vCut Help — FAQ, tools & how it works

FAQ

Tap a question. Use search above to filter.

Does my video leave my computer?

No for editing and export. Processing runs on your Mac, Windows PC, or local engine. This website only handles accounts, downloads, and help — not your footage.

How do I get help inside the app?

Open Help (or the floating Help button). Ask assistant answers tool questions instantly. After you sign in, switch to Support to chat with a person.

Why can’t I export as a guest?

Without signing in you can upload, preview, and cut. Sign in for Free exports (daily limits) or extra tools on your plan. See Plans & limits.

Overview stays red / not green?

Start the Mac or Windows app (or your local engine), then tap Check again on Overview. Green means the hub is ready to open.

Mac says Not Opened / Move to Bin — and Open Anyway is missing?

That’s normal on macOS Sequoia+. Open Anyway often never shows, and downloading a .command fix is blocked the same way. Do not use Move to Bin.

Only reliable fix — secure Terminal installer:

Open Mac install / upgrade while signed in.
Copy the generated secure command, paste it into Terminal, and press Return.

If the app is already in Applications, this also works:

xattr -cr /Applications/vCut.app && open /Applications/vCut.app

Mac says Apple can’t check the app for malware?

Same fix — open Mac install / upgrade, copy the secure command, and run it in Terminal.

Windows: “vCut cannot be closed” during install (nothing in taskbar)?

Often a false alarm — the installer matched its own name. Use the 2.74.1+ Setup (footer shows the version). If an older Setup is stuck:

Click Cancel, then run Fix-vCut-Windows.cmd.
In Task Manager → Details, End task on any vCut.exe (ignore Setup if you already cancelled).
Delete old vCut-Setup.exe downloads, get a fresh one from Download, wait for the full ~80 MB file, then install — confirm the footer says 2.74.1.

Windows: can’t uninstall — “Installer integrity check has failed”?

The old uninstaller file is damaged (often from an incomplete download earlier). Use the cleanup script, then install fresh:

Download Fix-vCut-Windows.cmd and run it (Right-click → Run as administrator if it asks).
Or manually: Task Manager → End vCut → delete folders %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\vCut and %LOCALAPPDATA%\Programs\vcut-desktop.
Then Download the latest Windows installer and wait until the full ~80 MB file finishes before opening it.

Windows: “spawn node ENOENT” / JavaScript error in main process?

That was a bug in older builds that expected Node.js on the PC. Download the latest Windows installer from Download, uninstall the old vCut if present, install again, then launch.

Windows says Setup.exe is corrupted / unreadable?

Usually the browser saved an incomplete or wrong file (a tiny HTML leftover named .exe). Fix:

Delete the bad vCut-Setup.exe from Downloads.
Open Download → Recommended → wait on the progress page until the real ~80 MB file finishes.
Run the new installer. If it still fails, try Chrome/Edge and Retry once.

Mac DMG won’t open / looks incomplete?

Same as Windows: wait for the assemble page to finish (~90 MB). Delete any tiny/broken DMG and download again from Download.

Windows installer needs anything else?

Most PCs already have WebView2. If the window is blank, install the free WebView2 Runtime.

Can I edit fully on my phone alone?

You can use the phone UI. For now, a computer on the same Wi‑Fi still runs the heavy export. Open the hub address from Overview / Download instructions on your phone.

What are Free plan limits?

Signed in on Free: core tools + export up to 8 minutes per clip and 5 exports per day. Extra Smart/AI tools unlock with a licensed plan.

I don’t want / can’t use the Mac or Windows app?

Use Advanced install: install Docker Desktop, then run the one-line command from Download → Advanced. You do not need to download any .tar.gz yourself.

How it works

This site — Overview, Download, Sign in, and Help. No video processing here.
Install the app — Mac or Windows (recommended), or a local engine if you already use one.
Green check — Overview finds your engine → Open hub.
Edit in the hub — Pick a tool → add a clip → adjust → export to Result.
Account — Sign in for Free exports or plan tools. Files stay on your machine.

