Modern smartphones Xiaomi, Redmi i POCO have powerful cameras capable of shooting content in 4K resolution and at high frame rates. However, often when shooting, unnecessary objects get into the frame, the beginning or end of the video turns out to be unsuccessful, and the duration of the file exceeds the limits for sending in instant messengers. It is at such moments that the need arises to quickly and efficiently change the recording timing.
Fortunately, the operating system MIUI and its modern shell HyperOS provide users with built-in tools for basic editing of media files. You don't have to download heavy third-party apps if the task is only to trim video time or crop the image. The built-in video editor copes with this task in a few clicks, preserving the original quality and without creating unnecessary copies of files.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the available editing methods: from the standard gallery to professional applications from Google Play. We will also touch on the nuances of working with different formats and explain how to avoid loss of quality while maintaining the result.
Using the built-in editor in the Gallery
The fastest and most obvious way to change the length of a video is to use the standard application Gallery, which is pre-installed on all brand devices. This method does not require the installation of additional software and works even without an Internet connection. The interface is intuitive, which makes it an ideal choice for beginners.
To begin, open the application and find the desired file in your feed or folder. Click on it to play and then look at the bottom control panel. There you will see an icon that resembles a square with a pencil or just an inscription Edit. Clicking on this button activates the editing mode, where various tools are available, including cropping.
After entering the editing mode, select the tool Trimming (Crop). A timeline will appear on the screen with two sliders at the edges. By moving the left slider to the right, you remove the beginning of the video, and by moving the right slider to the left, you remove its end. The new file duration is usually displayed at the top of the screen, which helps to accurately fit the video to the desired time.
When you set the desired boundaries, the system will prompt you to save the changes. It is important to be careful here: MIUI often offers two options - Save (overwrite the original) or Save as a copy. If you are not sure of the result, it is better to choose to create a copy so that the original file remains intact.
Before saving changes, be sure to review the result from start to finish to make sure that an important moment or sound has not been cut off.
Editing through the Mi app Video
In addition to the standard gallery, Xiaomi smartphones often have a pre-installed application Mi Video (or Video in global firmware). This player has more advanced functionality for working with media files and may be more convenient for batch processing or working with large files.
Launch the application and open the tab with your videos. Select the video you want to edit. Unlike the gallery, here the editing tools can be hidden in the menu More (three dots) or available immediately through the scissors icon at the bottom of the screen during playback.
The trimming functionality in Mi Video is similar to the gallery, but additional options are often available here, such as extract audio or create GIF animation from a selected fragment. After you set the sliders to the desired positions, click the save button. The application will process the file and save it in the same folder, adding a suffix to the file name.
It is worth noting that the application interface may differ depending on the version MIUI or HyperOS. In new versions of the shell, the design has become more minimalistic, and some functions have been moved to cloud services or removed. If you do not find the desired button, check the application updates in the store GetApps.
☑️ Algorithm of actions in Mi Video
⚠️ Attention: In some regions, global firmware may not have a pre-installed Mi Video application with editor functions. In this case, the system will offer to download an analogue from a third-party source or use the gallery.
Third-party applications for advanced cropping
If the built-in tools are not enough for you, for example, you need frame accuracy, overlaying transitions or changing the aspect ratio for Instagram and TikTok, you should turn to third-party software. The store Google Play offers dozens of solutions, from simple utilities to full-fledged editing studios.
One of the most popular solutions is the application InShot or CapCut. They allow you not only to trim the video, but also to work with layers, add music and text captions. The trimming process here is implemented as flexibly as possible: you can divide a clip into parts and remove the middle, which cannot be done using standard Xiaomi tools.
Another powerful tool is KineMaster. This is a professional editor that supports multi-track editing. However, for such functionality you will have to sacrifice the simplicity of the interface. For quick trimming, it may be overkill, but if you plan to seriously work with content on your phone, this is the best choice.
When installing third-party applications, pay attention to the permissions they request. To work with video, the app requires access to Memory or Files. Without this right, the application will not be able to see your entries and, therefore, edit them.
Precise trimming: frames and duration
Often the user needs not just approximate trimming, but precise deletion of a specific moment of duration in a split second. Xiaomi's built-in tools allow you to do this with precision down to one frame, although this may not be visually obvious.
When you move the cropping slider, try holding your finger on it or clicking on the navigation arrows (if they are in the interface) to move the border frame by frame. In some versions of the firmware, when you long press the slider, the slow motion mode is activated, which allows you to precisely set the border of the beginning or end.
