Exporting videos in CapCut is the final step before saving or publishing them on TikTok, Instagram, or YouTube. And the output quality is important for making a good impression. Let’s see how to do it right, step by step.
CapCut has gained popularity as a user-friendly video editor that you can use on your computer or mobile phone. It’s perfect for editing your home videos and posting them on social media . This free app, with some paid features, lets you manage the entire process, from recording and editing to saving and publishing your content. What’s more, exporting videos from CapCut is crucial if you want your video to look its best.
Available for computers , iPhones , and Android devices , CapCut is one of the most downloaded apps on the App Store and Google Play . There’s a reason for that. As we’ve seen in previous articles, it boasts a multitude of tools to turn a video into a viral hit. And now, it even has the help of its own AI . So you have no excuse not to create videos from a video clip or one or more images. Add music, effects, your voice , and anything else you can imagine.
But it’s pointless to put a lot of work into a video if you then make a bad decision when exporting it to CapCut . This handy video editor usually makes it easy to do just about anything. But you have the final say. So, at any point in the editing process, you can change whatever you want. For example, how you’re going to export the TikTok video , where you’re going to publish it, or what you want to use it for.
How to export videos in CapCut
Working with CapCut is actually quite easy. You click the New Video button , choose one or more videos or images, and the video editor loads, allowing you to unleash your creativity. Once everything is ready, you click the Export button . And that’s usually all you need to do. CapCut is configured to deliver the best possible results. But it’s always possible to take it a step further.
Before clicking the Export button , it’s a good idea to review the export options. To do this, click the button or dropdown menu to the left of Export . A new screen will open with all the customization options for the CapCut video export process. Specifically, Resolution , Frames per second , and Bitrate . Changing these parameters will affect how the video looks once exported. And, as you’ll see at the bottom of the screen, it also affects the file size .
Once you’ve made the changes, tap Export and CapCut will do the rest. The generated video will be saved to your device, and you can choose from several options to export or share it, if you wish. For example, you can send it via WhatsApp or Telegram , or post it on TikTok, Instagram , or YouTube . If not, simply close that screen.
What options does CapCut offer when exporting videos?
The customization options we’re interested in when exporting videos with CapCut are: Resolution , Frames per second , and Bitrate . Let’s see what each one means and how it affects the video you’re going to save or export.
Resolution refers to the video’s display quality. You can choose between 480p, 720p , or 1080p . The CapCut editor itself explains the purpose of each resolution. The lowest, 480p , “uses less space and is better for sharing .” However, current internet connections and screen quality warrant something better. For example, 720p is “the resolution used in most TikTok videos .” Or, if you prefer, 1080p offers “the best viewing experience.” In some cases, 4K quality is also available . However, this option isn’t always possible because the resulting file size is too large and/or the platform where you publish it will compress it anyway.
Another important detail: Before choosing a resolution when exporting videos in CapCut , keep in mind that you must start with a video of that quality. In other words, if you open a video in 480p, exporting it at 720p won’t do you much good.
Frames per second (FPS) affects video smoothness . 30 or 60 FPS is generally recommended. Bitrate is already set by CapCut, so there’s no need to adjust it.
Tips for exporting videos in CapCut
If you want to avoid your video not fitting properly on the platform where you’re going to display it, even though CapCut does its best, it’s helpful to know what settings to adjust before clicking the Export button . As we saw earlier, you first need to choose a video with good resolution. You can’t increase the resolution, only decrease it. So, if you’re going to export in 1080p, make sure the source video is available in that resolution. Otherwise, these are the ideal settings for each platform.
- TikTok and Instagram Reels . 1080p with a 1080×1920 or 9:16 aspect ratio. 30 frames per second or 30 FPS. Bitrate between 8 and 12 Mbps.
- YouTube . 1080p with 1920×1080 or 16:9 aspect ratio. 30-60FPS. 12-20Mbps.
- YouTube 4K . 3840×2160 or 16:9. 30-60FPS. 35-68Mbps.
It’s also worth remembering that these settings affect the file size . Let’s take as an example a video of about 7 seconds with different parameters:
- 720p, 30 FPS and 10 Mbps , estimated size of 8 MB.
- 1080p, 30 FPS and 12 Mps , estimated size of 12 MB.
- 1080p, 60 FPS and 20 Mps , estimated size of 17 MB.
Knowing how to export videos in CapCut is just as important as knowing how to publish the video correctly. If you’re going to publish the video on TikTok , remember to open the More options menu and make sure you have the ” Allow high-quality uploads” option enabled . This will reduce compression and ensure your high-resolution videos look good.
With Instagram , you’ll need to go to your profile, open the drop-down menu in the top right corner, and once you’re in Settings and Activity , go to Media Quality . There, check if the Upload at highest quality option is enabled . With YouTube , there isn’t a specific option that lets you choose the quality of the uploaded video. It’s best to upload it at the highest possible resolution so that, once published, it maintains that resolution. However, during playback, YouTube will automatically lower the quality based on the internet connection of each viewer.