Devices

Web hub

Same editor in your browser once the local engine is running. Best after you’ve installed the app.

Mac

Desktop app starts the engine and opens the hub. Prefer the Apple Silicon build when offered.

Windows

Setup installer → same hub as Mac. Engine runs locally after launch.

Phone

Add to Home Screen for a quick UI. Heavy export still uses a computer on the same Wi‑Fi for now.

Plans & limits

State	You can	Limits
Guest	Upload, preview, cut	No export
Free (signed in)	Core tools + export	8 min / clip · 5 exports / day
Licensed	Extra tools on your plan	Only off-plan tools stay locked
Offline	Soft Free behaviour	Reconnect for full plan tools

Install guides

Pick your device below. Everyday users only need the Mac or Windows app — then Overview turns green and you open the hub.

Most people only need Mac or Windows. Use Advanced only if you prefer Docker or don’t have a desktop installer.

Mac app

Universal build (Intel + Apple Silicon). On Sequoia, use Terminal — Open Anyway / browser .command files usually fail.

Open Mac install / upgrade while signed in.
Choose Copy install command → paste in Terminal → Return.
Return to Overview → Check again → green → Open hub.

DMG download still exists for operators, but Sequoia will block double-clicks from Downloads.

Windows app

Recommended for Windows PCs. One installer = local engine + hub.

Open Download → Windows recommended / Windows card.
Save vCut-Setup.exe and run it (UAC prompt is normal). If Windows says the app is already running, close Task Manager entries for vCut, or run Fix-vCut-Windows.cmd then install again. New installers force-close the old app and can replace a previous version.
If the window is blank, install WebView2 Runtime.
Launch vCut from the Start menu.
Overview → Check again → green → Open hub.

Phone / PWA

Phone UI works today; heavy export still uses a computer on the same Wi‑Fi.

On a Mac or Windows PC, install and launch the desktop app (guides above) so the engine is running.
On the phone (same Wi‑Fi), open the hub address shown in the PC hub, or your PC’s LAN IP on port 4321.
Browser menu → Add to Home Screen / Install.
Sign in on the phone for Free exports / plan tools.

Web hub (browser)

The editor in Chrome/Safari — only after a local engine is already running.

Start the Mac/Windows app (or an engine you already run).
On that same computer open Overview → when green, click Open hub.
Or go straight to http://127.0.0.1:4321 in the browser.
This is not a separate “web package” download — it is just the UI talking to your local engine.

Advanced — Docker / Terminal

Guided path when you are not using the Mac/Windows app. No manual .tar.gz download — one command does the rest.

Prerequisites

Docker Desktop — install from docker.com, then open it and wait until it says running.
Terminal (Mac / Linux) or PowerShell (Windows).
Enough disk space for the Docker image (~a few GB first time).

Steps

Confirm Docker Desktop is open and running (whale icon idle / “Docker is running”).
Open Download → Advanced.
Copy the one-line command (or use Copy command).
Paste into Terminal / PowerShell and press Return. Let it finish.
Return to Overview → Check again → green → Open hub.

If something fails

Docker not running → start Docker Desktop, wait 30s, run the command again.
Permission / network errors → check you can pull images; retry once online.
Still stuck → hub Help → Support after sign-in, or FAQ above.

Updates

New desktop builds appear on Download (and Release links when configured).
Install over the old app the same way (Mac DMG / Windows Setup).
The hub may also show an update banner when a newer version is published.

Privacy

Your media stays on your disk while you edit and export.
Optional Google Drive only downloads files into the local engine — no cloud encode.
Your account stores sign-in and plan info — not your video files.

Tools

Everything lives in one hub. Groups below match the categories in the editor. Tap a card to open it in the carousel — or tap (i) on any tool in the app for a short tip.

Cut & trim

Make clips shorter, split them, or change pacing. Tap a tool for a focused card.

Cut

Keep only the part you select on the timeline. Same quality (fast) or frame-exact.

Split

Chop the whole video into equal parts (by time or count). Results come back in one zip.

