# Trim or cut an audio file

Use the Drime audio editor to keep only one part of an audio file or remove sections from it, then save it in place or as a copy.

Updated: 2026-10-19  
Source: https://drime.cloud/support/more-apps/edit-audio

The Drime audio editor has two tools: **Trim** keeps only the part you choose, and **Cut** removes one or more parts. It works in your browser.

## Open the audio editor

Open an audio file, then click **Edit** and choose:

- **Trim**: **Keep only the selected section**;
- **Cut**: **Remove one or more sections**.

You can also click **New** \> **Modify** \> **Edit** \> **Audio**, then pick the file in **Choose an audio file to edit**.

![The audio editor in Trim mode with the waveform and its two green handles](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5B9Z1P0JSEW5TGYYMSVE99X/22a8fb53d7f1-web-audio-editor-trim.png)

## Keep only one part (Trim)

1. Choose **Trim** in the editor.

   **Drag the green handles to choose the part to keep**.

2. Drag the handles to the start and the end of the part to keep.

   To move the whole selection, drag the bar above it. **Kept** shows the length of the part you keep, at least 0.2 seconds.

3. Click **Play** to listen to the result, then save (see [Save your audio](#save)).

## Remove parts (Cut)

1. Choose **Cut** in the editor.

   **Each cut is removed from the saved file. Drag its edges to adjust it.**

2. Move the playhead where you want to cut, then click **Add cut**.

   Drag the cut, or its edges, to cover the part to remove. Add as many cuts as you need: cuts that overlap merge into one.

   ![The audio editor in Cut mode with a cut placed on the waveform](https://drime.cloud/media/01M5B9YZTYZMSFP6T8B71NV6EJ/75f98f833af5-web-audio-editor-cut.png)

3. Check **Output**: it shows the length of the audio once the cuts are removed.

   To take a cut off, use **Remove cut**. **Clear cuts** removes them all.

## Listen while you edit

- **Play** and **Pause**, jump 10 seconds back or forward, and **Repeat**.
- Change the playback speed, from 0.5x to 2x, and the volume.

The speed and the volume only change how you listen: they are not saved in the file.

Keyboard shortcuts: `Space` plays or pauses, `Ctrl` + `Z` undoes (**Undo**), `Ctrl` + `Shift` + `Z` redoes (**Redo**), and `Delete` removes the selected cut. On a Mac, use `Cmd` instead of `Ctrl`. You can undo up to 50 steps.

## Save your audio

- **Save**, or **Save options** \> **Save (overwrite)**, replaces the file. **Audio saved** confirms it. When file versioning is on, the previous content is kept as a version.
- **Save options** \> **Save as a copy** opens **Save a copy**: **Choose where to save the edited copy. The original file stays untouched.** Pick a folder, then click **Save copy**. **Copy saved** confirms it. The copy takes the name of the original followed by "(trimmed)", as a WAV file: for example `interview (trimmed).wav`.

> **Important**
>
> The edited audio is always saved as WAV. If you overwrite a file in another format, it keeps its name and extension, but its content becomes WAV. To keep the original as it is, choose **Save as a copy**.

If you leave with changes that are not saved, **Discard unsaved changes?** asks you to confirm. Click **Discard** only if you want to lose them.

## If it doesn't work

| What you see | What to do |
| --- | --- |
| **Could not decode this audio file.** | Your browser cannot read this audio format, so the editor cannot open it. |
| **You do not have permission to edit this file.** | You can only listen to this file. Ask its owner for edit access. |
| **Backup files are read-only.** | A file from a backup cannot be edited. |
| **There is not enough storage space left.** | Saving would go over your storage. Free up space, or upgrade your plan. |
| **Could not save audio** | The audio was not saved. Try again. |
| The saved file is larger than before | WAV files are usually larger than compressed audio formats. |

## Next steps

- [Edit an image](https://drime.cloud/support/more-apps/edit-an-image)
- [Trim a video](https://drime.cloud/support/more-apps/edit-a-video)