The simplest way to join two videos

The fastest way to connect two videos is to use your operating system's built-in editor. On Windows, the Photos app can join clips in under five minutes. On Mac, iMovie does the same thing. Both are free, already installed, and require no learning curve — you import both videos, drag them into a timeline one after the other, and export the result.

If you want more control over transitions, timing, or audio between the clips, you will need a dedicated video editor. DaVinci Resolve (free version) and CapCut (free) both handle this well and run on Windows, Mac, and phones. The trade-off is a slightly steeper learning curve, but both have straightforward timelines where you can see exactly what is happening.

The core principle is the same across all of them: you place one video on a timeline, place the second video when ready after it, and export. Everything else — adding a fade between them, adjusting volume, trimming the edges — is optional.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Photos and Mac iMovie can join two videos in minutes with no software installation, and are the right choice if you want the simplest path.
  • DaVinci Resolve and CapCut give you control over transitions, timing, and audio, and both have free versions that work on desktop and mobile.
  • The basic process is identical in every editor: import both videos, place them one after the other on a timeline, and export the joined file.
  • Trimming the exact frame where one video ends and the next begins takes the most time; plan for five to fifteen minutes of adjustment depending on your precision.

Joining videos in Windows Photos

Open the Photos app (search for "Photos" in the Windows start menu). Click the folder icon in the top left and navigate to the folder containing your two videos. Select the first video, then hold Ctrl and click the second video to select both.

Right-click either selected video and choose "Create" → "Create a video with music". Photos will open a new project window with both videos already placed on a timeline in the order you selected them. The videos sit back-to-back with no gap between them. If you want a fade or transition, click the small icon between the two clips and choose from the available options.

When you are satisfied, click "Export or share" in the top right, choose your quality level (1080p is standard), and click "Export". Photos will save the joined video to your Videos folder. The entire process usually takes three to five minutes.

Joining videos in Mac iMovie

Open iMovie from your Applications folder. Click "Create New" and select "Movie". A blank project opens with an empty timeline at the bottom.

Click the import button (camera icon) in the top left. Navigate to your first video and double-click it to import. The video appears in the media library on the left. Drag it down to the timeline. Repeat the process for your second video, dragging it to the timeline when ready after the first one. The two videos now sit back-to-back.

To add a transition between them, double-click the small space between the two clips on the timeline. iMovie shows you available transitions (fade, dissolve, and others). Select one and close the window. To export, click "File" → "Share" → "File", choose your quality, and click "Next". iMovie saves the joined video to your chosen location. The process takes about five minutes.

Joining videos in DaVinci Resolve

read DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic Design's website (the free version is all you need). Install it and open the program. Click "New Project" and give it a name. A blank timeline appears.

In the top left, click "Media Pool" and then the folder icon to import your first video. Select it and click "Open". The video appears in the media pool. Drag it to the timeline. Repeat for your second video, dragging it to the timeline when ready after the first one.

If you want a transition, right-click the space between the two clips and select "Add Transition". Choose your transition type and duration. When you are ready to export, click "File" → "Export" at the top. Choose your format (MP4 is standard), set your quality, and click "Export". DaVinci Resolve saves the file to your chosen location. This process takes five to ten minutes depending on how much you adjust.

Joining videos on your phone with CapCut

read CapCut from your phone's app store (iOS or Android). Open the app and tap "New project". Select your first video from your phone's library. CapCut imports it to a timeline.

Tap the plus icon at the bottom to add another clip. Select your second video. CapCut places it when ready after the first one on the timeline. If you want a transition, tap between the two clips and select "Transition". Choose your style and duration.

When you are done, tap "Export" in the top right. Choose your quality (1080p is standard) and tap "Export". CapCut saves the joined video to your phone's camera roll. The entire process takes three to five minutes. This is the fastest option if you are working on a phone and do not have access to a computer.

Trimming the exact join point between videos

The most common mistake is leaving a gap between the two videos or having them overlap slightly. To fix this, zoom in on the timeline where the two videos meet. In most editors, you can scroll your mouse wheel over the timeline to zoom in, or use a zoom slider.

Once zoomed in, you will see the exact frame where the first video ends and the second begins. Click and drag the edge of the first video to trim away any unwanted frames at the end. Then click and drag the edge of the second video to trim away any unwanted frames at the beginning. The goal is to have the last frame of the first video sit directly against the first frame of the second video with no gap.

This step usually takes five to fifteen minutes depending on how precise you want to be. If you are joining a casual video, a small gap or overlap does not matter. If you are joining clips that need to flow seamlessly (like a continuous conversation), spend time getting the trim exact.

Adding audio between joined videos

When you join two videos, their audio plays one after the other with no gap. If you want to add music, a voiceover, or sound effects between them, most editors let you add audio tracks separately from video tracks.

In DaVinci Resolve and iMovie, you can click the audio track area below the video timeline and import an audio file. Drag it to the position where you want it to play. In CapCut, tap the plus icon and select "Audio" to add a sound file. In Windows Photos, you can add music during the export step by clicking "Add music".

Adjust the volume of each audio element by clicking it and using the volume slider. Most editors show you a waveform of the audio so you can see exactly where sounds start and stop. This is useful for syncing audio to the exact frame where one video ends and another begins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I join more than two videos at once?

Yes. The process is identical — import all the videos you need and drag them to the timeline in the order you want them. Most editors let you add as many clips as you want. The only limit is your computer's memory and how long you want the final video to be.

What if the two videos have different sizes or aspect ratios?

Most editors automatically scale the videos to match the project settings. When you create a new project, you choose your output size (1080p, 4K, and so on). Both videos will be resized to fit that size. If one video is portrait and one is landscape, you may see black bars on the sides of one of them. You can crop or zoom the video to fill the frame, but this requires a few extra clicks in the editor.

How long does it take to export the joined video?

Export time depends on the length of your videos and your computer's speed. A five-minute video usually takes two to five minutes to export on a modern computer. Older computers or longer videos may take longer. The editor will show you a progress bar while exporting.

Can I undo a join if I change my mind?

Yes. As long as you have not saved or exported the project, you can undo your changes by pressing Ctrl+Z (Windows) or Command+Z (Mac). If you have already exported the file, you can delete it and start over with a new project.

What file format should I use for the joined video?

MP4 is the most common and works on almost all devices and websites. If you are uploading to YouTube or social media, MP4 is the safest choice. Most editors default to MP4, so you do not need to change anything unless you have a specific reason to use a different format.