How To Clip and Share A YouTube Video

To clip a YouTube video, open it, select More > Clip, drag the slider over the 5 to 60 seconds you want, add a title and select Share clip. That gives you a link, not a file.

YouTube Clip only cuts a section and gives you a link. It does not export a video or edit anything. If you need an MP4, captions or a vertical video for Shorts, TikTok or Reels, use one of the other methods below. Want more views on your own videos first? See how to make a YouTube video go viral.

What Are YouTube Clips?

A YouTube clip is a short segment of a longer video or live stream, shared as a link. Anyone who can watch the original video can watch the clip. Viewers see only that segment, with a link back to the full video.

Creators use clips to promote a best moment. Viewers use them to share one play or joke instead of a two-hour video.

How Do You Clip a YouTube Video?

Three ways. Pick the one that matches what you need.

• YouTube Clip: a shareable link to a 5 to 60 second section. Free, no file.
• Online video trimmer: when you need an MP4 file.
• Eklipse: AI finds the highlights and reformats them to vertical. Free account; clipping needs a paid plan.

Option 1. Clip through YouTube

Clip is built into YouTube and is on by default for viewers. Desktop steps first, then mobile.

How to clip a YouTube video on desktop

1. Sign in to YouTube.
2. Open the video you want to clip.
3. Select More under the video, then Clip.

4. In the Create clip box, drag the slider to pick the section. A clip must be 5 to 60 seconds.
5. Write a title for the clip (max 140 characters).

6. Select Share clip.
7. Copy the link, embed it, send it by email or post it to a social network.

Embed gives you code to put the clip on a website. Clips stay available if the original video is unlisted, and are removed if the original is deleted, set to private or breaks YouTube’s Community Guidelines.

How to clip a YouTube video on mobile

1. Open the YouTube app and go to the video.
2. Below the Subscribe button, slide the options to the right and tap Clip.
3. Drag the slider to select your section (5 to 60 seconds).
4. Tap Share clip and choose a social network, copy the link or share by email.

To find clips you made, tap your profile picture and then Your clips. To delete one, tap More on the clip, then Delete clip and Delete forever.

Option 2. Use an online video trimmer

Clip works only on videos where clipping is on, and it never gives you a file. For an MP4 you can use an online video trimmer such as Kapwing. It is a manual editor. Only download and reuse videos you have rights to.

1. Go to the Kapwing website and sign in (Google or Facebook login works).
2. Open the video editor.
3. Copy the URL of the YouTube video and paste it into Kapwing’s editor.

4. Once the video loads, drag the slider at the start and end of the timeline to keep only the scene you want.

6. Select Export.
7. Choose the format and resolution.
8. Select Export as MP4.

Option 3. Clip a YouTube video with Eklipse

Streamer or gaming creator with a long YouTube stream or VOD? Eklipse is an AI tool that finds the best moments, reframes them to vertical 9:16 and adds captions, ready for Shorts, TikTok and Reels. Kapwing is manual editing. Eklipse picks the moments for you. Eklipse is a free account, but clipping needs a paid plan.

What you get:

• AI highlight detection, so you don’t scrub the video yourself
• Clip length and style you can adjust
• Captions, templates and music
• Direct sharing and export to social platforms

For a plain trim, use Eklipse’s Trim-Clip feature. Guide: How to Trim TikTok Video Using Eklipse. To turn a YouTube video into a short vertical clip:

1. Go to the Eklipse website.
2. Log in, or create a free account.
3. Copy the URL of the YouTube video and paste it into Eklipse.

4. Select your favorite template and hit Continue Editing.

5. Adjust the length of the video, as well as the facecam and the gameplay feed. Hit Next.

6. Give the clip a title, choose the resolution, and add a channel name, auto-caption and music if needed.
7. Click Confirm.

8. Find your edited video under Edits > Edited by You.

9. Click the Share icon under the video to post the clip to your social media.
10. Write a description before you hit Share Now.

Why Can’t I Clip a YouTube Video?

If you don’t see Clip, check these:

• The creator turned clipping off for their channel.
• It is a live stream without DVR. You can’t clip a live stream unless DVR is on, and parts past the DVR window are not playable until the stream ends and posts as a video.
• The video was removed, set to private or flagged under Community Guidelines. Clips of those are removed.

In those cases, use a screen recorder or an AI tool like Eklipse, and only for content you have the right to reuse.

Can I Switch Clips Off on My Channel?

Yes. Sign in to YouTube Studio, select Settings, then Channel, then Advanced settings. Under Clips, uncheck Allow viewers to clip my content and click Save.

Which YouTube Clip Method Should You Use?

YouTube Clip is the fastest way to share one moment as a link. For an MP4 use a trimmer. For gaming highlights in vertical format, use Eklipse. Eklipse Premium Pro adds Quality Max: clips export in 2K and stay stored for 90 days, so a monthly compilation can pull from every stream.