Kdenlive download for Windows

Kdenlive is a video editor from the KDE community. It has the layout most people expect: a project bin with your clips, a monitor to preview them and a timeline with several video and audio tracks underneath. It handles titles, transitions, colour correction and keyframed effects, and it is free and open source on Windows, macOS and Linux.

Kdenlive downloads

The download page offers:

• Windows installer, which installs Kdenlive like any other program.
• Windows standalone, which runs without installation.
• macOS disk images for Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
• Linux as an AppImage or through Flathub.

Windows builds require Windows 10 or newer, and macOS builds macOS 13 Ventura or newer.

A first edit

1. Create a project. The default settings match common HD video. If your camera records at a different frame rate, choose the matching profile in Project Settings before you start; changing it later is awkward.
2. Import clips by dragging files into the Project Bin.
3. Build the timeline by dragging clips from the bin onto the video tracks. Audio goes onto the audio tracks automatically.
4. Cut. Place the playhead and press Shift+R to cut the clip under it, or switch to the razor tool with X. Select the part you do not want and press Delete.
5. Add effects and transitions from the Effects and Compositions panels by dragging them onto clips.
6. Render the result with Ctrl+Enter. Choose a preset, such as MP4, and a file name, then click Render to File.

Save often with Ctrl+S. The .kdenlive project file points to your original clips, so do not move them during a project.

Smooth playback on modest hardware

Footage from modern phones and cameras can be heavy. Kdenlive can create proxy clips, smaller working copies used while you edit, with the originals used for the final render. Enable proxies in Project Settings and Kdenlive generates them in the background.

Where Kdenlive has limits

It is a capable editor, but advanced motion graphics and professional colour grading are not its focus. For grading, DaVinci Resolve goes much further. Kdenlive and Shotcut share the same underlying engine, so if one feels awkward, the other is worth a try.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Kdenlive free?

Yes. It is free, open-source software developed by KDE, with no paid edition and no watermark.

Installer or standalone?

The installer for your own PC. The standalone build runs without installing, which helps on a computer where you cannot add programs.

Why does playback stutter?

Your footage is probably heavy for your hardware. Turn on proxy clips in Project Settings and let Kdenlive generate them.

Which formats can Kdenlive export?

It renders to common formats such as MP4 and WebM, with presets for typical uses, as well as to many others.