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VLC Crop Video: Trim and Resize Your Videos with Ease

TL;DR

To crop a video in VLC, go to Tools > Effects and Filters > Video Effects > Crop, set values for top, bottom, left, and right, and optionally export with cropped settings using Convert/Save.

Introduction: Why Use VLC to Crop a Video?

Cropping a video is essential when you want to remove black bars, eliminate distractions, or focus on a specific part of the screen. The VLC crop video feature makes this easy without needing professional video editing tools. VLC Media Player is more than just a media player – it’s a lightweight, free, and versatile tool with video editing capabilities like cropping.

Whether you’re a content creator, student, or casual viewer, VLC offers a practical way to crop videos directly and even save the output.

How to Crop a Video in VLC Media Player (Temporarily)

If you only want to view a cropped video without saving it:

  1. Open VLC
  2. Load the video you want to crop
  3. Go to Tools > Effects and Filters (or press Ctrl + E)
  4. Click the Video Effects tab
  5. Select the Crop tab
  6. Enter values (in pixels) for Top, Bottom, Left, Right
  7. Click Close – the video will play cropped

This change is temporary and does not save the cropped version.

How to Permanently Crop and Save a Video in VLC

To save a cropped video, you need to follow an additional step:

Step-by-Step:

  1. Go to Media > Convert / Save (Ctrl + R)
  2. Add your video file
  3. Click Convert / Save
  4. In the Convert window, click the spanner icon next to the profile
  5. In the Encapsulation tab, choose MP4/MOV
  6. Go to Video Codec > Filters
  7. Check Video cropping filter
  8. Go to Options tab and set the crop values in the following format: croptop=80,cropbottom=80,cropleft=50,cropright=50
  9. Save the profile and hit Start to convert the video with the crop applied

The output file will be saved with the new dimensions, cropping the unwanted edges.

Shortcut for Cropping in VLC

There is no default keyboard shortcut for cropping. However, you can quickly access the Effects and Filters dialog with:

  • Ctrl + E – Opens Adjustments and Effects
  • Ctrl + R – Opens Convert/Save

To save time, create a custom shortcut under Tools > Preferences > Hotkeys.

What Are Typical Crop Values?

Crop values depend on the video resolution and unwanted areas. Here’s a general idea:

Video FormatCrop TopCrop BottomCrop LeftCrop Right
16:9 Widescreen808000
4:3 Standard60603030

Use trial and error or adjust while viewing for the best result.

VLC Crop Filter Not Working?

If the crop filter doesn’t seem to work:

  • Ensure you’ve enabled the Video cropping filter
  • Make sure crop values are defined under Options
  • Recheck the output profile and save location

Sometimes a restart of VLC helps apply filter changes correctly.

FAQ

How do I crop a video in VLC temporarily?
Use Tools > Effects and Filters > Video Effects > Crop. Set values, then close. This only affects current playback.

Can VLC save cropped videos?
Yes, by using Convert/Save and activating the video crop filter under profile settings.

Why is my cropped video still showing borders?
Check the crop values. You may need to increase pixel amounts or verify if the video is encoded again.

Does VLC crop affect audio?
No. Cropping only affects the video dimensions, not the audio track.

What formats support saving cropped output?
MP4 and MOV are the most reliable formats. Use these under the Encapsulation tab when saving.

Can I undo cropping after saving?
No. Once a video is cropped and saved, the removed areas are gone permanently.

Conclusion

Using the VLC crop video feature allows you to focus on important parts of your footage, enhance presentation, or remove distracting borders. Whether you’re looking to preview a video crop or save a permanent version, VLC makes it possible without extra software. It’s a handy tool for simple video editing tasks, especially for users who value control and flexibility.

Make sure to test different crop values and use the Convert/Save method to preserve your edits permanently.

Complete List of Windows Keyboard Shortcuts

If you need help for Windows, you can find a whole list of all keyboard shortcuts here.

https://keyboard-shortcuts.org/

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