MP4 format, H.264 codec, 1080p resolution. Do not change these unless you have a specific reason.
At the bottom of the export window, you will see a file path and a filename. Change the filename to something you will recognize — "combined_video" or "video_final" works well. Make sure you know which folder it is saving to (usually your Downloads folder or Desktop). Click "Export".
A progress bar appears. Exporting takes time — a five-minute combined video typically takes ten to twenty minutes depending on your computer's speed. Do not close the program or turn off your computer while it is exporting. When the progress bar reaches 100%, the export is complete. You will find the new combined video file in the folder you chose.
What to do if the videos are different formats
If you drag one video into the timeline and it appears as a black bar with no picture, the video format may not be compatible. This happens most often when one video is MP4 and the other is MOV, or when one is WebM. DaVinci Resolve can read most formats, but some older or unusual formats cause problems.
The solution is to convert both videos to the same format before combining them. Use a free converter like HandBrake (available for Windows, Mac, and Linux). Open HandBrake, drag in the first video, set the format to MP4, and click "Start". Repeat for the second video. Once both are MP4, drag them into DaVinci Resolve as normal.
Converting takes time — usually as long as the video itself. A five-minute video takes about five minutes to convert. Start the conversion and let it run in the background while you do other things.
Using iMovie if you are on a Mac
If you are on a Mac and want the fastest route, iMovie is already installed. Open it from your Applications folder. Click "Create New" and select "Movie". A blank project opens. Drag both video files from Finder into the timeline at the bottom of the iMovie window, in the order you want them to play.
Press spacebar to preview. When you are ready, go to "File" and click "Export". Choose "File" from the menu, set the resolution to 1080p, and click "Next". Choose where to save it and click "Save". The export starts when ready and usually finishes faster than DaVinci Resolve.
iMovie is simpler but less flexible — if you need to trim the videos, adjust audio, or add transitions later, you will have to go back into iMovie or switch to another program. DaVinci Resolve lets you do all of that in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add more than two videos together?
Yes. Drag as many videos as you want into the timeline in order. They will play one after another. The process is the same — just keep dragging videos to the right of the previous one until all of them are in the timeline.
What if there is a black frame between the two videos when they play?
The videos are not touching in the timeline. Click on the second video's bar and drag it left until it touches the first video with no gap. Play again to confirm the black frame is gone. If it persists, the videos may have different frame rates — this is rare and usually not noticeable to viewers.
How long does exporting take?
Exporting usually takes as long as the combined video length, sometimes longer. A ten-minute combined video might take fifteen to thirty minutes to export depending on your computer's processor and the format you choose. Faster computers export faster. Do not interrupt the export or close the program while it is running.
Can I add a transition between the videos?
Yes, in DaVinci Resolve. Right-click on the space between the two videos in the timeline and select "Add Transition". A menu appears with fade, dissolve, and other options. Click one to add it. The transition will play for one second by default — you can make it shorter or longer by dragging the transition bar in the timeline.
What format should I export in?
MP4 is the safest choice — it plays on phones, computers, and most websites. If you plan to upload to YouTube, Instagram, or TikTok, MP4 works for all of them. If you need the file for professional use or further editing, ask the person requesting it what format they need.