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CapCut guide

How to Use CapCut: Beginner Guide for Phone and Desktop

To use CapCut, start a new project, import your clips, trim and split them on the timeline, add text, captions and music, then export. On a phone you do this with the toolbar at the bottom of the screen; on desktop the tools sit above the timeline and in panels on the left. For TikTok, Reels or Shorts, export a vertical 9:16 video at 1080p and 30 fps, or 60 fps if your footage was shot at 60.

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Updated September 25, 2026. Hooked is not affiliated with CapCut or ByteDance.

Before you start

CapCut runs on iPhone, iPad, Android, Mac, Windows and in the browser at capcut.com/editor. The core editor is free on all of them. Premium templates, effects and assets add a watermark when you export on the free plan, so check for a Pro label before you use one.

Button names change between app versions. This guide follows CapCut version 19.x from September 2026. Where a label is known to vary, both names are given.

Edit a video on your phone

CapCut adds its own ending clip to new projects. If you don't want the outro, select it at the end of the timeline and delete it before you export.

  1. 1Open CapCut and tap New project. Pick your clips from the camera roll and tap Add.
  2. 2Trim a clip: tap it on the timeline and drag the white handles at either end.
  3. 3Split a clip: move the playhead to the cut point and tap Split in the bottom toolbar. Select the part you don't want and tap Delete.
  4. 4Add text: tap Text, then Add text. Type, then style it with a font, color and animation.
  5. 5Add auto captions: tap Text, then Auto captions. Some versions have a separate Captions button instead. Choose the spoken language and generate. Tap a caption to fix words, and apply one style to all captions.
  6. 6Add music: open the audio option in the bottom toolbar, pick a track or your own file, and drag it on the timeline to line it up. The label for this option varies by version.
  7. 7Export: tap the resolution label at the top right and choose resolution and frame rate, then tap Export.

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Edit a video on desktop

On the web editor at capcut.com/editor, captions sit under Text, and Export downloads the finished file.

  1. 1Open CapCut desktop and click New project. Click Import, or drag files into the media panel or onto the timeline.
  2. 2Trim by dragging a clip's edges on the timeline.
  3. 3Cut by selecting a clip, moving the playhead and clicking Split above the timeline. Then delete the section you don't want.
  4. 4Add text from the Text tab, which has presets, effects and text templates.
  5. 5Add auto captions from Captions or Text, then Auto captions. Set the spoken language, optionally turn on bilingual captions, and click Generate.
  6. 6Click Export at the top right. Set the title, save location, resolution, frame rate, bitrate and format (MP4 or MOV).

Use a template

Templates are finished edits made by other creators, with cuts timed to music, effects, text and transitions. You swap in your own photos or videos and export.

  1. 1On mobile, tap the Templates tab at the bottom of the app.
  2. 2Open a template and tap Use template.
  3. 3Select the number of videos or photos it asks for and tap Preview.
  4. 4Tap a segment and choose Edit to replace or crop it, or change the text.
  5. 5Tap Export to save it to your device or share it to TikTok.
  • On desktop, the templates panel on the left shows a limited set of official templates. CapCut says some templates are designed for mobile only and won't open on desktop.
  • Templates found on TikTok through a "Use template in CapCut" link open only in the mobile app.
  • Premium templates need Pro to export without a watermark.

Export settings for TikTok, Reels and Shorts

CapCut's help center says free and Pro users can both export 2K and 4K at up to 60 fps on desktop. On mobile, the options are 720p, 1080p, 2K or 4K depending on your device and footage.

The one-tap share in the app goes to TikTok. For Instagram or YouTube, save the MP4 to your device and upload it in that app.

SettingWhat to pickWhy
Aspect ratio9:16 (vertical)The shape TikTok, Instagram Reels and YouTube Shorts are built for. Set it before you edit so text and captions sit in the right place.
Resolution1080p (1080 x 1920)Sharp on phones without huge files. 2K and 4K are available but rarely needed for short-form.
Frame rate30 fps, or 60 fps if you filmed at 60Exporting above the frame rate you filmed at adds file size without making motion smoother.
Format (desktop)MP4Accepted everywhere. MOV is also offered on desktop.

AI features and credits

CapCut's AI tools, such as AI video generation, use credits. Pro includes 1,200 AI credits a month, according to CapCut's help center. CapCut does not publish a per-clip credit table, so check the cost shown in the app before you generate. Our CapCut pricing breakdown lists what each plan costs.

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Is CapCut free to use?

Yes. The core editor is free on mobile, desktop and web. Premium templates, effects and assets add a watermark on the free plan, and AI credits and cloud storage come with paid plans.

How do I add auto captions in CapCut?

On mobile, tap Text, then Auto captions (some versions have a separate Captions button). On desktop, go to Captions or Text, then Auto captions. Pick the spoken language, generate, then fix any wrong words by tapping the caption.

How do I remove the CapCut ending?

Select the CapCut ending clip at the end of the timeline and delete it before you export. A watermark from a premium template or effect is different: it goes away only with Pro or by removing that asset.

What are the best CapCut export settings for TikTok?

9:16 vertical, 1080p, and 30 fps, or 60 fps if you shot at 60. On desktop, choose MP4.

Why won't a template open on my computer?

CapCut says some templates are made for mobile only and won't open on desktop. Templates linked from TikTok also open only in the mobile app. Use the phone app for those.

Keep reading

More on CapCut

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