CapCut Tutorial for Beginners: Your First Edit

CapCut is the easiest way to get from raw clips to a finished video, and it’s free. This tutorial walks you through your first edit on desktop or mobile.

1. Import your footage

Open CapCut and click New project, then Import your clips, photos, and music. Drag them onto the timeline at the bottom.

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Screenshot: CapCut home screen with New Project button

2. Trim and cut

• Drag the ends of a clip to trim.
• Position the playhead and hit the Split (scissors) button to cut.
• Delete any dead space — tight pacing keeps viewers watching.

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Screenshot: CapCut timeline with a clip selected and the Split button visible

3. Add captions automatically

Go to Text → Auto captions. CapCut transcribes your speech into on-screen captions — huge for retention on muted feeds. (Prefer to do this from a transcript? Use our free subtitle generator.)

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Screenshot: Text menu open with "Auto captions" option highlighted

4. Add text and titles

Use Text to add a title and lower-thirds. Keep fonts bold and readable on small screens.

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Screenshot: Text panel showing font styles, size and colour controls

5. Add music and sound

Open Audio and pick a track from the library or import your own. Lower the music volume so your voice stays clear (around -12 to -18 dB under speech).

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Screenshot: Audio panel with music library and volume slider visible

6. Polish with effects

Add simple transitions between clips and a subtle zoom (Ken Burns) on static shots. Don’t overdo effects — restraint looks more professional.

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Screenshot: Transitions/Effects panel with a simple dissolve or cut transition selected

7. Export

Click Export (top right). For social, use 1080p, 30fps. For higher quality, bump the bitrate. If the file’s too big, see fix common editing problems.

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Screenshot: CapCut Export dialog showing resolution (1080p), frame rate (30fps), and bitrate options

Where to go next

• Want pro color and control? Try DaVinci Resolve basics.
• Comparing editors? See best free video editors.

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