Learn how to edit videos with OpenShot through clear, step-by-step tutorials and practical answers to common video editing questions. This section covers essential editing tasks like trimming clips, splitting video, adding audio, applying effects, and exporting finished videos—helping beginners and creators edit with confidence.

In Video Editing Basics

OpenShot 3.5.1 main window, files selected, and displaying the new Optimize->Optimize Video context menu.
OpenShot 3.5.1 main window, files selected, and displaying the new Optimize->Optimize Video context menu.

Optimizing a video creates a smaller, faster version for editing, so playback, scrubbing, trimming, and previews feel smoother without changing your final export quality.

In Video Editing Basics

Place the playhead where you want the cut, then use Slice to split a clip into two editable pieces on the OpenShot timeline.
Place the playhead where you want the cut, then use Slice to split a clip into two editable pieces on the OpenShot timeline.

Splitting a clip lets you cut a video or audio clip into separate pieces so you can remove mistakes, tighten pacing, or add transitions.

In Video Editing Basics

Removing the middle of a video by splitting a clip twice and deleting the unwanted section on the OpenShot timeline.
Removing the middle of a video by splitting a clip twice and deleting the unwanted section on the OpenShot timeline.

To remove part of a video from the middle, you split the clip at the start and end of the section you don’t want, then delete the unwanted piece.

In Video Editing Basics

Rotating a video clip to correct sideways footage using rotation controls in OpenShot.
Rotating a video clip to correct sideways footage using rotation controls in OpenShot.

Rotating a video lets you fix sideways or upside-down footage by adjusting the clip’s rotation so it displays correctly.