CapCut Tutorial: Edit a Video for Beginners

CapCut tutorial

This CapCut tutorial follows one short video from import to export. Create a project, bring in the clips in story order, cut the pauses, add captions if the platform needs them, and export in the shape of the place you will publish. CapCut is an editor used for short social video. It is also a ByteDance product, so the app and some features are not identical in every country.

CapCut has free tools and paid Pro features. Prices change by country, store, and promotion. CapCut's own help says to check the price shown in your app. This guide does not print a single global Pro price, because there is not one.

A first edit

Start with fewer clips than you think. The first second should show the subject. Cut anything that repeats the same sentence. Music you do not have a license for can get a video muted. CapCut's library and your own files are not the same thing. Read the commercial-use note if the video is an ad.

Export a vertical file for a vertical platform and a horizontal file for YouTube when the destinations differ. Do not stretch one frame to fit the other. Add captions as text, not only as burned-in words you cannot fix, when you may reuse the video.

Sources and further reading

Frequently asked questions

Is CapCut free?

CapCut has a free set of editing tools. Pro features are paid, and the price in the app is the price for your account and country.

How do I edit a video in CapCut as a beginner?

Import the clips, put them in order, cut the slow parts, set the loudest voice so it is clear, add captions, and export for the platform.

Does CapCut work in every country?

The app and some features differ by country and store. If a feature is missing, that is a regional limit, not a mistake in your project.

Can I use CapCut music for a client ad?

Only if the current license for that track allows commercial use. When you are unsure, use music the client provides or a track whose license you can show.

What export settings should I use?

Match the platform. Vertical for short-form apps, and a standard horizontal export for YouTube, at the resolution your device can finish without failing.

Do I need CapCut Pro to learn?

No. Cutting, audio level, captions, and export are enough for a first useful video.

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How to edit a video