Start with a new project and add your first video

Open CapCut and tap the plus icon to create a new project. You will see a screen asking you to choose media. Tap "Videos" and select the video file you want to edit from your phone's storage. CapCut will import it into the timeline at the bottom of your screen — the horizontal strip where all your editing happens.

Once your video is in the timeline, you will see it playing in the preview window above. The timeline shows your entire video as a long bar. You can tap anywhere on that bar to jump to a different part of the video, or drag your finger left and right to move through it frame by frame.

Key Takeaways

  • Every edit starts by tapping the plus icon, choosing your video, and watching it appear in the timeline at the bottom of the screen.
  • The three most common edits — cutting out sections, adding text, and adjusting volume — all start by tapping the part of the timeline you want to change.
  • To cut out a section, position the playhead where you want the cut, tap "Split," then select and delete the unwanted piece.
  • Text and music are added through the buttons at the bottom of the screen, not through the timeline itself.
  • Always save your project before closing the app, or your edits will be lost.

Cut out a section of video

Cutting is the most basic edit. Find the moment where you want to remove something — a pause, a mistake, or dead air. Tap on the timeline at that exact spot. A vertical line called the playhead will appear, marking your position.

Once the playhead is where you want it, tap the "Split" button (it looks like scissors or a vertical line with a break). CapCut will cut the timeline at that point, creating two separate pieces. Now tap the piece you want to remove — it will turn yellow to show it is selected. Tap the trash icon or press delete, and that section disappears. The remaining pieces snap together automatically.

If you need to cut out a longer section, split once at the beginning of the unwanted part and once at the end. Then select the middle piece and delete it. The two outer pieces will join seamlessly.

Add text to your video

Tap the "Text" button at the bottom of the screen (it usually shows the letter "T"). A menu will appear with text style options. Choose a style you like — CapCut offers everything from plain white text to animated styles with backgrounds and effects.

After you choose a style, tap in the preview window where you want the text to appear. A text box will open and you can type your message. Once you have typed, tap outside the text box to confirm it. The text will now appear on your video at that moment in the timeline.

To change when the text appears or how long it stays on screen, look at the timeline. Your text will show up as a separate colored bar above or below your video. Drag the edges of that bar left or right to make the text appear earlier, later, or for a shorter or longer time. Tap the text bar itself to edit the words, change the color, or adjust the size.

Adjust volume and add music

To lower the volume of your original video, tap on the video bar in the timeline. A menu will appear with several options. Look for "Volume" and tap it. A slider will show up — drag it left to make the video quieter or right to make it louder. You can also mute the video entirely by tapping the speaker icon.

To add music, tap the "Music" button at the bottom of the screen. CapCut will show you a library of free songs organized by mood and length. Browse through them, tap a song to preview it, and tap "Use" to add it to your video. The music will appear as a new bar in the timeline below your video. Drag its edges to control when it starts and stops, or drag the volume slider to make it louder or quieter than your original video.

explore filters and effects

Filters change the overall look of your video — making it black and white, vintage, bright, or moody. To add a filter, tap on your video in the timeline, then look for the "Filter" button. Scroll through the options and tap one to see how it looks in the preview. Tap it again to explore it permanently, or swipe to try a different one.

Effects are animations or visual changes that happen at a specific moment. Tap the "Effects" button to see options like transitions (smooth changes between clips), stickers, or motion effects. Tap an effect to add it, and it will appear in the timeline. You can adjust how long the effect lasts by dragging its edges in the timeline.

Export and save your finished video

Once you are happy with your edits, tap the export button (usually an arrow pointing out of a box, or a "Share" icon). CapCut will ask you what quality you want — higher quality means a larger file size. Choose your quality and tap "Export." The app will process your video, which can take a few minutes depending on length and complexity.

While your video is exporting, do not close the app or turn off your phone. When it finishes, CapCut will ask where you want to save it — usually your phone's camera roll or a cloud service. Choose your destination and confirm. Your edited video is now saved and ready to share.

Before you export, always save your project file itself. Tap the back arrow or home button, and CapCut will prompt you to save. This keeps all your edits intact so you can come back and make changes later without starting over.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is closing the app without saving your project. If you do this, all your edits are lost and you have to start over. Always tap save before you leave, even if you are just taking a break.

Another frequent problem is adding text or music that covers up important parts of your video. Before you finalize, watch your whole video from start to finish to make sure nothing important is hidden. You can always move text or music to a different time by dragging it in the timeline.

People also sometimes export at a quality that is too low, making the video look blurry or pixelated. If you are sharing on social media, medium quality is usually fine. If you are saving for yourself or a project, choose high quality — the file will be larger but will look much better.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I undo an edit after I have already saved my project?

Yes. Open your saved project and you can undo recent changes by tapping the back arrow at the top left. However, if you closed and reopened the app, undo may not work for very old changes. This is why it is good to save multiple versions of your project if you are making big changes.

What if I want to use a video from my cloud storage instead of my phone?

When you tap the plus icon to create a new project, the media selection screen will show options beyond just your camera roll. Depending on your phone, you may see Google Drive, OneDrive, or other cloud services. Tap the service where your video is stored and select the file from there.

How do I make text move across the screen?

Tap the text bar in the timeline to select it, then look for an "Animation" or "Effect" option. CapCut will show you movement styles like sliding in from the side or fading in. Choose one and it will explore to that text. You can adjust the speed by dragging the edges of the text bar.

Can I edit multiple videos together in one project?

Yes. Create a new project and add your first video. Then tap the plus icon again while you are in the timeline, and select your second video. It will be added to the timeline after the first one. You can add as many videos as you want and cut, rearrange, or trim them individually.

Why is my exported video taking so long to process?

Longer videos and higher quality settings take more time to export. A five-minute video at high quality can take five to ten minutes. A one-minute video at medium quality might take one to two minutes. Keep the app open and your phone plugged in while exporting — closing the app will stop the process.