Start with the right tool for what you're making

Windows comes with Photos, a built-in video editor that handles basic cuts, transitions, and music without installing anything. If you need more control — color correction, multiple video layers, or effects — DaVinci Resolve is free and runs on Windows. For straightforward projects like trimming clips or adding text, Photos is faster. For anything more complex, Resolve gives you professional-grade tools without a paywall.

The choice depends on your project. A short social media clip, a family video with music, or a straightforward montage works fine in Photos. A product demo, tutorial, or anything where you're layering multiple videos, adjusting colors, or syncing audio to specific moments needs Resolve.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Photos handles basic editing — cutting clips, adding transitions and music, and exporting — without downloading anything.
  • DaVinci Resolve is free and lets you work with multiple video layers, color correction, and advanced effects on Windows.
  • Import your video files into your chosen editor, then trim unwanted sections, add transitions between clips, and sync audio before exporting.
  • Export settings matter: choose a format and quality level that matches where you'll share the video, or you'll waste storage space or lose quality.

Editing video in Windows Photos

Open the Photos app (search for "Photos" in the Windows search bar), then find the video file you want to edit. Click the video, then look for the "Edit & Create" button at the top. Select "Edit with Photos" to open the editor.

The timeline appears at the bottom. Click and drag the handles on either end of the video clip to trim the start or end — this removes footage without deleting the original file. If you have multiple video clips, click the plus icon to add them in order. Photos stitches them together automatically.

To add a transition between two clips, click the space between them and choose a transition style. Keep transitions subtle — a straightforward fade or cross-dissolve works for most videos. To add music, click "Music" in the toolbar, then pick a track from the built-in library or import your own audio file. Drag the audio to the timeline and adjust its volume by clicking the speaker icon.

When you're done, click "Export or save" at the top right. Choose your video quality (1080p is standard for most uses) and click "Export". Photos saves the edited version as a new file, leaving your original untouched.

Editing video in DaVinci Resolve

read DaVinci Resolve from Blackmagic Design's website (search "DaVinci Resolve free read"). Install it, then open the program. Click "New Project" and give it a name. Set the resolution to 1920x1080 (standard HD) unless you're working with 4K footage.

In the Media Pool on the left, click the folder icon to import your video files. Drag them into the timeline at the bottom. Resolve arranges them in the order you place them. To trim a clip, position your cursor at the edge of the clip in the timeline until it turns into a resize arrow, then drag inward to cut the unwanted section.

To add a transition, right-click the space between two clips and select "Add Transition". The default cross-dissolve works for most situations. For color correction, click the "Color" tab at the bottom, select a clip, and use the wheels and sliders to adjust brightness, contrast, and color tone. Start with small adjustments — a little goes a long way.

To add music or voiceover, import your audio file the same way you imported video. Drag it to the audio track below your video. Sync it by ear: play the timeline and watch where your audio should start, then drag the audio clip to that position. To adjust volume, right-click the audio clip and select "Clip Gain", then type a new level (0 dB is normal volume).

Trimming and arranging clips

Both editors work the same way for basic trimming: position your cursor at the edge of a clip until it changes shape, then drag to shorten it. This removes the unwanted section from the timeline but does not delete it from your original file.

To rearrange clips, click and drag them left or right in the timeline. Resolve lets you move clips freely; Photos requires you to delete and re-add them in the correct order. If you need to move a clip in Photos, delete it from the timeline, then click the plus icon and select it again.

If you make a mistake, use Ctrl+Z to undo. Both editors keep an undo history, so you can step back multiple times. Save your project regularly — in Photos this happens automatically, but in Resolve you must click File > Save Project to preserve your work.

Adding text, effects, and titles

In Photos, click "Text" in the toolbar to add a title or caption. Type your text, choose a font and color, then drag it to the position you want in the timeline. Adjust the duration by dragging the edges of the text box — it will appear and disappear at those points in your video.

In Resolve, click the "Fusion" tab at the bottom to add effects and text. For straightforward text, use the "Edit" tab instead: right-click above the timeline and select "Add Title". A text box appears; type your message and format it using the Inspector panel on the right. Drag the text clip in the timeline to position it where you want it to appear.

Both editors offer built-in effects — filters, blur, brightness adjustments — but start without them. A clean, well-lit video with good audio needs no effects. Add them only if they serve the story.

Exporting your finished video

In Photos, click "Export or save" and choose your quality level. For YouTube, social media, or sharing via email, 1080p at standard quality is fine. For archiving or future editing, choose the highest quality available.

In Resolve, go to the "Deliver" tab at the bottom. Under "Render Settings", set the format to H.264 (the most compatible format for sharing). Set the resolution to 1920x1080 unless your original footage was 4K. Click "Add to Render Queue", then click "Start Render". Resolve exports the file to your chosen folder.

Export takes time — a five-minute video at 1080p might take 10 to 30 minutes depending on your computer's speed and the effects you used. Do not close the program while it renders. When it finishes, the file appears in your Videos folder or wherever you chose to save it.

Troubleshooting common problems

If your video plays choppy in the editor, your computer is struggling to preview the full quality. In Resolve, lower the preview resolution: click the dropdown that says "Full Res" and select "Half Res" or "Quarter Res". This does not affect your final export, only what you see while editing. In Photos, this happens automatically.

If audio and video are out of sync, you likely imported them separately or they were recorded at different frame rates. In Resolve, right-click the audio clip and select "Clip Properties", then check the frame rate. If it differs from your video, the sync will drift. Re-export the audio at the same frame rate as your video, then re-import it.

If your exported file is huge (over 1 GB for a short video), you chose too high a quality or your bitrate is too high. Re-export at a lower quality setting. For most uses, 1080p at standard bitrate is sufficient and produces files under 500 MB for a 10-minute video.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit 4K video on Windows?

Yes, but your computer needs more power. Both Photos and Resolve handle 4K, but playback will be choppy on slower machines. In Resolve, use the preview resolution trick mentioned above. If you're just trimming and adding music, Photos works fine even on older computers.

What format should I export in?

H.264 (also called MP4) is the standard. It works on every device, uploads to YouTube and social media without problems, and produces reasonable file sizes. If you're archiving for long-term storage, export as ProRes instead — it takes more space but preserves quality better if you edit it again later.

How do I add subtitles or captions?

Photos does not have a built-in subtitle tool. In Resolve, use the text feature to create captions manually, positioning each one in the timeline where it should appear. For automatic captions, export your video to YouTube — YouTube generates them for free, though you should review them for accuracy.

Can I edit video while it's still recording on my phone?

No. Transfer the video file to your Windows computer first, then open it in Photos or Resolve. Most phones save videos as MP4 files, which both editors read when ready.

What if my video file won't open?

Check the file format — Photos and Resolve support MP4, MOV, AVI, and MKV. If your file is in a different format, use a free converter like HandBrake to change it to MP4 first. If the file is corrupted, try opening it in Windows Media Player to confirm it plays. If it does not, the file cannot be recovered.