Edit video on a Chromebook

What do I need to edit video on a Chromebook?

You need a Chromebook with Chrome OS 100 or later, 4 GB of RAM for 1080p or 8 GB for 4K, and an internet connection the first time to load AetherCut. After that, editing can be offline.

• A Chromebook running Chrome OS 100 or later (any model from 2022+).
• 4 GB of RAM for 1080p editing; 8 GB for 4K.
• An internet connection to load the editor once. After that you can edit offline.

Do I need Linux or Android to use AetherCut on a Chromebook?

No. AetherCut runs as a regular web page, so it does not require an Android subsystem, a Linux container, or a paid Chromebook app from the Play Store. It also does not need admin enrollment unlocks on school managed devices.

• An Android subsystem.
• A Linux container (Crostini).
• A paid Chromebook-only app from the Play Store.
• Admin enrollment unlocks if you're on a school-managed device — AetherCut runs as a regular web page.

Will AetherCut run well on older Chromebooks?

Usually yes. Most Chromebooks from 2022 onward support WebCodecs hardware acceleration for H.264. Older devices can still use AetherCut with software based MediaRecorder, though exports may take longer.

WebCodecs hardware acceleration is supported on most Chromebooks released since 2022 (the Intel UHD / AMD Radeon onboard graphics handle H.264 fine). On older devices the editor falls back to software-based MediaRecorder, which exports more slowly but still works.

How do I start editing video on a Chromebook without running into problems?

The easiest way to begin is to keep the first session simple. Open AetherCut in Chrome while you still have internet, let the editor finish loading, then import a short test clip before bringing in a full project. That quick check confirms that your Chromebook is ready for local editing and that playback, trimming, and export behave normally on your device. If you plan to work away from Wi-Fi later, do this first load at home or school rather than discovering on the road that the editor was never cached in the browser. It also helps to keep your source footage in a local folder instead of leaving everything on a cloud drive that may stop syncing once you go offline.

A common Chromebook mistake is trying to edit huge camera files on a machine with limited memory while too many tabs are open. If playback feels choppy, close other tabs and apps, then work with shorter sections of the timeline instead of scrubbing through an hour of footage at once. 1080p material is usually the easiest place to start on 4 GB devices, while 4K projects are more comfortable on 8 GB models. Another avoidable problem is importing footage directly from removable storage and then disconnecting it mid-edit. Copy clips onto the Chromebook first so the browser always has consistent access to the files during cutting and export.

A practical first project on a Chromebook is a class presentation, social post, or simple YouTube intro. Drop in one main clip, trim the beginning and end, cut out mistakes, add a title card, and export a short H.264 file. That kind of project lets you learn how responsive your specific Chromebook feels without committing to a large multi-camera edit. If the test goes smoothly, scale up gradually by adding more clips, music, or captions. Starting small is especially useful on school-managed devices, where you want to confirm that normal browser permissions like file access work the way you expect before deadline day.

If something seems wrong, the fix is often basic rather than technical. Reloading the page after the first successful cache can clear a stalled session, and restarting Chrome can help if file picking stops responding. The biggest time saver is to test your full workflow once: load the editor, import a clip, make a cut, export, and reopen the result. On a Chromebook, proving that complete path early is much more useful than judging the setup by specs alone.