Which video formats work

By Marvin Heinzl · updated 30 September 2026

schneiden.video opens MP4, MOV, M4V, MKV and WebM. Whether a video can actually be cut depends less on the file extension than on the codec inside it and on your browser. The finished video is always an MP4 with H.264, which plays almost everywhere.

Cut a video

Runs in your browser, best on a computer. Your video is not uploaded.

Files and codecs at a glance

Codec	Usually comes from	Chrome, Edge	Firefox
H.264	cameras, older phones, iPhone set to "Most Compatible", Veo	yes	yes
HEVC (H.265)	iPhone default setting, many newer phones	yes, if the computer supports HEVC in hardware	often not
VP9	WebM files, downloads from the web	yes	yes
AV1	newer downloads and screen recordings	yes	yes

The file extension doesn't tell you the codec. A MOV file from an iPhone can contain HEVC or H.264, depending on the camera settings.

Videos from an iPhone

Since iOS 11, iPhones record in HEVC by default because the files get much smaller. Under Settings, Camera, Formats you can switch to "Most Compatible", and the iPhone then records H.264, which every browser handles. Apple also notes that HEVC videos at 1080p or lower and 60 fps or lower work better on older devices.

In our tests, Firefox 156 could not open an iPhone slow motion video in HEVC at 240 fps, even though it first reported support for the format. Chrome and Edge had no trouble with it. That's why schneiden.video checks whether the first frame really decodes when you open a video, and tells you right away if you need another browser.

What the finished video looks like

An MP4 with H.264, whatever the original format was. It plays in PowerPoint, on TVs, in WhatsApp and on any phone.
By default it keeps the original resolution. You can make it smaller in the video settings.
Slow motion is saved at 30 fps by default so the file doesn't get needlessly large.
Sound is copied unchanged where possible. You can also leave it out.
HDR recordings from an iPhone may look slightly paler, because H.264 stores them at normal brightness.

How big these files get

Two examples from our own tests: a Veo match of just over two hours in full HD was 4.4 GB. A 15 minute iPhone slow motion video at 240 fps came to 7.55 GB. Both could be cut, because the tool only reads the parts you need. For the Veo match that meant just 3 MB to open it.

Frequently asked questions

Which file types does schneiden.video open?

MP4, MOV, M4V, MKV and WebM.

Why won't Firefox open my iPhone video?

Because it is usually recorded in HEVC, and Firefox on Windows often lacks a matching decoder. Use Chrome or Edge, or set the iPhone to "Most Compatible".

What format is the result?

Always an MP4 with H.264, the format most devices and programs play.

Are 4K videos supported?

Yes, as long as your browser can decode the video. The result keeps the resolution, or you can scale it down to 1080p.

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