How to crop video on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro: all ways to maintain quality

Cutting down videos on Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 Pro is a challenge that every second smartphone owner faces. Whether you want to remove excess footage from a video, prepare a clip for Instagram Reels or TikTok, or simply reduce the size of a file before sending, the right approach will save time and nerves. In this article, we will analyze all available methods, from built-in MIUI tools to professional applications, and also reveal hidden codec settings that will help avoid artifacts when saving.

The Redmi Note 9 Pro features 4K@30fps support and H.265 hardware coding (HEVC), which puts restrictions on some applications. For example, the standard Google Photo editor may not properly process high-bitrate video, and third-party programs like CapCut or KineMaster require manual adjustment of export parameters, and we tested each method on real devices and highlighted the pros and cons of each so you can choose the best option for your tasks.

1. Built-in MIUI Gallery Editor: Quick and no Installation

The most obvious way is to use Xiaomi’s standard Gallery app, which is pre-installed on all MIUI 12+ devices and supports basic trimming without loss of quality (when set up correctly), with the main advantage of not having to download third-party programs, and the interface is intuitive even for a beginner.

To clip the video through the gallery:

1. Open the Gallery app and find the video file you want.
2. Slip the video and select the Edit button (scissors icon).
3. In the bottom toolbar, select Cut (frame icon).
4. Drag the yellow markers on the timeline to set the beginning and end of the fragment.
5. Click Save and select quality (original or compressed).

Important: When selecting the option, Compressed Video will be recoded to H.264 with a bitrate of ~8 Mbps, which can degrade detail in dynamic scenes. For the Redmi Note 9 Pro, it is better to always choose the Original, if free space on the device allows.

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If the video twitches when playing after clipping, try clearing the gallery cache in Settings → Apps → Gallery → Storage. This often solves the problem of playing high-bitrate files.

2.Google Photos: Cloud-based cropping with synchronization

Google Photos offers an alternative cropping method with a bonus of automatic backup, which is suitable for those who are actively using Google Drive or want to edit videos on multiple devices. However, there is a caveat: Google Photos limits the maximum export resolution to 1080p, even if the source is in 4K.

Instructions for pruning:

• 📱 Open Google Photos and select a video.
• 🎬 Click Edit (pencil icon) → Cut off.
• ⏱️ Move the sliders on the timeline to select a fragment.
• 💾 Click Save a copy (the original will remain intact).

Warning: If the original video is captured in HEVC (H.265), Google Photos automatically converts it to AVC (H.264), which increases the file size by 30-40%. For the Redmi Note 9 Pro, this is critical, since the smartphone by default shoots video in H.265 to save space.

3. CapCut: Professional cropping with effects

CapCut by ByteDance (TikTok creators) is one of the most popular mobile video editing apps, and it supports smart cut, music overlay, transitions, and even automatic stabilization. The Redmi Note 9 Pro is a version of CapCut that supports H.265, but it needs to be enabled manually.

How to crop video in CapCut:

1. Import the video to the project (stamp the new project).
2. On the timeline, highlight the clip and press the Cut (scissors icon).
3. Drag yellow markers or enter exact time values manually.
4. In export settings (Exports) → Settings, select: 🎞️ Permission: Original or 4K (if 4K). 📊 Bitrate: not less than 20 Mbit / s for 4K. 🔄 Codec: H.265 (if available).

Advice: if there is no option in CapCut H.265, Update the app to the latest version or install CapCut Pro (unofficial modification with advanced codecs). Also check that the Redmi Note 9 Pro camera settings are enabled. HEVC (Camera settings → Video → Video format).

4. KineMaster: for complex installation

KineMaster is a more advanced editor than CapCut, with support for multi-track editing, keyframes and more. LUT-The trimming here is done by splitting the clip into segments, which is convenient for fine-tuning. ~500 ₽/moss.

Pruning algorithm:

• 📤 Import videos to timeline.
• 🔪 Slip the clip and select Divide (scissors icon).
• ⏸️ Move the playback slider to the desired position and click Split again.
• 🗑️ Remove unnecessary segments by tapping on them and selecting Remove.
• 📤 Export the project with settings: Format: MP4 Codec: H.265 (if available) Bitrate: 25–35 Mbps (for 1080p) Footage/s: Original

Attention: KineMaster can brake on Redmi Note 9 Pro when working with 4K@60fps video. To avoid lags, reduce the preview to 720p in the app settings (Settings → Preview Quality).

5. Trimming through the file manager (for experienced)

A little-known method is to use a file manager with FFmpeg support (such as Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer), which is suitable for precise trimming without transcoding, but requires knowledge of commands, the advantage of maintaining original quality and metadata.

Step-by-step:

1. Install Solid Explorer and enable the FFmpeg module in the settings.
2. Find the video in the file manager, hold your finger on it and select Open with it. → FFmpeg.
3. Enter the command to trim (example to delete the first 10 seconds): ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:00:10 -c copy output.mp4 Where: -ss 00:00:10 - the starting point of trimming (10 seconds). -c copy - copy streams without transcoding.

output.mp4

Warning: If the video contains B frames (e.g., shot in H.265), cropping through -c copy can lead to artifacts at the joints.

ffmpeg -i input.mp4 -ss 00:00:10 -to 00:01:30 -c:v libx265 -crf 23 -preset fast output.mp4

Here -crf 23 provides high quality, and -preset fast speeds up processing.

Install Solid Explorer with FFmpeg Module|Make a backup of the video|Check the vacant space (minimum 2)× video)|Write down the exact timecodes of the beginning and end-->

6. Online services: when there is no room on the phone

If you run out of space on the Redmi Note 9 Pro and need to cut the video urgently, you can use online tools like Clideo, Kapwing or Online Video Cutter, which work directly in the browser and do not require installation.

• 🔒 Privacy: Video uploaded to a third party server.
• 📉 Limitations: Maximum file size is usually 500MB.
• ⏳ Speed: Processing depends on internet speed.

How to crop online video:

1. Open Clideo in your browser.
2. Download the video from your phone (or the cloud).
3. Drag the sliders to select the fragment.
4. Select the format (MP4 or MOV) and click Export.
5. Download the finished file back to the device.

Tip: Before uploading a video to an online service, delete the metadata (geolocation, phone model) through an app like ExifTool.

Comparison of video clipping methods on Redmi Note 9 Pro

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For maximum quality on the Redmi Note 9 Pro, use the built-in gallery (if you need a simple crop) or CapCut with manual H.265 settings and a bitrate of at least 20 Mbps.

FAQ: Frequent questions about clipping videos