About LosslessCut
LosslessCut is a video and audio cutter application developed by Mikael Finstad. It allows you to define segments to keep or remove, then to export, favoring the copy of already compressed streams. Listed in category for Windows, it is particularly suitable for cleaning up a long recording, extracting passages and preparing files before editing. Its operation is based on FFmpeg, while the interface presents the media and segment boundaries.
Copying without re-encoding can avoid complete image processing, but it imposes constraints. With some codecs, precise cutting depends on the position of the keyframes and the export mode chosen. The format of the container and the tracks retained also influence the result. LosslessCut should therefore not be presented as a full editing suite that applies arbitrary effects without processing the images. For this page, the reference Windows distribution is the stable archive x64. The project reports a specific issue in package ARM64 of the same version number; its instructions should not be mixed with those in the x64 package presented here.
Prepare segments before launching the export
Open your file and locate the passages you want to keep. Set the boundaries of the segments, then check their order and name. A clear list makes it easier to prepare multiple extracts from the same recording. Before a long export, test a short segment that contains a large transition. Look at the beginning and end of the produced file, not just its in-app preview. An error of a few seconds can change the meaning of an explanation or cut a word. Keep the source media to resume boundaries without relying solely on already exported files or their names.
Understanding keyframes and precise cuts
A compressed video stream does not always contain an entirely independent image at each moment. Certain images are reconstructed from other information. A cut made by direct copy must take this structure into account. Depending on the mode chosen, the exported start may be close to a keyframe rather than exactly the requested point. Examine the result on your own file and use the application's instructions. Options targeting more precise cuts may have conditions or require additional processing. So avoid promising a perfect cut for every image without checking the codec and method.
Choose useful tracks and the right container
A file can contain multiple audio tracks, subtitles and metadata. Select the ones you want to keep rather than assuming one extension describes all content. The output container must accept the chosen streams. A simple extension modification does not convert an incompatible codec. Test the file in the intended player and check the language, subtitles and timing. If you are preparing several versions for different recipients, use separate names and note the tracks chosen. This will avoid sending a visually correct extract but accompanied by an audio track that is not suitable.
Join files together by checking their compatibility
The joining of segments or files works according to their characteristics. Videos that appear similar may use different codecs, dimensions or settings. Before processing a whole series, compare a few files and check a short result. An operation without re-encoding cannot automatically resolve all differences between sources. Also check the chapters and the information retained if the recipient depends on it. When the project requires transitions, titles, or multi-track compositing, editing software may be more suitable. Keep a simple method for finding the sources used in each export.
Unpack the appropriate Windows distribution
The official repository offers a 7z archive for Windows x64. Unzip the package entirely into a folder before running the executable. 7-Zip or PeaZip can be used for this step. Do not take an APPX file explicitly marked as unusable in the project instructions. Stable version 3.69.0 also has a warning about FFmpeg in its Windows package ARM64; This page does not recommend this package as a functional equivalent. Check the release notes and architecture of your computer. Older versions of Windows have separate support limits from current Windows systems.
Choose between cutting, editing and conversion
Shotcut and VEGAS Pro are suitable for building a montage with tracks, effects and rendering. Movavi Video Converter caters for format conversion, while VLC media player allows checking a result in a separate player. LosslessCut favors preparing segments and streams when you want to avoid unnecessary re-encoding. The choice therefore depends on the change sought. Removing the start of a recording is not the same as adding a title or changing all dimensions. Test a representative example and compare the accuracy, compatibility, and processing time actually achieved.
Key features
- Definition of segments to keep or remove.
- Export favoring the copy of compatible streams.
- Boundary control according to keyframes.
- Choice of audio tracks and subtitles.
- Preparing multiple extracts from one source.
- Joining files when their technical properties are compatible.
- Consultation of characteristics before export operations.
- Windows distribution x64 in the form of an unpackable archive.
System requirements
Windows 10 or 11, x64; Windows 8.1 and earlier are unsupported. Minimum RAM and disk requirements are not confirmed.
Questions and answers
Is a cut without re-encoding always frame-accurate?
No. The structure of the codec and the position of the keyframes can influence the limits obtained. Check the mode used and control the export. An option aiming for a different precision may have conditions or perform additional processing.
Can LosslessCut replace full-featured editing software?
It mainly prepares existing segments and streams. To add titles, effects, or composition to multiple tracks, look at an editor like Shotcut or VEGAS Pro. The choice depends on the transformation you actually need to perform.
How to install the free package for Windows x64?
The distribution described is a 7z archive. Unzip it completely then start the executable from the resulting folder. The repository states that some APPX packages do not work; don't choose them just because they look like a Windows installer.
Why not use the ARM64 package of the same number?
The 3.69.0 stable release notes report a missing component FFmpeg in Windows package ARM64. The x64 distribution presented here does not constitute a warranty for ARM. Review the updated project guidelines before choosing this architecture.
Do downloads and store offers have the same conditions?
The project provides free downloadable executables and also offers in-store distributions to support development. Check the chosen channel and its update methods. The free availability of the code does not automatically describe the conditions of each store.
How to install
- Open the stable release from the official repository and download LosslessCut-win-x64.7z for a compatible Windows x64.
- Unzip the entire archive with 7-Zip or another compatible tool, into an accessible folder.
- Run LosslessCut.exe from this folder, leaving the other files in the package in their places.
- Open a short test video, set a segment and review the exported file in your player.
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