Remove black bars
Use Free mode and pull the width and height until the bars sit outside the frame. The export keeps only the picture.
Free YouTube video cropper
Crop YouTube Video
Drop your video file below, tap 16:9 for a regular upload or 9:16 for Shorts, trim the ends and download an MP4. It runs in your browser: no upload, no watermark, no sign up.
How to crop a video for YouTube
- 1. Drop your file. MP4, MOV or WebM. It opens in the page and never leaves your device.
- 2. Pick 16:9 or 9:16. Drag the video to frame it, zoom in if needed, and trim the start and end.
- 3. Crop and download. Save the MP4 and upload it in YouTube Studio.
Which ratio to crop to for YouTube
| Ratio | Use it for |
|---|---|
| 16:9 | Regular YouTube videos, the main player, embeds |
| 9:16 | YouTube Shorts, full-screen vertical on phones |
| 1:1 | Square clips, also accepted as Shorts |
| Free | Remove black bars or a messy edge with a custom size |
More platforms in the aspect ratio guide.
Common YouTube crops
Make a Short from a long video
Trim to the moment you want, tap 9:16 and frame the subject. One export gives you a vertical clip.
Fix a vertical phone clip for a 16:9 upload
Tap 16:9, zoom in and drag to the part that matters, so the video fills the player without side bars.
Crop a screen recording
Keep just the window you are demoing. The cropped area keeps its original pixels.
Crop YouTube video: questions people ask
How do I crop a video for YouTube?
Open VidCrops, drop your video file, tap 16:9 for a regular upload or 9:16 for Shorts, drag the video so your subject sits in the frame and press Crop & Download. You get an MP4 ready to upload in YouTube Studio.
What aspect ratio should a YouTube video be?
Regular YouTube uploads use 16:9 widescreen, which fills the standard player. YouTube Shorts are vertical, so 9:16 fills the full phone screen.
Can I crop a video that is already on YouTube?
VidCrops crops video files on your own device. It does not download videos from YouTube links. Use your original file, or a video you own and have saved, then upload the cropped version.
How do I turn a horizontal video into a YouTube Short?
Load the clip, tap 9:16, zoom in until the subject fills the tall frame and drag left or right to keep them centred. Trim the start and end if needed, then download the vertical MP4.
Is my video uploaded when I crop it?
No. The crop runs inside your browser, so your file stays on your device. There is no account and no watermark on the download.