It is also worth considering the frame rate of the source video. If the video was shot in 60 fps (frames per second) mode, then one second contains 60 images. Trimming even 0.5 seconds in such a video means removing 30 frames, which can be noticeable when there is fast movement in the frame. In 30 fps mode the changes will be less drastic.
For maximum accuracy, many users use the method of “zooming” the timeline. Spread two fingers along the timeline in the editor to stretch it. The larger the scale scale, the more accurately you can position the trim sliders.
Why may the video sequence jerk after trimming?
If you trim the video not by key frames (I-frames), the player may need to recalculate the data when playing the beginning of a new fragment. Modern H.264 and H.265 codecs used in Xiaomi usually handle this automatically when saving, but in rare cases the first fractions of a second may not be played back correctly.
Saving the result and file formats
After editing is complete, the saving stage begins. It's important to understand the difference between overwriting a file and creating a new one. In the Android ecosystem, and in particular in the shell MIUI, copy creation is often enabled by default to protect the user from data loss.
When saving, the system encodes the video again. This means that even if you just cut 5 seconds from the end, the file will be compressed. The quality is usually maintained at a high level, especially if the original resolution is selected. However, the encoding process requires processor resources.
Pay attention to the output file format. Xiaomi smartphones by default use a container MP4 with codec H.264 or H.265 (HEVC). These formats provide the best compression while maintaining quality and are compatible with most devices and social networks.
The table below compares saving options for different use cases:
| Use scenario | Recommended resolution | Codec | File size |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sending to WhatsApp/Telegram | 720p (HD) | H.264 | Minimum |
| Publishing to Instagram/TikTok | 1080p (Full HD) | H.264 | Average |
| Archive storage / YouTube | 4K (Original) | H.265 (HEVC) | Maximum |
| Fast sending via Bluetooth | 480p (SD) | H.264 | Very small |
Select H.265 (HEVC) codec allows you to reduce the file size by almost half compared to H.264 with the same quality, but older devices may not play such video.
Possible problems and their solutions
Despite the simplicity of the procedure, users sometimes encounter errors when saving or trimming. One of the common problems is the message "Not enough memory" even when there is free space. This is due to the fact that the encoding process requires a temporary buffer, which can be 2-3 times larger than the size of the video itself.
Another common situation is no sound after trimming. This can happen if you accidentally trimmed the audio track separately from the video in advanced editors, or if the source file had an incompatible audio codec that the editor was unable to transcode correctly.
If the gallery app crashes when trying to process a long video (more than 10-15 minutes in 4K), this is a limitation of the device's RAM. In such cases, it is recommended to use lightweight third-party applications that process the video stream without loading the entire file into RAM.
⚠️ Attention: Never interrupt the video saving process by turning off the screen or minimizing the application. This may damage the file and make it impossible to recover. Wait for the “Saved” notification to appear.
It is also worth considering that the interfaces and menu names may differ slightly on different models (Xiaomi 13, Redmi Note 12, POCO F5) and in different firmware versions. If you cannot find the described button, use the search in the settings or help inside the application.
What to do if the video is not trimmed?
If the built-in editor refuses to work with the file, check its format. Files with the .MKV extension or specific codecs may not be supported by the system player. Try first converting the video to MP4 through a third-party converter, and then trimming it.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Is it possible to trim a video on Xiaomi without losing quality?
It is impossible to completely avoid loss of quality when trimming, since the file is re-encoded. However, when using the built-in tools and selecting the maximum saving quality, the visual difference will be invisible to the human eye.
Where are cropped copies of the video stored?
By default, saved copies end up in the same folder as the original (usually DCIM/Camera), but have the suffix "edit" or "_edited" in file name. In the gallery, they may be displayed next to the original.
Why does the video weigh more after trimming?
This can happen if, when saving, you accidentally selected a higher bitrate or resolution than the original, or if the compression codec has changed. Check your save settings before final export.
How to trim a video by edges (crop) rather than by time?
In edit mode, select the "Crop" tool (the icon with two intersecting corners). There you can change the frame proportions (16:9, 1:1, 9:16) and remove unnecessary areas on the sides of the image.
Does Xiaomi support video cropping in 4K 60fps?
Yes, modern Xiaomi smartphone models with Snapdragon and Dimensity processors can easily handle video processing in 4K resolution at 60 frames per second, although the saving process may take longer.