TikTok Bulks Up Video-Editing Tools, Embraces Stories With ‘Photo Mode’

TikTok this week rolled out a suite of new editing tools intended to make it easier to adjust video, sound, text, and more.

The updates are available now to users in the US and “most regions globally,” the company said in a Thursday announcement. “Our new editing tools empower people to enjoy more creative freedom, share richer stories, and bring their content ideas to life across formats,” according to TikTok(Opens in a new window), which now lets creators stack, trim, and split videos, as well as edit audio, position text, adjust video speed, and embed sound effects.

TikTok’s new suite of mobile editing tools
(Credit: TikTok)

Other features include adding photo and video overlays for picture-in-picture (or video-in-video) stacking, and the ability to rotate or zoom in and out of the frame on individual clips. “We’re excited to see how an enhanced editing experience powers storytelling and makes video creation intuitive and more accessible, making it easier than ever to create great content.”

While the rest of the internet chases TikTok’s winning video-first strategy, the social network is taking a page from Instagram’s playbook with Photo Mode—a mobile-only carousel format for sharing high-quality images. You’ve probably already seen them pop up on your FYP, but the IG Stories-like function automatically displays pictures one after another, with the option to add a soundtrack. Viewers can also swipe through at their own pace.

Users can now pair videos and content made in Photo Mode with longer descriptions—up to 2,200 characters for each post. “With the extra space, we’re hopeful creators will have some extra room to build on the stories they’ve shared,” TikTok said, “giving them another space to express themselves and more deeply connect with others.”