How to Split a Clip in iMovie on Mac and iPhone/iPad?

Video editing software has become essential nowadays. They can be found in almost every phone and computer across the world. Whether you are a student, a teacher, or a professional video creator, you must have video editing software on at least one of the devices you own.

iMovie is one of the most popular video editing software used by millions of people every day. It provides you with all the necessary tools and features required for professional video editing. With iMovie, you can work with multiple clips at the same time.

The iMovie split clip option can be very handy when working with videos having longer durations or when compiling a single video using multiple clips. You’ll need to split videos to remove unnecessary parts, to add special effects, or to split the video into multiple clips.

How to Split a Video Clip in iMovie on Mac?

Splitting a video in iMovie is a simple procedure. Follow the step-by-step guide to learn how to split a video clip on Mac:

Step 1: Open the project/video you want to work on in iMovie by dragging it into the timeline.

Step 2: Move the playhead to the first frame of the new scene using your mouse and position it by clicking once.

Step 3: Now, click on the “Modify” option that you will find in the main menu bar. Click on the “Split Click” option. You can also use a keyboard shortcut i.e. Command + B to split the original video into two separate clips.

Alternative Method: Split a Video on Mac with Wondershare Filmora

Wondershare Filmora is one of the best alternatives to iMovie, and it can be used on both Windows and Mac devices. With Filmora, you can access multiple features and tools that you need for making videos perfect.

Along with iMovie, Filmora can also be used to trim unusable footage or to eliminate the shaky parts of your video. This simple guide will help you split your videos easily.

Step 1. Open a Project in Filmora

After you have downloaded the software on your computer, you can easily open files in Filmora. To do so, click on the “Import” button and choose from the files saved on your computer.

You can also drag and drop the files you need into the Media library, which can later be added to the timeline.

The Filmora video editor is capable of supporting almost all video formats like MP4, F4V, MPG, and many more.

Step 2. Split Video Clips on the Timeline

The video’s trimming process depends on whether the part you want to cut out is at the beginning, the end, or in the middle.

• The part you want to cut is at the beginning, or the end

Place the pointer of your mouse at the edge of the video. A trim icon will appear. Drag the trim icon forwards or backward until the unwanted part has been trimmed.

• The part you want to cut out is in the middle

This part is a tiny bit tricky. When the small clip you want to remove is in the middle of the movie, then to trim, first, you’ll have to split the video, and then you can trim the unwanted part.

To split the video, identify the beginning and the ending points of the unwanted clip. Drag the playhead to the starting and ending point of the unwanted clip and click on the scissor icon.

Now, drag the playhead to the part you want to cut and click on the dustbin icon. In case of any mistakes, you can click “Undo” to get back the part you deleted accidentally.

Here is another easy method to trim your videos in Filmora:

Step 1. Position the playhead on the unwanted part of the clip.

Step 2. Right-click on it and a drop-down menu will appear.

Step 3. Click on “Trim Start to Playhead” or “Trim End to Playhead”, and the unwanted part of your clip will be deleted in front or behind the playhead.

How to Split a Video in iMovie on iPhone/iPad?

Splitting a movie into several clips allows you to perform multiple alterations and additions to your video. By splitting the video you can add specific titles, make changes in the audio, add backgrounds, and much more.

The splitting process on an iPhone/iPad is as easy as that on the Mac, maybe even easier.

Follow these steps to split a video in iPhone using iMovie:

Step 1: Open a pre-existing project in the iMovie app, or create a new one by clicking on the “Projects” tab.

Step 2: Place the playhead on the specific part of the clip that you want to remove.

Step 3: Tap the clip that you want to split in the timeline. You will start seeing various editing tools at the bottom of the screen.

Step 4: Click on the “Split” button, which is present in the bottom right corner, and your movie will be split into two clips.

To trim the shaky parts from your video, follow this guide:

Step 1: Tap the scissor icon after tapping the clip that you want to trim.

Step 2: Now, tap the “Split” button.

Step 3: The same action is required at the end of the unwanted clip. And the unwanted part of the clip will be separated.

Step 4: Now, tap on the unwanted part and tap “Delete” and it will be removed from your video. Dragging the clip out of the timeline will also delete it from your video.

Final Word

Splitting videos is an essential part of video editing. Not only splitting longer videos into multiple clips makes the task of video editing more manageable, but it also allows the video creators to make additions and alterations. Splitting can be employed to remove unwanted, unusable, and shaky parts of the video.

iMovie is a viable option for splitting and editing videos, especially for creators who use macOS and iOS devices. Wondershare Filmora can be used as a better alternative to iMovie. It is compatible with both Windows and Mac devices.