Social ratios, centered
The crop rectangle is computed from the source size so Stories, posts and landscape players get a predictable frame.
Crop video online for social aspect ratios
Choose a centered aspect ratio and preview the exact source rectangle.
- 100% Free
- No upload
- No login required
Why this crop
What this tool actually does
Crop video here is a centered aspect crop: 1:1, 9:16, 16:9 or 4:5. It is for social framing, not freehand boxing.
Then optional downscale
After the crop, you can still cap output height so the vertical clip is not a 4K portrait file.
No upload queue
The file is processed in this tab. There is no encoding server, account wall, or forced watermark on the download.
Download on this device
Keep the tab open until the file is ready, then play the result before deleting the source master.
How to crop video
How to crop video to 9:16, 1:1, 16:9 or 4:5
The crop rectangle is computed from source dimensions and the chosen ratio, centered in the frame, then applied before optional downscaling. The current interface does not provide a draggable free-position box. Start with the original file instead of a copy that has already been re-encoded. Follow the steps below, keep the tab open while progress is moving, and play the downloaded result before deleting the source. This crop video workflow does not accept a remote video URL and does not fetch media from YouTube, TikTok, cloud drives, or social accounts.
Step 01
Drop the local video
Select a video and wait for dimensions.
Step 02
Pick 1:1, 9:16 or 16:9
Preview the source in the crop panel.
Step 03
Export the framed MP4
Export and inspect every edge of the result.
What it is
What this centered video cropper changes
This cropper reframes a clip to 1:1, 9:16, 16:9 or 4:5. It shows the calculated source rectangle before export so you can see how much width or height will be removed. crop video online on this page means selecting a file you already have permission to use, completing the job locally, and downloading an MP4 containing the centered crop area. The crop rectangle is computed from source dimensions and the chosen ratio, centered in the frame, then applied before optional downscaling. The current interface does not provide a draggable free-position box.
Vertical social clips: Create a centered 9:16 frame from wider footage. Square posts: Use 1:1 when the main subject already sits near center. Portrait feeds: Use 4:5 for a taller feed composition. Remove edge clutter: Exclude unwanted borders when a centered cut is sufficient. These are distinct reasons to crop video; they are not promises that every codec or file size will work on every device.
- Job
- crop video completes one focused local media task rather than opening a multi-track editor.
- Input
- crop video starts with a file selected from your device; URL downloading is not included.
- Output
- crop video produces an MP4 containing the centered crop area, which should be played and checked before sharing.
- Privacy
- crop video keeps media bytes in the browser processing path instead of an upload queue.
- Quality
- crop video can re-encode media, so the source master remains the quality reference.
- Compatibility
- crop video depends on the codecs and memory available in the current browser.
Framing
Crop video for the place it will be posted
9:16 fills Stories and Reels. 1:1 sits in feeds. 16:9 remains the default for YouTube-like players. Crop video does not move the subject off-center.
9:16
Vertical posts and stories
Use 9:16 when the destination is a full-screen phone story. Keep faces near the center before you crop video.
1:1
Square feeds
1:1 is the safe square. It discards equal sides from a landscape source rather than stretching.
16:9
Landscape players
16:9 from a taller source removes top and bottom. Check titles and watermarks after the crop.
4:5
Taller feed stills-in-motion
4:5 is a common in-feed portrait that is less aggressive than 9:16. Preview the crop plan before you run.
Use cases
Good fits for crop video
Vertical social clips
Create a centered 9:16 frame from wider footage.
Square posts
Use 1:1 when the main subject already sits near center.
Portrait feeds
Use 4:5 for a taller feed composition.
Remove edge clutter
Exclude unwanted borders when a centered cut is sufficient.
Quality
Crop resolution, framing and quality
Cropping discards pixels outside the rectangle and re-encodes the kept area. Choose Source crop to retain its calculated resolution, or cap output height when a smaller delivery file is useful. Metadata must expose valid width and height. Subjects near an edge may be cut because the crop is centered and cannot be repositioned. A local browser tool cannot make lossy re-encoding mathematically lossless. Keep the master file, compare motion and audio after export, and change one setting at a time if the first result is not suitable.
