The Best Way to Crop a Video in VLC: Full Guide

If the main subject of your video is a bit off center or you simply want to eliminate some of the background space in order to better highlight what you are filming, cropping the video is the perfect solution. VLC is a common media player that can also be used to edit your own videos. Windows, Linux, and Mac OS X can be used to crop a video in VLC, and videos can be exported in MP4, MPJPEG, WAV, and a wide variety of other formats. However, cropping and saving a video in VLC consists of several steps that can be complicated for those who are new to the program. Here is a step-by-step guide for how to use VLC to crop a video, as well as an overview of one of our programs that may interest you if you are interested in trying a more user-friendly alternative to VLC.

Cropping a video in VLC requires several steps that must be followed in the proper order in order to make sure that your finished file is saved correctly.

One of the main drawbacks of VLC is the fact that it does not offer a way to visually preview what you are cropping. To learn how to crop a video in VLC, follow these steps:

1. Follow the link below to download VLC from the official website.
   Download VLC
   Install the player and open it.

2. Open the Media menu and click Open File to choose a video you want to crop.

3. Click the Effects and Filters button under the Tools menu.

4. Click the Video Effects tab and then the Crop tab to open the cropping editor.

5. Enter the specific pixels that you want to use to crop the video.

6. View the preview that you receive after entering pixels and repeat the previous step as needed to adjust your cropped video before saving.

The steps that you have taken until this point only create your preview, and you will need to finish the process in order to properly save your cropped video. To save your finished your video for future use, you will need to:

1. Click the Preferences tab under the Tools menu.

2. Click All under the Show Settings selections. On the page that comes up, type "Croppadd" into the search bar to find and save your previous pixel settings. Click Save.

3. Click the Video Cropping Filter checkbox under the Filter tab. Click Save.

4. Click the Convert / Save button under the Media menu.

5. Drag and drop your cropped video to the File box. Click Convert / Save to select your file format and codecs.

6. Click the Video Codec tab under the Edit Selected Profile menu. Click the Video Cropping Filter under the Filters tab.

7. Save settings. Choose the destination where you would like to save your cropped video file and click Start.

Although VLC allows users to create perfectly acceptable final products, many video editors have found that the platform is less user-friendly than other common options. Here are three of the most common issues that VLC users experience when cropping videos.

VLC requires you to crop your video clips by entering the pixels you want to use, which makes getting your cropping exactly where you want it much more challenging than it would be if you were able to simply see where you want to place it. However, VLC does not include a way to visually preview your cropping.

Saving your cropped videos in VLC can be challenging because there are multiple steps that are easy to miss or do in the incorrect order. Forgetting to check the "Video Cropping Filter" box before saving your changes is a particularly common mistake that will cause your cropping to not be saved.

Cropping multiple video clips at once is impractical because the exact size and position of cropping that work best for each clip are likely to vary significantly.

Although VLC is an adequate tool for cropping and editing videos, it may not be the most efficient choice if you are new to editing videos and do not have much time to learn how to get the most out of using the software. Movavi Video Editor is the perfect alternative for both beginners that are searching for a program that is easy to use and experienced video editors that are interested in switching certain projects to a faster and simpler program.

1. Download Movavi Video Editor for Windows or Mac by following the link below.

Download Movavi Video Editor

2. Add your video files. Creating the perfect video starts with adding your footage to Movavi Video Editor. Once you have successfully installed the program, click the Add Files button to move all of the audio and video files that you want to include in your project to the program. Next, drag and drop your video from Media Bin to the Timeline in the lower part of the program window.

3. Crop your video. Click the Crop button, which opens the rectangular Crop and Rotate tool, and adjust the size and position of your original video that is shown in the Preview Window. Once you have chosen the size and position you want, click the Apply button to save the changes you made to your video.

5. Save your finished video. Once you have finished cropping your video, click the Export button to prepare it to be saved on your computer. Adjust your desired formatting settings if needed, then press the Start button to download your cropped video to your computer. You will then be able to upload your finalized video to an online platform to share with your audience, such as YouTube, Facebook, Vimeo, or your personal or company website.