How to Crop a Video on iPhone (Built-In, Free)

To crop a video on iPhone, open it in Photos, tap Edit, tap the crop/rotate icon (a square with two arrows), then drag the frame corners inward or pinch to zoom until the edges you don’t want sit outside the frame. Tap Done, then choose Save Video as New Clip to keep your original or Save Video to overwrite it. It’s built in and free.

Step by step (Photos app)

1. Open the Photos app and tap the video.
2. Tap Edit in the top-right corner.
3. Tap the crop/rotate icon (a square with two curved arrows) in the bottom toolbar. The frame becomes adjustable.
4. Drag the corner handles inward to crop the edges, or pinch outward with two fingers to zoom in. Drag the image to reposition the visible area.
5. Optional: tap the rotate icon to turn the clip, or the aspect-ratio button (top-right) to change its shape.
6. Tap Done.
7. Choose how to save:
   • Save Video as New Clip — keeps the full original and saves the cropped version as a new clip.
   • Save Video — saves only the edited (cropped) version.

Tip: “Save Video as New Clip” is non-destructive, so you can always return to the original framing later.

Changing the aspect ratio

The aspect-ratio button in the top-right of the crop screen changes the frame’s shape. Cropping to a new ratio cuts off whatever falls outside the frame, so check that your subject stays centered.

Choose the ratio the destination platform wants before you frame, so you crop once instead of guessing.

Rotating while you’re there

The same crop screen handles rotation:

1. Enter Edit → crop icon.
2. Tap the rotate icon to turn the video 90° at a time, or drag the angle dial for fine adjustments — useful for slightly tilted footage.
3. Tap Done and save.

Fixing orientation here is often easier than rotating later — see how to rotate a video for desktop options too.

Cropping vs. trimming

These are different edits, and the Photos app handles both:

• Cropping changes the frame — you cut off the edges or sides to change shape. The clip’s length stays the same.
• Trimming changes the time — you cut off the start or end. The frame stays the same.

To shorten a clip, drag the yellow handles on the timeline instead — full steps in how to trim a video on iPhone. You can do both in one edit session.

When the crop button isn’t available

If the crop icon is missing, or the video won’t open in Edit, it’s usually one of these:

• An unsupported format. Photos can edit the formats iPhone records (.MOV/.MP4 using H.264 or HEVC), but some downloads — MKV, AVI, WMV, or DRM-protected files — can be played but not edited. Convert the file to MP4/H.264, then re-import it.
• A shared or syncing issue. A clip in a shared album, or one stored only in iCloud and not fully downloaded, may not be editable until it’s available on the device.
• A corrupt or partial file. Re-download or re-transfer the clip and try again.

In those cases, a desktop or online cropper (below) is the practical fix.

Free alternatives for non-iPhone users

No iPhone? These free tools cover it:

• Canva — upload the clip, drop it on the timeline, use the crop/frame controls, then export. Good if you’re already designing a post.
• Online croppers like Kapwing, Clideo, or Adobe Express — upload, drag the frame, download. No install, works in a browser.
• iMovie (Mac) — free, with precise cropping and rotation.
• VLC — free on Windows/Mac for basic cropping via Tools → Effects and Filters → Video Effects → Crop.

Don’t upload private footage to a site you don’t trust — use a desktop tool for anything sensitive.

FAQ

Can I crop a video on iPhone for free?

Yes. The built-in Photos editor crops, rotates, and changes aspect ratio for free, and iMovie (also free) adds more precise control. No paid app is required.

Does cropping a video reduce its quality?

Cropping zooms into the existing pixels, so a heavy crop can lower the effective resolution and look softer. Light crops are fine. If you need a big crop, start from the highest-resolution original you have.

How do I crop a video to square or 9:16 on iPhone?

Open the video → Edit → crop icon → tap the aspect-ratio button → choose Square or 9:16 → adjust the frame → Done → Save Video as New Clip.

Why is the crop button missing in Photos?

Usually because the clip is in an unsupported format (such as MKV, AVI, or a DRM-protected file), or it’s a shared/iCloud clip that isn’t fully downloaded. Convert it to MP4/H.264 or download it, then try again.

What’s the difference between cropping and trimming a video?

Cropping removes the edges of the frame (changing its shape); trimming removes the start or end in time (changing its length). The Photos editor does both — see how to trim a video on iPhone for the time-based edit.