Reverse

Play the clip backwards — video and audio.

Loop

Repeat the clip back-to-back a set number of times.

Speed

Faster or slower (0.25×–4×) with pitch-corrected audio.

Frame

Save a single still at the playhead as a JPG.

Size & platform

Fit file size, aspect ratio, and export formats. Tap a tool for a focused card.

Compress

Shrink by quality/resolution or aim for a target file size.

Convert

Change container: MP4, MOV, MKV, WebM, or animated GIF.

Crop

Trim the frame — drag the box, optionally lock an aspect ratio.

Rotate

Turn 90°/180° or flip horizontally / vertically.

Pack

Export several resolutions at once (e.g. 1080/720/480) in one zip.

Formats

Bundle common delivery sizes in one go.

Ken Burns

Animate stills with a gentle zoom/pan.

Slideshow

Turn photos into a simple slideshow video.

Presets

One-tap recipes for Reel, Square, YouTube, WhatsApp, and more.

Audio

Fix levels, clean noise, or add tracks. Tap a tool for a focused card.

Audio

Extract or remove the audio track; choose output format.

Volume

Normalize loudness or make the clip louder / quieter.

Clean

Reduce background noise, or strip centred vocals for karaoke.

Music

Add a background track — mix with original audio or replace it. Optional stock music library inside the tool.

Voiceover

Record from your mic (or upload) and mix over the clip.

Music library

Pick a built-in stock track when adding Music or building a Timeline — no file hunt required.

Look & text

Colour, titles, logos, and overlays. Tap a tool for a focused card.

Adjust

Colour grading — presets or brightness, contrast, saturation, vignette, grain.

Text

Title or caption with position, size, and colour — live preview.

Logo

Overlay a PNG watermark in any corner, with size and opacity.

Fade

Ease in from black and out to black — picture and sound together.

Subtitles

Burn an existing .srt file into the video.

Overlay

Second clip as picture-in-picture or side-by-side.

Key

Replace a green/blue background with your own image or video.

Smart / AI

Auto detection, speech, and highlight tools (some need a licensed plan). Tap a tool for a focused card.

Scenes

Detect shot changes and save each scene as its own clip (zip).

Auto-cut

Remove quiet gaps for tighter talking-head and podcast edits.

Captions

Turn speech into burned subtitles or an .srt file.

Chapters

Build YouTube-style chapters from the audio — embed or copy as text.

De-um

Cut filler words like “um” and “uh” for a tighter voice track.

Make shorts

Find lively moments, reframe to 9:16, optional captions — zip of clips.

Highlights

Stitch the best moments into one short reel in the original shape.

Beat sync

Cut the picture on the music beat — every beat, 2nd, or 4th.

Smart crop

Reframe around the subject automatically.

Remove BG

Cut the subject free from the background.

Speakers

Label who is talking for clearer multi-person clips.

Translate

Translate spoken language into captions or burned text.

Auto & recipes

Guided and one-tap making — from the Create hub, AI Studio, or Journey home. Tap a card for details.

Auto Director

Upload clips → get idea cards → render a finished piece. “Make me something” from the hub.

Recipe wizard

Split into parts and apply the same look, text & logo to every part — download a zip.

Ad Maker

Turn a short text brief into an ad-style video (licensed / Pro on many plans).

AI Studio

Multi-step recipes from the Create hub. Includes the six cards below plus Ad Maker, Wizard, and Director.

Auto Subtitles

AI Studio recipe: one-step captions on your clip.

Cinematic Look

AI Studio recipe: colour grade + fade for a film-style finish.

Highlight Reel

AI Studio recipe: auto-stitch best moments into one short reel.

Vertical Shorts

AI Studio recipe: lively moments reframed to 9:16.

Podcast Polish

AI Studio recipe: auto-cut silence then de-um for talking-head / podcast audio.

Timeline

Multi-clip timeline editor — order clips, trim, and stitch into one export.

Merge

Join several clips into one. Reorder files, then export — sizes are matched automatically.

