How Can I Cut a MP4 Video File in Windows 11

OpenShot is better if you want a visual timeline mp4 cutter with more features than the built-in Windows tools.

For users who want to edit videos with a traditional timeline interface, Microsoft Clipchamp provides a built-in Windows solution for basic video editing. It replaced the previous Photos video editor in Windows 11 and offers a simple way to cut mp4 files without installing additional editing software. Besides trimming videos, it also includes features such as adding text, transitions, music, and basic adjustments for everyday projects.

To start editing, open Software from the Windows Start menu and select Create a new video. Import your MP4 file, then drag the video clip onto the timeline at the bottom of the window. Move the playhead to the point where you want to remove a section, click the Split button (scissors icon) or press S, and repeat the same step at the end of the unwanted part. Select the separated section and delete it, then preview the result before exporting.

After finishing the edits, click Export in the upper-right corner and choose a suitable quality option, such as 1080p, to save the final video. This workflow makes it easy to cut mp4 files for tutorials, social media clips, presentations, or personal videos.

Advantages

• Official Windows application with good system integration.
• Supports basic video editing functions beyond simple cutting.
• No additional installation is required on many Windows 11 systems.

Limitations

• Advanced editing features are more limited compared with professional software.
• Some features require an online connection or Microsoft account.
• Large or complex projects may require more powerful hardware.

If you are looking for a powerful and feature-rich MP4 cutter, Shutter Encoder is an excellent choice.

Quick Guide

• Launch the app: Open the software.
• Import a file: Drag and drop an MP4 video file into the window.
• Select a Feature: Under Select a Feature, choose Trim (without re-encoding).
• Set Start and End Points: Set the start and end points of the video clip.
• Start Processing: Click the Start Processing button.

Key Benefits: As a top-tier MP4 cutter, it allows you to trim videos instantly without re-encoding, preserving 100% of the original video quality while exporting at lightning-fast speeds.

Pros:

• Open source
• Supports true lossless editing
• Includes a wide range of professional video editing tools

Cons:

• The interface is a bit complex for beginners

Actually, I think Olive Video Editor is a good choice because it’s open-source editing software and a versatile desktop MP4 cutter equipped with a visual timeline and precise trimming tools. Not only does it support a full range of basic video post-production tasks, but it also allows for simple clip trimming.

How to Use an MP4 Cutter

1. Download and install the software from the official website
2. Launch the program and import the target MP4 video file into the media library
3. Drag and drop the imported MP4 clip from the media library onto the main timeline track
4. Select the Razor Cut tool from the left toolbar
5. Click on the exact position on the timeline where you want to split the MP4 video
6. Delete the unwanted segments, keeping only the desired video clips
7. Open the export menu, configure the output settings, and then save the edited MP4 file to your local disk

Drawbacks

• Uses more system resources than other software; takes longer to launch and consumes more memory and CPU
• By default, it re-encodes all exported videos, so lossless stream copying and editing are not possible
• If you just need quick and simple MP4 editing, this software’s additional editing features may be too cumbersome
• For short video clips, its encoding speed is slower than that of dedicated lossless MP4 editing tools

The software is feature-rich and includes some basic editing capabilities, making it suitable for content creators who need to combine video editing with simple post-production. However, compared to lightweight, dedicated editing tools, it consumes more system resources.

ps

• Save your timeline project file before exporting to prevent losing all your cuts and edits in the event of an unexpected crash.
• The Razor tool allows you to precisely split video frames; zoom in on the timeline for more accurate cutting positions.
• Since lossless copying is not supported, carefully adjust the export quality settings to balance file size and image clarity.

FF_mpeg via Command Prompt/PowerShell. This is a free command-line MP4 cutting tool for lossless, fast trimming without re-encoding (when cutting on keyframes).

Example command for cutting MP4 files:

ff_mpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:00:10 -to 00:01:30 -c copy output.mp4

It's lightweight, free, and highly precise MP4 cutter when combined with keyframe-aware cutting, making it ideal for batch processing multiple files via simple scripts or command-line commands.

