Joining several videos – this is how it works

You can merge many individual videos into large video files and thus reunite divided films into a complete film.

Merging videos with Avidemux

Although it is not possible to merge individual video files with the on-board tools of Windows, it is still quite easy with the right software. An easy-to-use and also free tool is Avidemux, which you first set up on your PC.

• Download Avidemux and install the programme. Then start it, for example via the corresponding shortcut in the Start menu.
• Click on File ☻ Open in the menu bar and open the first video file you want to merge. Tip: You can also press [Ctrl] + [O] to start the video selection.

• Select File ☻ Attach… from the menu bar. Now open the video you want to append to the first one. Tip: You can also reach the selection with [Ctrl] + [A].

• Repeat step 3 for each additional video you want to add.

• Click File ☻ Save in the menu bar. Specify a name and directory for the merged video and press the Save button to save it to your hard drive. Tip: You can press [Ctrl] + [S] instead.

• Unfortunately, videos cannot be merged directly if they have a different resolution or use a different codec. In this case, you have to align the individual videos beforehand and save them again.
• Once you have opened a video in Avidemux, select suitable codecs to the left of the video preview using the Video codec and Audio codec functions. You can further adjust the video files using the filters. If the resolution is different, for example, the filters “Change picture size”, “Add margins” or “Crop” are suitable.

Alternative: Connecting videos with Movie Maker

The Microsoft Movie Maker also makes it easy to join individual videos together. Although the free tool is no longer part of the standard Windows equipment, it can still be downloaded and used without any problems.

• Download and install Movie Maker.

• Click Add Videos and Photos and select the video files you want from your PC.

• Tip: Place the video files you want to merge directly in their own folder. This way you can mark and open several videos at the same time.

• Movie Maker automatically stitches the selected clips together.
• You can now edit the individual videos by selecting the clip in the right-hand window with the mouse and clicking on Edit in the menu at the top.

• You can change the order of the video sequences simply by dragging and dropping.

• When the individual videos are in the desired order, click on Home in the menu and then Save Movie.

• Here you can use the small black arrow next to Save Movie to select different resolutions, depending on which device you want to play the video on later.
• MovieMaker now stitches the video clips together and you will find the finished film in your saved files.