How to Trim Video without Increasing File Size?

“I've got an MP4 video file that's around 1.5GB. I want to trim it down and I don't have a problem using the editing tools to get it to about half its length, but when I go to save the project it ends up being just as large, or larger. How can I just trim it down without increasing its file size?”

There is a common misconception about video trimming that if we cut some parts from a video, we will naturally get a smaller size file. But sometimes you may encounter a situation where the file becomes larger than the original video after cutting. The main reason is that the video is re-encoded/transcoded differently. In order to make the output video quality close to the original, many video editors will use different compression methods (encoders) or increase the video bitrate, resulting in larger output files. Therefore, to trim video and reduce the size, you should avoid re-encoding or keep the output settings the same as the input.

In the next part, we provide a reliable video editing program to help you properly cut video without increasing file size. Just read and follow.

WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro is an excellent video editing software that can trim video length without increasing the file size. It can cut videos with little or no re-encoding and trim video without losing quality. It also allows users to flexibly render export settings to obtain smaller size output videos. All video formats are supported and video length can be shortened easily and quickly in this software. The tutorial below shows an example of how to trim an MP4 video without increasing the file size. Free download Free download the video trimming software and follow the steps.

Step 1. Add Video to the Program

Run WonderFox HD Video Converter Factory Pro on your PC and open “Converter.” Next, drag your source video into the blank workspace. You can also use the add buttons to import file into the program.

At the bottom of the interface, you can hit the ▼ button to set an output path or leave it as default.

Step 2. Trim Video as You Want

Click the Trim icon (scissors) in the video toolbar to open the Trim window. Next, drag the sliders to select the part you want to keep, and click “Trim” to create “Clip 1.” You can also type in the start time and end time to trim your video more accurately. Repeat this step and you can create multiple clips. After trimming, click “OK” to save the changes.

Step 3. Set Output Settings

Now, go to the right-side output format list and select an output profile under the “Video” category. It is recommended to keep the same format or choose a format that supports the original video encoder. By default, the software will smart-fit the output settings the same as the input, meaning the same codec, resolution, frame rate, etc. This will help you export video without re-encoding. But you can go to the “Parameter settings” and choose a more advanced video encoder (H265) or lower the bitrate to compress videos to even smaller size.

Step 4. Finish Process

Finally, click “Run” to finish the whole process. If the hardware acceleration is enabled, it will boost the conversion speed greatly (up to 30x faster).

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We’ve shown you that the video re-encoding is to blame for file size increases after trimming. To get rid of this annoyance, you should avoid re-encoding or keep the same video settings as original when rendering your video. With the software introduced here, you can easily trim a video to make it smaller.

That’s all for now. I hope you find this article helpful. Thanks for reading!