Unlike GUI-based editors, it has no interface overhead, doesn't require learning a timeline-based workflow, and can be automated for repetitive tasks. The trade-off is that it requires comfort with the command line and, for frame-accurate cuts on non-keyframes but for most use cases, it remains the fastest and highest-quality option available.

You can use Avidemux to cut mp4 files. It is open-source video software that also performs other media processing tasks, such as simple format conversions.

Instructions: Launch the software, select File → Open, choose the target MP4 file, set both video and audio output to “Copy,” drag the slider to the starting frame of the clip and click the ‘A’ marker button, move the slider to the ending frame of the clip and click the “B” marker button, then select File → Save → Save Video, enter a filename, and save the trimmed MP4 file to your computer.

Its advantages include: lossless editing with zero quality loss; a built-in task queue that allows multiple editing tasks to be processed in sequence; and stable stream copying technology that enables ultra-fast video export speeds.

Its disadvantages include: more complex operating steps compared to other software; no native one-click batch editing support; and occasional codec compatibility issues with certain MP4 video files.

Notes

• Before executing the “Save Export” command, be sure to use the A and B markers to precisely define the clip range.
• Do not close the software during the saving process; otherwise, an incomplete MP4 file that cannot be played will be generated.
• If you need to edit a large number of MP4 videos, use the task queue feature to avoid repeating the same operation multiple times.

This allows you to precisely cut mp4 files without having to re-encode the source material. It is suitable for everyday, small-scale video editing on Windows devices, as well as for performing lossless local video clip extraction tasks.

DaVinci Resolve, a professional-grade video editing application developed by Blackmagic Design, and its free version is available as a free mp4 cutter for Windows 11. While it's used by film and TV editors for high-end production work, it also handles simple tasks like cutting MP4 files with frame-accurate precision, making it a powerful option once you're comfortable with its more advanced interface.

How to cut mp4 video file for free

1. Download and install DaVinci Resolve (free version) from Blackmagic Design's website.

2. Open the application and create a new project.

3. Go to the "Media" tab and import your MP4 file into the media pool.

4. Drag the clip onto the timeline in the "Edit" tab.

5. Move the playhead to the point where you want to cut, then press "B" (Blade tool) or use the razor icon to split the clip.

6. Repeat this at each cut point, then select and delete the unwanted segments.

7. Go to the "Deliver" tab, choose MP4 as the export format, and select a save location.

8. Click "Add to Render Queue," then click "Start Render" to export your trimmed video.

DaVinci Resolve offers precise, professional-level cutting tools for MP4 files, making it ideal for users who want more control and are willing to invest a little time learning the interface — though it requires downloading and installing the software first, unlike Windows' built-in options.

LosslessCut is an open-source, portable video editor. As an efficient offline tool, it cut mp4 files without re-encoding any video data. Its lossless stream copying technology fully preserves the original video quality and supports precise timestamp-based trimming, allowing you to quickly extract short clips.

How to Cut MP4 file

Step 1: Download the portable version of the software; no installation required

Step 2: Launch the program, then drag and drop your MP4 video

Step 3: Locate the start position of the clip: drag the timeline slider or play the video to the desired timestamp

Step 4: Press the { button to mark the start point of the cut

Step 5: Move the timeline to the end position of the clip you want to keep

Step 6: Click the } button to set the end point of the clip

Step 7: Click the Export button to open the export panel

Step 8: Select the “Copy Output” mode to enable lossless stream copying and preserve the original video quality

Finally, select a local storage path and save the trimmed MP4 video file

The software can perform lossless trimming on standard-length videos. It eliminates the quality loss caused by re-encoding and provides precise, frame-level trimming capabilities for users who only need to split or extract MP4 clips.

Pros

• Open-source software with no watermarks and no feature restrictions
• Lossless editing—no re-encoding required, so the original video quality remains intact
• Supports ultra-precise timestamp positioning for accurate clip splitting

Cons

• No native batch trimming feature; multiple MP4 files must be processed manually one by one
• Lacks advanced editing tools such as filters, text overlays, and frame rate adjustment
• Exported clips retain the original large file size; no built-in compression feature
• Export may fail for complex multi-track MP4 videos containing incompatible codecs