Batch

Run the current tool + settings on many files at once; download each or grab a zip.

Create & layouts

Templates, themed packs, Drive import, and layout chrome. Tap a tool for a focused card.

Templates

Fill a few fields, optional storyboard, then export. Includes stock starters: Highlight reel, Silence / jump-cut, Beat-sync montage, Quote card, Countdown, Before/after, Meme, Intro stinger.

Packs

Themed 9:16 chrome — Skating Kid, Fitness, Study, Cooking, Family, Shop, Traveler, Motorbike, Blogger, Corporate — each with Daily Progress–style layouts.

Google Drive

Paste a shared folder link → connect Google → download clips locally to edit.

Daily Progress

Series title + day/level layout for practice diaries.

Scorecard

Time / distance / skill rows under the video.

Achievement

Celebrate a milestone with a badge line.

Calendar Streak

Highlight consecutive days with a goal bar.

Coach Notes

Short coaching quote and optional tomorrow goal.

Kid Creator

Playful episode-style card for fun moments.

Competition Prep

Countdown and practice time for events.

Weekly Recap

Week summary with a progress bar under the clip.

Control plane Developer

Source of truth for accounts and tool grants. Lives on the gate (Pages Functions + D1) or local embed for UAT.

Local UAT (embed)

VCUT_CONTROL_EMBED=on
CONTROL_JWT_SECRET=dev-control-secret-change-me
ADMIN_BOOTSTRAP_USER=admin
ADMIN_BOOTSTRAP_PASS=admin123

Production agent

VCUT_CONTROL_EMBED=off
VCUT_CONTROL_URL=https://vcut-uat.pages.dev

Pages secrets: CONTROL_JWT_SECRET, ADMIN_BOOTSTRAP_USER, ADMIN_BOOTSTRAP_PASS. D1 migrations under migrations/. Full notes: repo docs/CONTROL-PLANE.md.

Code	Meaning
`ERROR_EXPORT_LOGIN`	Guest tried to export / non-guest tool
`ERROR_EXPORT_LIMIT`	Free clip longer than 8 minutes
`ERROR_EXPORT_DAILY`	Free daily export cap hit
`ERROR_OFFLINE`	Control unreachable (soft Free if session existed)
`ERROR_LICENSE`	License denied / revoked

Docker / engine package Developer

Prefer the guided Help page: Advanced install (prerequisites + steps). Download page only shows the Terminal one-liner — no .tar.gz for users to download.

Docker (manual)

docker compose up --build
# Hub: http://127.0.0.1:4321
# Health: /api/health

Gate helpers setup.sh / setup.ps1 may fetch a package behind the scenes; operators should not ship that archive as a user-facing download card.

Mac Gatekeeper (UAT)

Sequoia: Open Anyway often missing; browser .command / DMG double-clicks show Move to Bin. Use Mac install / upgrade to mint a short-lived token and copy the secure Terminal command. Universal ad-hoc builds.

Production: Apple Developer ID + notarization.

FAQ

How it works

Devices

Web hub

Mac

Windows

Phone

Plans & limits

Install guides

Mac app

Windows app

Phone / PWA

Web hub (browser)

Advanced — Docker / Terminal

Prerequisites

Steps

If something fails

Updates

Privacy

Tools

Cut & trim

Cut

Split

Reverse

Loop

Speed

Frame

Size & platform

Compress

Reframe

Convert

Crop

Rotate

Pack

Formats

Ken Burns

Slideshow

Presets

Audio

Audio

Volume

Clean

Music

Voiceover

Music library

Look & text

Adjust

Text

Logo

Fade

Subtitles

Overlay

Key

Smart / AI

Scenes

Auto-cut

Captions

Chapters

De-um

Make shorts

Highlights

Beat sync

Smart crop

Remove BG

Speakers

Translate

Auto & recipes

Auto Director

Recipe wizard

Ad Maker

AI Studio

Quick Social Clip

Auto Subtitles

Cinematic Look

Highlight Reel

Vertical Shorts

Podcast Polish

Timeline

Merge

Batch