Modern smartphones of the line Xiaomi Redmi have become real people's favorites due to the combination of affordable prices and impressive multimedia capabilities. The cameras of these devices allow you to shoot videos in high resolution, but there is often a need to crop the material directly on the device. This may be required to create content for social networks, where specific frame proportions are important, or simply to remove unnecessary moments at the beginning and end of the recording.
The editing process on the platform Android has long gone beyond simple operations. Today, users not only want to trim the duration, but also change the aspect ratio without losing quality. The system's built-in tools MIUI and HyperOS offer powerful functionality that is often underestimated. You don't have to download heavy third-party apps to perform the basic task of trimming.
In this article, we'll look at all the available ways to change video parameters on your smartphone. We will look at the standard gallery application, the capabilities of the service Google Photos, which is pre-installed on most devices, and also touch on the nuances of working with third-party software. You will learn how to quickly convert your videos into the desired format, saving time and maintaining picture clarity.
Using the built-in editor in the Gallery application
The fastest and most logical way to edit a video on a smartphone Xiaomi is to use the standard application "Gallery". The shell developers MIUI integrated a fairly advanced video editor directly into the media file viewing interface. This allows you to avoid installing additional software and saves space in the internal memory of the device.
To get started, you need to open the desired video. The editor's interface is intuitive: there are tool icons at the bottom of the screen. You will need to look for an icon that resembles scissors or a dotted frame. Clicking on it activates the mode frame crops, which allows you to change the borders of the image. You can drag the corner markers to select the desired area.
Pay attention to the top of the screen, where presets for social networks are often located. Here you can set the format 9:16 for Stories or 1:1 for feed posts with one touch. The system will automatically adjust the selection frame to the selected standard. Once you have decided on the cropping area, all that remains is to confirm the action with the save button.
⚠️ Attention: When saving the edited video, the system may offer to create a copy of the file. It is recommended to agree to create a copy so that the original remains untouched in case of editing errors.
The editor's functionality is not limited to just changing frame boundaries. In the same menu, tools for rotating the image, applying filters, and even adding music are often available. However, if your goal is exclusively cropping, try not to apply unnecessary effects that can lead to compression artifacts when exporting the file.
If you trim a video for YouTube Shorts or TikTok, be sure to check that important objects do not fall under the application interface (like buttons and comments) after cropping.
Editing through the Google Photos service
An alternative and often more stable solution is to use the application Google Photos. This service is pre-installed on the vast majority of smartphones based Android and regularly receives updates to its image processing algorithms. Google's tools often surpass standard solutions from manufacturers in terms of accuracy and ease of working with proportions.
To start editing, open the application and select the desired video. In the bottom control panel, click the "Edit" button. Among the many icons, find the “Crop” tool. It allows you not only to trim the edges, but also to level the horizon if the camera was tilted during shooting. This is especially useful for dynamic scenes shot while running.
A unique feature of the editor Google is the ability to freely select the aspect ratio. You can manually set any proportions or select from a list of popular formats. After setting the frame, click on the checkbox to apply the changes. The system will offer to save the result as a new file or overwrite the existing one.
- 📱 Automatic improvement of color and light before saving.
- 🔄 Ability to cancel all changes even after saving (for some time).
- ☁️ Synchronizing the edited video with cloud storage.
- ✂️ Fine-tune borders in one-pixel increments.
It is important to note that Google Photos uses powerful algorithms for intelligent cropping. Sometimes the system itself suggests how best to crop the frame in order to highlight the main subject. However, for creative tasks it is better to rely on your own vision and use the manual setting mode.
Cutting video by time: removing extra seconds
Often, by the phrase “trimming video”, users do not mean changing the boundaries of the frame, but reducing the timing. Removing bad takes at the beginning or long endings is a basic need for any mobile videographer. In smartphones Redmi this function is implemented as simply as possible and is available directly from the viewing interface.
Having opened the video in the gallery, pay attention to the timeline at the bottom of the screen. Along its edges there are special sliders or markers, usually highlighted in yellow or white. By dragging the left handle to the right, you cut off the beginning of the video. Moving the right marker to the left shortens the end duration. The new duration of the clip is displayed on the screen.
For fine-tuning, use the frame-by-frame scrolling function. By holding your finger on the slider, you can slowly move it to find the perfect moment to start or end a scene. This is critical if you need to remove unnecessary sound or a sharp transition immediately after an action.
Steps for trimming by time:1. Open the video in the Gallery.
2. Click the "Edit" button (pencil icon).
3. Select the "Crop" tool (scissors icon).
4. Move the sliders on the timeline.
5. Click “Save a copy.”
After confirming the operation, the system will process the file. Processing time depends on the length of the source video and the power of your processor Xiaomi. On modern models of the series Redmi Note this process takes a matter of seconds even for video in resolution 4K.
☑️ Preparing to trim the video
Working with aspect ratio for social networks
Various social platforms dictate their technical requirements for content. If you plan to upload a video to Instagram Reels, TikTok or YouTube Shorts, ignoring the correct proportions will result in unaesthetic black fields or automatic cropping by the service. Smartphones Xiaomi allow you to prepare material in advance.
