How to Use CapCut on PC (Download, Edit and Export)

Most people start with CapCut on their phone, but the desktop version is far easier for anything longer than a quick reel. You get a big timeline, precise controls and keyboard shortcuts, and your edits don't eat your phone's storage. Here's how to get it running on a Windows PC and the basics of editing.

Can your PC run CapCut?

CapCut lists these minimum requirements for Windows:

Part	Minimum
Operating system	Windows 10 or above
Processor	Intel Core i3 or above
Memory	4 GB RAM or above
Graphics	Intel HD Graphics 4000 or above
Storage	2 GB of free space or above

Those are minimums. For longer or higher-resolution videos, more memory and free disk space make a big difference.

How to download CapCut on a PC

1. Go to CapCut's official website and click Download for Windows. CapCut says the file is called CapCut_Setup.exe and is about 200 MB.
2. Double-click the downloaded file to start the installer.
3. Follow the prompts, choosing where to install it and whether to add a desktop shortcut.
4. Open CapCut from your desktop or Start menu.
5. Log in, for example with a Google, TikTok or Facebook account.

You can also install CapCut from the Microsoft Store: search for CapCut and install it from there.

How to edit a video in CapCut on PC

1. Click Create project.
2. Import your videos, photos and music, or drag them in from a folder.
3. Drag clips onto the timeline in order.
4. Trim clips by dragging their edges, and split them where you want to cut.
5. Select a clip to change its settings in the panel on the right, such as position, scale, rotation and opacity.
6. Add text, music, transitions and captions from the toolbar.
7. Click Export, pick the resolution and format, and save it or share it straight to YouTube or TikTok.

Why use CapCut on PC rather than your phone?

Desktop CapCut	Phone CapCut
Big timeline for precise edits	Quick edits on the go
Keyboard shortcuts	Touch controls
Easier to manage long projects	Best for short clips
Works without a constant internet connection	Handy for posting straight from your phone

The catch: big projects can slow down or fail to export

CapCut's help centre says the most common desktop export problems come from large projects with high-resolution clips and other programs hogging memory. If CapCut freezes or an export fails, close other programs, check you've got plenty of free disk space, restart CapCut and make sure it's updated. Lowering the export resolution or frame rate also helps. On a lower-powered laptop, I'd keep projects short and export at a standard HD setting rather than the highest one.

Handy features on the desktop version

• Keyframes: animate zooms and movement, with Alt + K to open the keyframe panel.
• Separate audio: right-click a clip to edit its sound on its own track.
• Auto captions: generate subtitles from speech.
• Shortcuts: CapCut's desktop editor has a range of keyboard shortcuts for faster editing.

Can you use CapCut on a Mac or in a browser?

Yes. CapCut has a Mac desktop app and an online editor that runs in your browser, which is useful on a work computer where you can't install software. The editing steps are very similar across all three.

Tips for a smooth start

• Keep your project files on your computer's main drive, not a cloud-synced folder.
• Name projects clearly so you can find them later.
• Learn the split and delete shortcuts first; you'll use them constantly.
• Export a short test before rendering a long video.

For more short-form tips, my guides to TikTok Studio and making TikTok stickers are good next reads.

Your first project, start to finish

If you're new to the desktop app, try a simple first project: a sixty-second tip video. Record yourself on your phone, transfer the file to your PC and drop it into a new CapCut project. Trim the start and end, cut out any long pauses, add auto captions and a short title at the beginning, and put quiet music underneath. Then export and post it. You'll touch the timeline, text, audio and export settings in one go, which is all you need to feel at home in CapCut on a computer.

Once that feels easy, build your own template project with your fonts, colours and logo, and duplicate it for every new video. It saves a surprising amount of time every week.

My verdict

Download CapCut from its website or the Microsoft Store, check your PC meets the minimum requirements, and use Create project to start editing on a big, comfortable timeline. It's the better choice for anything longer than a reel. Keep projects lean and your disk tidy, and if exports struggle, lower the resolution and close other programs. For recording footage to edit, see my picks for screen recording software.

Frequently asked questions

Is CapCut available for PC?

Yes. Download it from CapCut's website or the Microsoft Store.

What are the system requirements for CapCut on PC?

CapCut lists Windows 10 or above, Intel Core i3 or above, 4 GB RAM, Intel HD Graphics 4000 or above and 2 GB of free storage.

Does CapCut on PC need internet?

CapCut says the Windows app lets you work without a constant internet connection, though logging in and some features need it.

How do I export a video from CapCut on PC?

Click Export, choose the resolution and format, and save or share directly to platforms like YouTube or TikTok.

Why is CapCut slow on my PC?

Large high-resolution projects and other programs using memory slow it down. Close other apps and free up disk space.

Can I use CapCut on a Mac?

Yes. CapCut has a Mac desktop app and an online editor in the browser.