How do I edit a video on my iPhone 8 plus?

Your iPhone 8 Plus is equipped with powerful, user-friendly video editing tools built directly into the Photos app, allowing you to enhance and personalize your clips without needing third-party software.

Getting Started: Accessing Video Editing Tools

Editing a video on your iPhone 8 Plus is a straightforward process that begins in your photo library.

1. Open the Photos App: Locate and tap the Photos app icon on your iPhone's home screen.
2. Select Your Video: Navigate through your albums (like "Recents" or "Videos") to find the video you wish to edit. Tap on the video to open it in full-screen view.
3. Tap "Edit": Once your video is open, tap the "Edit" button usually located in the top-right corner of your screen. This will open the video editing interface.

Mastering the Editing Suite

Within the editing interface, you'll find a range of tools at the bottom of your screen, each represented by an icon, enabling you to make various adjustments.

1. Basic Adjustments: Trim, Rotate, and Crop

These fundamental tools help you refine the video's duration and composition.

• Trimming: To shorten or lengthen your video, use the yellow drag handles at either end of the video timeline at the bottom of the screen. Drag them inwards to trim unwanted footage from the beginning or end.
• Rotate and Flip: Tap the square icon with arrows (often the second icon from the left, or within the crop tool) to rotate your video 90 degrees clockwise with each tap. Some iOS versions also allow you to flip the video horizontally.
• Crop and Straighten: The same square icon often also serves as the crop tool. Tap it, then drag the corners of the frame to crop out parts of the video. You can also use the dial to straighten tilted footage.

2. Enhancing Visuals: Filters and Adjustments

Give your video a professional look with color corrections and visual filters.

• Filters: Tap the three overlapping circles icon (usually the third from the left) to apply various preset filters like Vivid, Dramatic, Mono, or Noir. Swipe left or right to preview different looks and adjust their intensity using the slider.

• Adjustments: Tap the dial icon (often the first icon on the left) to access fine-tuning options. Here, you can manually adjust:

  • Exposure: Brightness of the entire video.
  • Highlights: Brightness in the brightest areas.
  • Shadows: Brightness in the darkest areas.
  • Contrast: Difference between light and dark areas.
  • Brightness: Overall light intensity.
  • Black Point: The darkest parts of the video.
  • Saturation: Intensity of colors.
  • Vibrance: Boosts muted colors without over-saturating skin tones.
  • Warmth: Adjusts the color temperature (warm/cool).
  • Tint: Corrects color cast (green/magenta).
  • Sharpness: Defines edges.
  • Definition: Adds clarity and detail.
  • Noise Reduction: Reduces graininess.
  • Vignette: Darkens the edges of the frame.

  Simply select an adjustment and use the slider to increase or decrease its effect.

3. Auto-Enhance with the Magic Wand

For a quick improvement, your iPhone 8 Plus offers an auto-enhance feature.

• Magic Wand: Look for the magic wand icon (often in the top-right or top-center of the editing screen). Tapping this icon will automatically adjust your video's exposure, contrast, and color balance to optimal settings. Tap it again to revert the auto-enhancement if you prefer.

4. Adding Creativity: Text, Captions, and Markup

Make your videos more informative or artistic using the Markup tool.

• Markup Tool: To add text, drawings, or shapes, tap the three dots icon (often top-right) and then select "Markup." In the Markup interface, you can:
  • Add Text: Tap the "+" icon, then "Text" to add a text box. You can then type your message, choose fonts, colors, and resize/reposition the text.
  • Draw/Doodle: Select a pen or marker tool to draw directly on your video using different colors and line thicknesses.
  • Shapes: Add predefined shapes like circles, squares, or arrows to highlight specific areas.

Previewing and Saving Your Masterpiece

After making your desired edits, it's crucial to review and save your work.

1. Preview Your Edits: Tap the play button (usually at the bottom of the screen) to watch your edited video. This allows you to ensure all changes look as intended.
2. Save Your Video: Once satisfied with your edits, tap "Done" (or "Save Video") in the bottom-right corner.
   • If you've made significant edits, your iPhone might offer "Save Video" (overwriting the original) or "Save as New Clip" (creating a new video file while preserving the original).
   • You can always tap "Revert" (sometimes accessible via the "Edit" menu or "Done" button) to undo all edits and restore the original video.

Here's a quick overview of the key editing capabilities:

For more detailed information on specific features or troubleshooting, you can always refer to Apple's official support resources.