Crop changes composition; resize keeps the complete composition and changes dimensions. A full editor is required when the subject needs manual tracking or an off-center crop. A desktop editor remains the better choice for multi-track timelines, frame-accurate finishing, color work, subtitles, or archival masters. CompressVideo is intended for a focused crop video job where a quick local result matters more than a full editing suite.
- Centered crop only.
- No draggable crop position.
- No keyframed tracking.
- Content outside the rectangle is permanently omitted.
Privacy
Privacy & security
The media path is local by design. Your file becomes an in-memory or temporary on-device input for browser media APIs, then the finished an MP4 containing the centered crop area is offered as a download. No account or cloud-drive password is requested. Close the tab after downloading when you use a shared computer, and follow workplace policy when a browser tool is not approved for confidential material.
Metadata must expose valid width and height. Subjects near an edge may be cut because the crop is centered and cannot be repositioned. If the job fails, first try a current desktop Chrome or Edge build. Next, close memory-heavy tabs, shorten the source, or use a smaller resolution. An H.264/AAC MP4 is the most dependable fallback input for video workflows. A retry cannot fix a codec the browser cannot decode, so repeated failures with the same file usually require a compatible source export.
Practical notes
Tips for crop video
- Preview the crop plan text.
- Check faces and captions near edges.
- Use Source crop before downscaling.
- Keep the uncropped master.
1. Select a video and wait for dimensions. 2. Preview the source in the crop panel. 3. Choose 1:1, 9:16, 16:9 or 4:5. 4. Choose source crop, 1080p, 720p or 480p height. 5. Export and inspect every edge of the result. The output is an MP4 containing the centered crop area. Review the file name, extension, playback, duration, dimensions, sound, and size before sharing it.
The crop rectangle is computed from source dimensions and the chosen ratio, centered in the frame, then applied before optional downscaling. The current interface does not provide a draggable free-position box. Cropping discards pixels outside the rectangle and re-encodes the kept area. Choose Source crop to retain its calculated resolution, or cap output height when a smaller delivery file is useful. This is the practical difference between a real browser media tool and a page that only renames a file extension. The result is produced from decoded media samples or a validated conversion path, subject to the codec support exposed by the browser and device.
Return to the tool above when you are ready to crop video. Use the source master, choose the smallest change that completes the task, and crop video once. If the result is wrong, adjust the relevant setting instead of repeatedly re-encoding the same output. This keeps the crop video workflow understandable and limits avoidable quality loss.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Can I crop video to 9:16 for Reels or TikTok?
Yes, if a centered 9:16 crop keeps the subject. The tool does not automatically track an off-center person.
Can I crop video without a watermark?
Yes. The exported MP4 contains only your selected crop and no site branding.
Is cropping the same as resizing?
No. Cropping removes edges; resizing scales the complete frame.
Can I move the crop box?
No. The current version calculates a centered rectangle for the selected aspect ratio.
Is crop video online free on CompressVideo?
Yes. The centered video cropping workflow is free and does not require an account. Processing uses your browser and the download is available when the local job finishes.
Does crop video upload or store my media?
No. The crop video job reads the selected file with browser media APIs and does not send it to an encoding server. Analytics must not include file contents, names, frames, audio, or exported media.
Which browser should I use for crop video?
Desktop Chrome or Edge is the safest choice for crop video because codec support depends on WebCodecs. Metadata must expose valid width and height. Subjects near an edge may be cut because the crop is centered and cannot be repositioned.
Does crop video add a forced watermark or download paywall?
No. The crop video output has no CompressVideo stamp, and the completed download is not placed behind a subscription prompt.
Can I run this on a phone?
Mobile Safari or Chrome can open a file already on the device. Desktop Chrome or Edge is more reliable for long or high-resolution sources because WebCodecs coverage and memory are stronger there.
What input files does this page accept?
Metadata must expose valid width and height. Subjects near an edge may be cut because the crop is centered and cannot be repositioned. Start with an H.264 MP4 when a special camera file fails. A remote URL or social-network link is not fetched.
Related tools
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