Make a Split Screen Video in Movavi

Updated 10 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Yes. In Movavi Video Editor, you can make a split-screen video by placing two or more clips on separate video tracks, aligning them in time, and resizing or cropping each clip so it occupies its part of the frame. The exact button names and layout can vary by edition, but the basic workflow is to arrange the clips, set their positions, preview the result, and export.

What split screen means in Movavi

A split screen shows multiple video images at the same time within one frame. A common layout places one clip on the left and another on the right; other options include a horizontal top-and-bottom division or a smaller picture-in-picture window. This differs from a transition that alternates between clips: in a split screen, the images appear simultaneously for at least part of the video.

Movavi Video Editor uses a timeline with tracks. Each track can hold video, images, titles, or audio, depending on the version. For a two-clip split screen, one clip is usually on the main video track and the other is placed on an additional track above it. The upper clip may cover the lower one until you resize or crop it. Simply stacking clips is therefore not enough; both images need to be visible in the preview.

Prepare the clips and project

Before editing, choose clips that work together. Consider the action, camera angle, and direction of movement: two people speaking to camera, for example, are often easier to compare than two busy scenes with unrelated motion. If you want a clean vertical split, clips with important subjects near the center can be difficult to fit, so check the framing before committing to the layout.

Start a project and set the project’s aspect ratio to match the intended delivery, such as a widescreen video or a vertical social video. Available controls depend on the edition.
Import the clips and drag them onto the timeline. Put one on the main track and the other on a track above it.
Trim the clips to the section you want. Align their start points if both scenes should begin together.
Check that the clips have enough duration in common. If one ends first, the split screen may show a blank area, a frozen frame, or whatever is underneath, depending on the edit and settings.

It helps to keep a copy of the original project before making major changes. That way, you can revise the framing or layout without rebuilding the timeline.

Make a side-by-side split screen

Place the clips on separate tracks. Put one clip on the main track and the second on an overlay or higher video track. Move them so the portions you want to show overlap in time.
Select the upper clip. Look for the clip’s editing controls, such as the preview’s transform handles or a position-and-size tool. Movavi interfaces differ, so use the controls available in your installed version rather than expecting one universal menu label.
Resize and move the clip. Reduce the selected image and position it on one side of the frame. Then select the lower clip and resize or reposition it to occupy the other side. If the lower image fills the whole frame, it can conceal the upper clip; arrange both so their visible areas do not overlap.
Crop or adjust framing. If resizing leaves empty space or makes the subjects too small, use a crop or fill control if available. Reposition the image within its half so the important action remains visible. A crop can remove unwanted edges, but it also cuts off parts of the original shot.
Preview the full section. Play from before the clips meet through the end of the overlap. Check that the split is consistent, the subjects are visible, and the timing feels intentional.

For a horizontal split, apply the same approach but place one clip in the top portion and the other in the bottom portion. For picture-in-picture, keep one clip larger and position the smaller clip in a corner. If the editor offers a split-screen template, layout, or collage feature, it may speed up positioning; still check the crop and timing, since a preset may not fit every source clip.

Match timing, audio, and the dividing line

Timing can make a split screen feel coordinated or confusing. Aligning the starts is useful when two angles show the same event. For a comparison, such as a before-and-after view, you may want both clips to start at a meaningful moment rather than at the beginning of each source file. Trim and move clips on the timeline until the important actions occur together.

Audio needs separate attention. If both clips contain sound, their audio may play at once and create an echo or competing dialogue. Reduce or mute one clip, or choose the soundtrack that should lead. If you need sound from both sides, adjust their levels and listen to the entire section through speakers or headphones before export.

A visible gap between images may be intentional, but it can also reveal mismatched sizing or positioning. To create a clean edge, make the clips meet at the frame’s center without leaving a strip of the background. A title, border, or colored divider can make the separation clearer if your editor provides suitable overlay tools. Keep text and important details away from the edge, where cropping or platform display may obscure them.

Export and check the finished video

When the preview looks right, use Movavi’s export or save-video workflow. Select a format and resolution suitable for the place you plan to watch or share the video. The available presets and export options can differ by product version and operating system, so check the choices shown in your application. Avoid choosing a resolution larger than your source material without a specific reason: upscaling does not restore detail that was not recorded.

Watch the exported file, not just the editing preview. Confirm that both panels remain visible, the timing is correct, audio is balanced, and the final frame is not cut off. If the result has black bars, a missing panel, or an unexpected crop, return to the project and check the project aspect ratio and each clip’s scale and position. A preview can look acceptable while an export setting changes how the frame is fitted.

Common problems and alternatives

Only one clip appears: The top clip may cover the lower one. Resize or crop the upper image, or use a layout feature that places clips side by side.
Subjects look stretched: Preserve the image’s proportions when resizing. If the editor has a fill or fit option, compare both; fill can crop edges, while fit can leave unused space.
One side is empty: Check that the second clip overlaps the first on the timeline and that it lasts long enough. Also inspect its position in the preview.
Playback stutters: Multiple high-resolution clips and effects can be demanding. Try lowering preview quality if the editor offers that control, close other resource-heavy applications, and judge smoothness from the exported file as well.
The layout is hard to reproduce: Save the project and, where supported, copy or reuse the clip’s positioning settings for other sections. Otherwise, use the preview guides and check each segment carefully.

If your Movavi edition does not provide convenient multi-track positioning or a split-screen layout, check its current help materials for the features included in that edition. Another video editor with overlay tracks and transform or crop controls can also make the same kind of composition. The essential requirement is the ability to show and position two video layers at once, not a feature specifically named “split screen.”

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I put two videos side by side in Movavi?
Yes. Place the clips on separate video tracks, make both visible by resizing or cropping them, and position one on each side of the frame.

Why does my second video cover the first one?
Clips on higher tracks can appear over clips below them. Reduce the upper clip’s size or use a crop or split-screen layout so part of the lower image can be seen.

Can I make a vertical split screen?
Yes. Use a vertical frame if that suits the destination, then position the clips in left and right portions. Check that the subjects remain within the narrower crop.

Can I show more than two videos at once?
That depends on the tracks and layout controls available in your edition. If supported, add more clips on separate tracks and resize each one; more panels mean less screen space per image.

How do I stop both clips’ audio playing?
Mute or reduce the volume of one clip, or adjust both levels so one sound source is clearly dominant. Preview the entire section to catch overlapping speech or echo.

Does Movavi have a split-screen template?
Some editions may offer layout or collage tools, but names and availability vary. If you cannot find a template, the manual method—separate tracks plus positioning and cropping—can create the same visual result.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.