How To Crop Videos Effectively on Windows 11: A Complete Guide

Cropping Videos in Windows 11: Your Go-To Trick

So, you’ve got some videos that need a little snip here and there? Thank goodness for Windows 11, which makes this surprisingly easy with the built-in Photos app. Whether it’s to get rid of that random person who wandered into the frame or to get a closer shot of your epic dance moves, cropping lets you tidy things up without shelling out for fancy software. Here’s how to make it happen without pulling your hair out.

Getting Your Video Open in Photos

First, find the video you want to work on. Right-click it, head over to “Open with,” and select Photos. This is the default app for viewing media in Windows, and luckily, it comes with some handy editing tools. It’s simple enough, but honestly, Windows keeps changing stuff, so make sure it recognizes Photos for your video types like .mp4 or .avi in Settings > Apps > Default apps.

Just a side note: Sometimes, you might have to recheck that Photos is the default app. Because of course, Windows has to make it harder than necessary.

Finding the Crop Tool

Once you’ve got your video up, look for the “Edit & Create” button at the top. Click that, and voilà—welcome to your editing options! You’re gonna want to access the cropping feature here, but it might be a bit tricky sometimes. If you can’t spot ‘Crop’ right away, don’t panic. Check under “Adjustments” or similar tabs. It’s like a game of hide-and-seek, but with video editing.

Adjusting Your Crop

Here’s where it gets fun (or frustrating, depending on the day). Click and drag the corners of the crop box around whatever you want to keep. This is your chance to ditch that messy background or focus on what really matters. Just a heads up: sticking to a good aspect ratio is a solid idea to make sure it looks right on other devices—nobody wants to share a video that only displays half the action.

Pro tip: Hold Shift while dragging to keep that aspect ratio locked in. Trust me, it saves a lot of headaches.

Saving Your Work

Once you’re happy with how it looks, hit the “Save a copy” button—it creates a new version without messing with the original. Seriously, remember where you put this file. Save yourself the trouble later when you’re scrounging for it during a family event.

If you’re feeling adventurous and like to dabble with code, you can also use ffmpeg in the terminal for cropping. Just a sample command:
ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -filter:v "crop=width:height:x:y" output.mp4—just swap in your numbers, and you’re good to go.

Tips for Better Cropping

Before diving in, take a quick look at your video preview to confirm you’re working with the right one—seriously, nothing is worse than realizing halfway through that you’re editing the wrong clip. And hey, whether it’s a classic 16:9 or a square format for Instagram, make sure you’re thinking about where your video will end up. Don’t forget to back up the original files—it’s a lifesaver if you mess something up.

If something goes south while editing, just hit Ctrl + Z to undo mistakes. Saves a ton of time.

Common Questions About Cropping

Can you crop multiple videos at once?

Not with Photos—it’s a one-at-a-time gig. If you’re looking to batch crop, you’ll probably want to download some dedicated software like DaVinci Resolve.

Does using Photos affect video quality?

No, cropping in Photos doesn’t usually degrade quality since it keeps the original intact. For better control, though, more serious editing software might be the way to go.

What formats work with Photos?

Photos handles common formats like MP4, MOV, and AVI, so most of your videos should be good to go.

Can I recover an original video after cropping?

Not unless you’ve backed it up. Once saved, the original gets lost unless you keep a copy somewhere else. Better safe than sorry, right?

Do I need extra software for cropping?

For simple cropping? Nah. But if you’re after something more advanced, then yes, snagging a third-party app might be the way to go.

A Quick Recap of Cropping

1. Open your video in Photos—don’t skip this bit, it’s the entry point!
2. Go to “Edit & Create” to find those cropping options.
3. Play around with the crop box until it looks just right.
4. Save your new cropped video without overwriting the original. Remember to use “Save a copy”!

Cropping videos in Windows 11 with Photos is a surprisingly intuitive way to clean up footage and make it look more polished. Keeping backups and knowing your way around the app makes life easier down the line. Dive in, tweak those videos, and turn your raw footage into something nice to share. Hopefully this shaves off a few hours for someone!