Need tips for editing videos on my iPhone

Tips
1

I’ve started recording short clips on my iPhone for social media, but I’m struggling to edit them the way I want. I’m confused about trimming, adding music, and combining multiple clips into one smooth video. What are the best built-in tools or free apps for editing videos on iPhone, and can anyone share simple, step-by-step tips for beginners?

2

iPhone editing is decent for quick social clips. Here is a simple workflow.

  1. Use Photos for fast trims
    • Open Photos, tap your video, tap Edit.
    • Drag the yellow handles left and right to trim start and end.
    • Watch it a couple times, then tap Done, choose Save Video as New Clip, so you keep the original.

  2. Use iMovie for multi clip edits
    If you do not have iMovie, grab it from the App Store. Free.

• Open iMovie, tap Create Project, pick Movie.
• Select several clips, tap Create Movie.
• In the timeline, tap a clip, drag the yellow handles to trim inside iMovie.
• To split a clip, move the white playhead, tap the clip, tap Split. Helpful for cutting out mistakes in the middle.

  1. Smooth transitions
    • Between clips you see a small icon. Tap it to change transitions.
    • For social, try “None” or “Slide”. Keep it simple.
    • Avoid long transitions. 0.3s or 0.5s works best.

  2. Add music
    Two options.

A. Built in music and sound effects
• In iMovie, tap the plus icon, pick Audio.
• Use Soundtracks or Sound Effects.
• Tap a track, then the plus icon to add it.
• Drag the ends of the music clip so it matches your video length.
• Tap the audio clip, tap the volume icon, set around 20 to 30 percent if you talk in the video.

B. Music from Files
If you use copyright free tracks from somewhere like YouTube Audio Library, download to Files.
• In iMovie, tap plus, Files, pick your song.
Same volume steps as above.

  1. Balance your voice and music
    • Tap your video clip, tap the volume button, set speech around 80 to 100 percent.
    • Tap music clip, drop to 15 to 25 percent so your voice stays clear.
    • Use headphones and replay. If your words get buried, lower music more.

  2. Combine clips into one smooth video
    • Keep clips short, 1 to 3 seconds for fast social edits.
    • If a cut looks weird, try removing the transition and use a hard cut. That often looks cleaner.
    • Try to keep all clips in the same orientation. All vertical for Reels or TikTok or all horizontal for YouTube.

  3. Quick text and titles
    • In iMovie, tap a clip, tap Titles.
    • Pick a simple style like Standard.
    • Edit the text, keep it short.
    • Do not cover your face or main action. Move position if needed.

  4. Export settings
    • Tap Done, then the share icon, then Save Video.
    • Choose 1080p. Good quality and not huge.
    • Then upload that export to Instagram, TikTok or whatever you use.

  5. If you want more control
    CapCut and VN on iPhone give more features than iMovie.
    • Better text.
    • Better speed control.
    • Easier to match beats to music.

Start with trimming in Photos, move to iMovie for multi clips, then try CapCut if you want extra effects later. The more you edit, the faster your fingers get on the timeline.

3

If iMovie feels a bit heavy, here’s a different angle that builds on what @sterrenkijker said but with some alternate tools and habits.

1. Record in a way that makes editing easier

  • Shoot vertical for Reels/TikTok/Shorts, horizontal for YouTube. Mixing them is a pain.
  • Lock exposure: tap and hold on your subject until you see AE/AF Lock so your brightness doesn’t jump between clips.
  • Film slightly longer than you need. It is easier to cut extra than save a too‑short shot.

2. Use Clips or Instagram/TikTok cameras for super quick edits

Instead of doing everything after, try editing as you record:

  • Apple Clips app (free):

    • Hold the red button to record multiple clips in one project.
    • You can reorder them, trim, and add text and stickers.
    • Auto captions (called Live Titles) are actually decent for talking videos.

  • In‑app editors (IG Reels / TikTok):

    • You can record clip by clip and line things up with the previous frame.
    • Great for “jump cut” style content and syncing with sounds already on the platform.

This skips some of the “combine multiple clips” headache later.

3. Trimming without overthinking

Apple’s Photos and iMovie work, but another fast option:

  • Use the native “Edit” then “Revert” mindset
    • Do your first rough trim in Photos.
    • Do not chase perfection. Just chop off obvious dead space.
    • If you cut too much, hit “Revert to Original” and try again.

The key is: rough trim first, detailed trim later. If you chase pixel perfect cuts from the start, you’ll burn out.

4. Music: think platform first, file second

I actually disagree slightly with the whole “download copyright free tracks and import them” approach as your main workflow. That is useful for some things, but for social:

  • Use each platform’s native sounds when you can

    • On TikTok/IG Reels, using their sounds gets you fewer copyright issues and often better reach.
    • Upload your edited video without music, then add their track inside the app and match the beat with the built‑in tools.

  • If you still want to add music on iPhone itself, try:

    • CapCut’s built‑in library (tons of social‑style tracks + easy beat markers).
    • Adjust music volume around 15 to 25% if you are talking, higher if it is just visuals.

5. Combining clips so it feels “smooth”

Smooth is more about how you shoot and cut than fancy transitions.

Try this:

  • Use hard cuts 90% of the time. No transition. Just clip to clip. That actually feels more modern and “social.”
  • Match motion:
    • If one clip ends with your camera moving right, start the next with a similar direction.
    • This gives a fake “seamless” feeling even with a hard cut.
  • Cut on action:
    • Cut right when something happens: a hand moves, you turn your head, you place an object.
    • Our brains accept that cut more easily so it feels smoother.

6. Simple pacing rule

If your video feels “off,” it is usually too slow, not too fast.

  • Try this rough guide:
    • Talking head: cuts every 2 to 4 seconds
    • Visual / b‑roll montage: 1 to 2 seconds per shot
  • Cut any moment where nothing happens. Even half a second of dead air adds up.

7. Quick text and captions without fuss

If iMovie titles feel too clunky:

  • CapCut or VN have easier text controls:
    • Add large, high contrast text at the bottom or top.
    • Use one or two fonts max.
    • Auto captions: very handy so people can watch on mute.

Keep text on screen long enough to read twice, not once. People read slower than you think.

8. Export & upload without wrecking quality

  • Export at 1080p or 4K from your editor.
  • When you upload to IG/TikTok/Shorts, avoid re‑saving screenshots or re‑exporting the same file multiple times. Each extra export lowers quality.
  • Edit once, export once, upload that file.

9. A super simple starter workflow

If all of this still feels like a lot, here’s a beginners loop:

  1. Record clips in vertical, a bit longer than needed.
  2. Rough trim each clip in Photos.
  3. Open CapCut: import all trimmed clips.
  4. Arrange in order, cut out boring bits, keep most clips under 3 seconds.
  5. Add auto captions if you talk.
  6. Add background music from CapCut at low volume.
  7. Export 1080p, then upload to IG/TikTok and maybe switch to a trending sound inside the platform if you want.

Do that 5 to 10 times and your fingers will start knowing where everything is without you thinking so much. The confusion you have now is totally normal, it is basically just “first 10 projects” tax.