Your YouTube video needs a shorter intro, a mistake cut out, or a complete rearrangement of its clips. YouTube Studio handles basic edits to an existing upload, while a separate editor gives you tools to assemble a new video. Start with whether you need to keep the video’s existing link, then choose the editing route below.
Choose your editor based on whether the video is uploaded
For an uploaded video, YouTube Studio on a computer lets you trim footage, remove sections, blur details, and add Audio Library music. Trimming preserves the video’s URL, views, and comments.
For a new video that needs clips rearranged, titles, or transitions, use Clipchamp, iMovie, or YouTube Create. You cannot replace an uploaded video file while keeping its URL. Uploading an externally edited version creates a new upload.
Keep a copy before changing an existing upload: in YouTube Studio, open Content → the video’s Menu → Download; download eligibility and resolution limits apply. The Revert to original option stopped being available for saved Studio edits in June 2025. Review your changes before saving.
Trim an existing upload or cut out a mistake
Use Studio’s desktop editor for uploaded videos shorter than six hours. YouTube also restricts editing on some videos above 100,000 views outside the YouTube Partner Program.
Sign in to YouTube Studio and open Content → select your video → Editor → Trim and cut.
To shorten the beginning or end, drag the blue boundaries around the footage you want to keep, or enter exact timestamps.
To remove footage from the middle, select New cut.
Set the red boundaries around the unwanted footage.
Confirm with the checkmark. Repeat the cut process for additional sections.
Select Preview to review the result.
Before saving, reverse a cut with Undo, remove it with its trash icon, or abandon the unsaved edits with Discard changes.
Select Save when the cuts are correct.
Read the acknowledgements, select I acknowledge that these changes are permanent, then select Confirm changes.
If Studio’s duration or view-count restrictions block the edit, edit your original file in a separate editor and upload the finished version. That upload gets a new URL.
Add music or blur details in a published video
Use desktop Studio when an existing upload needs music, a face hidden, or an object blurred. Audio edits require a video shorter than six hours; restrictions above 100,000 views outside the YouTube Partner Program affect some audio and custom-blur edits, with face blur exempt from that view-count restriction.
To hide faces, open Content → select your video → Editor → Blur → Face blur.
After detection finishes, select the faces to blur.
Select APPLY.
Adjust the blur boxes and timing.
Select SAVE to commit the face blur.
Read the acknowledgements, select I acknowledge that these changes are permanent, then select Confirm changes.
For an object or fixed area, open the video’s Editor → Blur → Custom blur.
Position and resize the blur box over the area you want to hide.
Choose Rectangle or Oval for its shape.
Select Track object for a moving subject or Fix blur position for a fixed area.
Adjust the blur’s timeline boundaries.
Select SAVE to commit the custom blur.
Read the acknowledgements, select I acknowledge that these changes are permanent, then select Confirm changes.
To add music, open the video’s Editor → Audio.
Search or filter the Audio Library tracks.
Use Play to listen to a track.
Select Add to insert it.
Move the track to the desired position.
Trim its edges to set its coverage.
Select Save when the music is in place.
Read the acknowledgements, select I acknowledge that these changes are permanent, then select Confirm changes.
Build a full video on your computer
For multiple clips, titles, and transitions, use Clipchamp on Windows or a supported desktop browser, or iMovie on Apple devices.
- 1.Start a Clipchamp project with Create a new video → Import media, then drag your footage onto the timeline in playback order.
- 2.Drag a clip’s edges to trim it. For an internal cut, position the playhead and select Split, then select unwanted material and choose Delete or press the Delete key.
- 3.Add text, transitions, and audio as needed, then select Export and a resolution. Upload the saved video to YouTube.
- 4.For iMovie instead, open a movie project and select a timeline clip. Drag its edges to trim it, or drag the whole clip to change its position.
- 5.On a Mac, position the playhead at the cut point and choose Modify → Split Clip, or press Command-B.
- 6.Export the Mac project through Share → Social Platforms. Choose the Resolution and destination, select Save, then upload the resulting file to YouTube.
Put together a video on your phone with YouTube Create
YouTube Create handles long-form videos and Shorts in supported countries. It supports Android phones with at least 4 GB RAM, and iPhone XR and newer running iOS 17 or later.
Sign in to YouTube Create.
Tap Plus to start a project.
Select your gallery photos or videos.
Tap Import.
To change a clip’s appearance, select it and open Filters, Effects, or Adjust.
Choose the treatment or adjustment you want.
Tap Done to apply it.
To add wording, choose Text → Plain text or Text effects.
Enter your wording.
Tap Done.
Drag the text into position.
Choose Sound to add music, sound effects, or device audio, or use Voiceover to record narration.
Select an audio layer to access Volume, Fade, or Audio cleanup.
Apply the audio adjustment you need.
Tap Done.
Open More → Export.
Choose the export quality.
Tap Export.
To publish directly, continue with Upload to YouTube.
Enter the video details and privacy setting.
Tap Next.
Select the audience.
Tap Upload video.
If YouTube Create is unavailable for your country or phone, use the Clipchamp or iMovie workflow above to edit on a supported computer.
Create a Short inside YouTube
The YouTube smartphone app includes an editor for Shorts up to three minutes long. Its Shorts camera is not available on tablets.
Start with Create → Short. Use Capture for a recording or add footage from your device.
Select Done to reach the preview and editing screen. This is where you access the timeline, text, stickers, and audio controls described below.
When the edit is ready, continue through Next → Upload Short to publish. Use Save draft instead to finish later.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I trim clips and add text or music to a Short?
On the Shorts editing screen, tap Edit or swipe upward to open the timeline.
Drag clip boundaries to trim footage.
Hold and drag clips to reorder them.
Use Text or Sticker to add wording or graphics.
Adjust the text or sticker duration in the timeline.
Choose audio through Add sound or Sound.
Use Volume to adjust audio levels.
How do I turn an existing upload into a Short?
Open your public long-form video’s watch page and select Remix → Edit into a Short. This route requires a video without third-party copyright claims and does not support adding Audio Library music.
Select up to 60 seconds of footage.
Tap Next to continue to text and filter editing.
If Edit into a Short is missing on an eligible video you own, open desktop Studio’s Content → select the video → Show more → Shorts remixing.
Check Allow people to sample this content.
Select Save.
Can I change a YouTube video’s title or description on my phone?
Yes. In the YouTube Studio app, open Content → select the video → Edit.
Change the settings you want to update.
Tap SAVE. These changes update the video’s details rather than its footage.
How do I correct automatic captions?
In desktop Studio, open Subtitles → select the video → select the language.
Choose Duplicate and edit → Continue for automatic captions.
Correct the wording.
Use Edit timings for timing changes.
Select Publish. This edits caption tracks, not text burned into the footage.
Can I remove copyright-claimed music without losing the other audio?
Yes, eligible audio claims have an Erase song option that preserves other sounds, but song isolation is not guaranteed.
In desktop Studio, open Content and filter by Claims.
Hover over Claims under Restrictions and select See Details.
Under Content used, open Take Action → Erase song.
Choose Erase song to preserve other sounds.
Preview the result.
Select Save → Mute.
Read the acknowledgements, select I acknowledge that these changes are permanent, then select Confirm changes.
If song isolation fails, use Mute all sound in the claimed segments; this also removes the other audio in those sections.
Why did music disappear when I exported from YouTube Create?
Licensed Shorts music has export restrictions. Exporting a video longer than 15 seconds removes that music. Direct YouTube upload supports eligible licensed music clips up to 60 seconds.
