Xiaomi’s Redmi 9 series is well-deservedly popular for its excellent value for money. The built-in camera allows you to create high-resolution videos, but it often happens when the original video is too long or has extra edges. Removing unnecessary fragments is a basic feature that is available directly from the device interface without installing third-party software, which saves memory space and makes the content more attractive to view.
Owners of budget and mid-budget devices often wonder how to work effectively with multimedia. The process of framing or cropping in time can seem difficult only at first glance. In fact, standard tools of the MIUI system are functional enough for most tasks, you can easily remove the excess at the beginning or end of the video, and change the proportions of the frame for publication on social networks.
Next, we’ll look at detailed instructions to help you quickly get your recordings in order, we’ll break down the standard gallery, and we’ll also touch on the features of the popular Google Photos app. The use of built-in tools is preferable, as they are optimized for your phone’s hardware and do not require additional downloads of heavy software, which guarantees fast processing even on a MediaTek Helio G80 processor.
Basic features of video editor in MIUI
The MIUI operating shell that is installed on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 offers a built-in video editor that hides powerful enough tools to quickly edit the footage. The user does not need to search for complex menus, since the main functions are brought to the fore.
It is important to note that the video processing algorithms in Xiaomi firmware are constantly improving, new filters and framing capabilities have been added in the latest versions of the interface, the system allows you to work with videos shot in 1080p and even 4K resolution, although the latter format can be processed longer due to the peculiarities of the processor.
⚠️ Note: When editing, the original file is usually saved separately, but in order to avoid accidental data loss, it is recommended to back up important videos in the cloud before mass editing.
The function of the editor is not only to trim the time, but also to overlay music, text and filters, but to do the exact framing task, we need specific tools, which allow you to change the aspect ratio, which is especially important for adapting horizontal videos to vertical stories on Instagram or TikTok, and all changes are applied instantly after confirmation.
Step-by-step: time trimming in the Gallery
The easiest way to remove the extra seconds at the beginning or end of a recording is to use a gallery timeline, which is ideal when you just need to cut off a failed start or a drawn-out finale, and the algorithm is extremely simple and intuitive for even a beginner, and you don't need any special knowledge of video editing.
To start, open the Gallery app and find the file you want. Click on it to open in full screen view. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a control panel where the edit icons are located. We'll need a button marked with an edit icon or scissors, depending on the version of MIUI.
After entering the editing mode, perform the following actions:
- 📱 Click on the Edit button (usually an icon of a magic wand or sliders).
- ✂️ Select the “Pruning” or “Cadration” tool in the lower menu.
- ⏱️ On the screen will appear a timeline with two sliders on the edges.
- 👆 Move left and right sliders to set new boundaries of beginning and end.
- 💾 Click the Save button to record the changes.
The saving process can take some time, especially if the source file is large.At this time, the progress bar is displayed on the screen.Abort the process is not recommended, as this may lead to damage to the file.After completion, you will receive a new file or an updated version of the old one, depending on the selected saving settings.
☑️ Pre-trimming check
Changing the proportions and framing the image
Often, you have to change not only the length of the frame, but also the visible area of the frame, for example, you shot a video horizontally, but you want to put it in vertical Stories. In this case, you use the framing function (Crop), which allows you to cut off the extra parts of the image at the edges, focusing the viewer's attention on the main object.
In the Xiaomi Redmi 9 editor, this feature is often combined with a cropping tool. Once you select the cropping mode, a grid will appear on the screen. You can freely move the frame or choose ready-made aspect ratio templates. This is useful for bringing the video to the standards of various social platforms.
Available aspect ratios usually include:
- 🔲 Original - maintains the original proportions unchanged.
- 📱 9:16 – Full vertical screen, perfect for TikTok and Reels.
- 📺 16:9 – Standard horizontal format for YouTube.
- ⬜ 1:1 - The square popular on Instagram.
When you change the proportions, it's important to keep track of the composition of the frame. Make sure that important details are not cropped. Once you select the format, you can further shift the framing area to center the object. The final action is to save a copy so that you don't lose the source.
Editing via Google Photos
Many Xiaomi smartphones, especially global firmware, have Google Photos preinstalled, an alternative and very powerful media tool that may be different from the standard MIUI gallery, but the trimming functionality is even more flexible, and many users prefer it for its clean design and convenience.
To get started, open the app and select the video. In the bottom panel, click on Edit. Then select the Crop tab. Here you'll see the familiar grid and sliders. The thing about Google Photos is that all the changes are applied in a non-destructive way until export.
Key advantages of using this application:
- 🚀 High speed of processing algorithms.
- ☁️ Automatic synchronization of changes with Google Cloud.
- 🔄 The ability to roll back changes to the original at any time.
- 🎨 Additional color correction tools.
The Google Photos save process offers two options: Save a copy or Save Changes. The first option will create a new file, and the second one will rewrite the old one. Be careful when choosing if you care about the source material. The app will automatically determine the device model and optimize rendering for Redmi 9.
Tool comparison: MIUI Gallery vs Google Photos
Users are often confused about which tool to use, both have their strengths and weaknesses. The standard MIUI gallery is more integrated into the system, allowing them to open and share files faster. However, Google Photos often offers more accurate tools for working with frame geometry.
So to give you a visual comparison of what you're doing, we've created a table that will help you quickly navigate which tool to choose for a particular task, and you can look at the speed and the extras.
| Function | MIUI Gallery | Google Photo | Third-party annexes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch speed | Tall. | Medium | Low. |
| Precision of framing | Basic | Tall. | Professional |
| Preservation of the original | Optionally. | Automatically. | Depends on the settings. |
| Additional filters | There is. | There is. | A huge choice. |
If your goal is to quickly crop the video on Xiaomi Redmi 9 for sending to the messenger, there are enough gallery options. Google Photos or specialized applications are better for more thorough content preparation for social networks. The choice depends on your personal preferences and the quality of the result required.
Saving and exporting the finished file
Once you've decided on frame boundaries and duration, there's a saving phase. This is a critical point. Incorrect export settings can lead to video taking up too much space or losing quality. On the Redmi 9, with its 1080 x 2340 pixel screen, it's important to keep the balance.
When you save it, it will tell you to choose resolution and frame rate if you use advanced settings. For most cases, the best choice is the Original or Recommended mode, which ensures that the video will look as good as when shooting, but with the edges cut off.
⚠️ Warning: Make sure your device has enough free memory. The process of saving cropped video creates a new file that temporarily takes up space. If the memory is full, the operation can end in error.
The finished file will appear in the gallery immediately after the rendering process is completed. You can immediately share it via WhatsApp, Telegram or upload it to social networks. Android will automatically update the thumbnail and metadata of the file.