The most popular format today is vertical video 9:16. It occupies the entire screen of the mobile device and creates an immersive effect. The square format 1:1 is gradually becoming a thing of the past, but is still relevant for some types of posts in the feed. Horizontal video 16:9 remains the standard for classic video YouTube.
When changing the aspect ratio, it is important to monitor the composition of the frame. If you convert a horizontal video to a vertical format, you inevitably lose some of the image on the sides. Make sure your main subject remains centered in the new frame. In some cases, panning or zooming may be required, but built-in editors usually offer only static cropping.
⚠️ Attention: When converting horizontal video to vertical format without zoom, the quality may visually deteriorate due to the large enlargement of the image. Try to shoot initially in the format you plan to use.
Some advanced editors allow you to add a blurred background instead of black bars if you do not want to crop the frame. However, standard means MIUI most often simply cut off the excess. For complex compositional solutions, it is better to use specialized applications, which will be discussed below.
Why does the video become cloudy after trimming?
When saving the video, the stream is re-compressed. If the source file has already been highly compressed, additional encoding may lead to a loss of detail and the appearance of “squares” (artifacts).
Third-party applications for complex editing
If the built-in tools are not enough and a professional approach is required, third-party applications from the store come to the rescue Google Play. The leaders in this niche are CapCut, InShot i KineMaster. They provide advanced capabilities for working with video, including multi-layering, key frames and fine-tuning export.
The application CapCut, developed by the creators TikTok, is ideal for mobile processing. It allows you not only to trim the video, but also to easily change the background, add automatic subtitles and effects. The interface is adapted for touch screens, which makes installation on Redmi convenient and fast.
For those who value control over technical parameters, InShotis suitable. Here you can manually set the bitrate, frame rate and resolution when exporting. This is important if you want to minimize the loss of quality after trimming. The app can also save projects, allowing you to return to editing later.
| Application | Difficulty | Watermark | Main function |
|---|---|---|---|
| CapCut | Medium | No (can be deleted) | Trend effects |
| InShot | Low | Yes (can be removed by viewing ads) | Quick trim |
| KineMaster | High | Available in the free version | Multilayer editing |
| VN Video Editor | Medium | No | Professional timeline |
Using third-party software requires more processor resources and RAM. On budget models Redmi with a small amount of RAM, the rendering process can take considerable time. In such cases, it is recommended to close all unnecessary applications before exporting the video.
The built-in gallery is enough to quickly trim and send to the messenger. To publish on a blog with effects, it is better to install CapCut or VN.
Quality settings and saving the result
The final and one of the most important stages is saving the edited material. The final quality of the file and its weight depend on the export settings. In smartphones Xiaomi settings can be hidden in different places depending on the firmware version and the application used.
When saving through the standard gallery, the system usually prompts you to select a resolution: Original (original), 1080p or 720p. Selecting original quality guarantees no loss, but the file will take up a lot of space. To send via WhatsApp or Telegram it is enough to reduce the quality to 720p, which will significantly speed up loading.
Pay attention to the frame rate parameter (fps). If the original video was shot in 60 fps, and you save it in 30 fps, the dynamics of the frame will change, the movement will become less smooth. Try to keep settings identical to the source, unless your goal is specific styling.
⚠️ Attention: The export settings interface may differ on different versions MIUI and HyperOS. If you don't find the option you're looking for, check the Settings section inside the gallery app itself, or update the app via GetApps.
Remember that every save that changes settings is a transcoding process. Avoid editing the same file multiple times (save-open-save again), as this accumulates digital noise and compression artifacts. Always work with a copy or source.
Before bulk editing a series of videos, do a test trim of one short fragment to check the quality settings and speed of the device.
Why is the video not saved after trimming?
Most often, the problem is related to the lack of free memory in the internal storage. The saving process creates a temporary file, which may take up more space than the final video. Also, the reason may be a malfunction of the application - try clearing the gallery cache in the phone settings.
Is it possible to trim video in HEVC format (H.265)?
Yes, modern processors Snapdragon and Helioused in Redmi, support hardware acceleration of the H.265 codec. However, some older versions of editors may not work correctly with this format. In this case, the video can be saved in the more compatible H.264 (AVC) format.
How to trim a video without losing quality?
It is impossible to completely avoid losses during transcoding, but you can minimize them. Choose the maximum bitrate when saving and use efficient compression formats such as H.265. It is best to trim the video once with the final file, and not make intermediate saves.
Where can I find trimmed videos in the phone's memory?
By default, saved copies end up in the same folder where the original is, but may have the prefix “_edited” or “_trim” in the name. In the Gallery application, they are often displayed in a separate “Edited” album or simply in a general feed at the end of the list.
Does Redmi support 4K video trimming?
Most modern models Redmi (starting with the Note 8 series and newer) support video processing in 4K resolution 4K. However, on budget models this process can be slow and cause the case to heat up. For 4K editing, it is recommended to use third-party applications with optimization.