CapCut Tutorial for Beginners: Edit Your First Video

CapCut tutorial

This CapCut tutorial follows one short video from import to export. Create a project, bring in the clips in story order, cut the pauses, add captions if the platform needs them, and export in the shape of the place you will publish. CapCut is an editor used for short social video. It is also a ByteDance product, so the app and some features are not identical in every country.

CapCut has free tools and paid Pro features. Prices change by country, store, and promotion. CapCut's own help says to check the price shown in your app. This guide does not print a single global Pro price, because there is not one.

A first edit

Start with fewer clips than you think. The first second should show the subject. Cut anything that repeats the same sentence. Music you do not have a license for can get a video muted. CapCut's library and your own files are not the same thing. Read the commercial-use note if the video is an ad.

Export a vertical file for a vertical platform and a horizontal file for YouTube when the destinations differ. Do not stretch one frame to fit the other. Add captions as text, not only as burned-in words you cannot fix, when you may reuse the video.

Step by step: a 30-second vertical video

These steps follow the CapCut phone app; the desktop and web versions use the same ideas with a bigger timeline. Button names can differ slightly between versions.

Tap New project and select your clips in the order you want them. CapCut places them on the timeline from left to right.
Set the shape first: tap Ratio (or Aspect ratio) and choose 9:16 for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts.
Cut the dead air: move the white playhead to the start of a pause, tap the clip, tap Split, then select the unwanted piece and tap Delete.
Fix the sound: tap a clip and lower its Volume if music or background noise competes with the voice.
Add captions: open Text and use Auto captions if your version offers it, then read every line and correct names and numbers. In some versions and regions this is a Pro feature; typing text manually is always free.
Add music: use Audio, then Sounds, and check the licence note for commercial use if the video is for a business or an ad.
Export: tap the export or resolution button in the top corner, choose 1080p and 30 fps for most social platforms, and export.

Five edits that make a beginner video look better

Most of the improvement comes from removing things, not adding effects.

Show the subject in the first second; cut any slow introduction.
Keep each shot short enough that something changes every few seconds.
Use one font and one caption style for the whole video.
Keep music quieter than speech, and fade it out at the end.
Watch the export once on a phone with the sound off, the way many people first see it.

Free vs Pro and account safety

CapCut's free tools cover cutting, text, audio, speed, and export. Pro features carry a Pro label inside the app, and if you use one, CapCut asks you to subscribe or remove it before export. CapCut says the Pro price depends on your country and app store, so read the price in your own app before you subscribe.

Install CapCut only from the official app store or capcut.com. Modified "Pro unlocked" downloads are a common source of malware and can get an account banned.

Sources and further reading

Frequently asked questions

Is CapCut free?

CapCut has a free set of editing tools. Pro features are paid, and the price in the app is the price for your account and country.

How do I edit a video in CapCut as a beginner?

Import the clips, put them in order, cut the slow parts, set the loudest voice so it is clear, add captions, and export for the platform.

Does CapCut work in every country?

The app and some features differ by country and store. If a feature is missing, that is a regional limit, not a mistake in your project.

Can I use CapCut music for a client ad?

Only if the current license for that track allows commercial use. When you are unsure, use music the client provides or a track whose license you can show.

What export settings should I use?

Match the platform. Vertical for short-form apps, and a standard horizontal export for YouTube, at the resolution your device can finish without failing.

Do I need CapCut Pro to learn?

No. Cutting, audio level, captions, and export are enough for a first useful video.

How do I cut a clip in CapCut?

Move the playhead to the point where you want the cut, tap the clip, and tap Split. Select the part you do not want and tap Delete.

What export settings should I use in CapCut for TikTok or Reels?

A 9:16 project exported at 1080p and 30 frames per second suits most short-video platforms. Use a higher setting only if your phone can finish the export and the platform supports it.

Continue

How to edit a video