How to Make a Split-Screen Video

Download the Movavi Video Editor installation file and launch it. Once the setup is completed, the program will open automatically.

As you've launched the program, click Add Files and locate the videos you want to combine. You can add videos directly from your camera, or make a recording of your desktop.

To make your video fancier, add some professionally directed footage from our partner’s stock video library. Select Sample videos and click Download more! (or visit the Videoblocks page) to get more information about this option.

By default, the chosen videos will be added to the Video Track on the Timeline in the lower part of the program window. First, select one of your videos and start dragging it up the Timeline – this will create an Overlay Track above the main Video Track. Drop the video onto the Overlay Track.

There are two ways of making a video compilation depending on how many clips you want to combine.

Combining two videos

With our split-screen video editor, you can split a screen in half horizontally or vertically. To do this, double-click the video on the upper (overlay) track to enter editing mode. Open the list above the Preview window and choose Side by side. Click one of the four buttons next to the list to choose where the video from the main (lower) video track will play. The video from the overlay (upper) track will appear on the opposite side of the screen. For example, click the left button to play the main video on the left and the other video on the right side of the screen. Note that the videos will be split in half.

If you want to put your videos side by side without splitting them in half, use the Picture in picture option. First, you need to add a background image – for example, a simple black background. On the Import tab, click Backgrounds, find an image you like, and click it to download. Then drag the picture to the Timeline. Alternatively, you can add a picture from your library, click Add Media Files, and select an image you want to use as a background. The picture will appear on the Timeline.

Now you need to drag the video you added before from the main Video Track to the Overlay Track, so both videos are on the Overlay Track. The background picture needs to stay on the main Video Track.

Double-click the first video and choose the Picture in picture option. To change the video size, drag on its corners. Drag and drop the video to change its position in the background. Repeat the same actions to edit the second video.

Putting multiple videos side by side

With Movavi Video Editor, you can put as many videos side by side as you want. To do this, add a background image for your videos first. Open the Import tab, click Add Files, and locate a picture. The picture will be added to the Timeline. To add more videos to your project, click Add Files again and select the clips. All your videos will appear on the main Video Track along with the background image you added earlier. Now you need to move all the videos to the overlay (upper) track. Make sure that the background image stays on the main (lower) video track.

To create a multi-screen video, double-click the first video on the Overlay Track and select Picture in picture from the list above the preview window. Drag on the edges of the video to change its size. Drag and drop the clip to position it over the background. Repeat these actions with every video on the Overlay Track.

If you play your newly created split-screen video, you’ll hear the soundtracks of the clips you’ve added playing at the same time. If you’ve placed two videos side by side using different video tracks, you can mute one of the videos to avoid confusing your audience. To do this, simply click the Mute Track icon on either the Video Track or Overlay Track.

If you’ve combined multiple clips into a single video track, it’s better to mute this track and add background music. First, click the Mute Track icon on the Overlay Track. To add music from the built-in library, open the Import tab and select Music. Click your choice of music sample to download it. After the download is complete, drag and drop the audio track to the Timeline. To add music from your own library, click the Add Files button and choose a track. It will be added to the Timeline automatically.

Now your side-by-side video is ready to wow your audience. Click the Export button and choose the appropriate tab at the left side of the pop-up window. You can save the video for viewing on your computer or mobile device or convert it for uploading to the web. Once you’ve entered the save settings, click Start.

Now you know how to put two videos side by side with Movavi Video Editor!