Edits is now available for Mac: Instagram has launched a desktop version of its video editor, with a multi-track timeline, color tools, and watermark-free 4K export. The application lets users publish directly to Instagram and also export videos for use on other platforms.
Its arrival on computers expands a tool that until now was focused on mobile and puts it in more direct competition with CapCut, ByteDance’s editor. According to Marketing4eCommerce and Digital Trends, the Mac version requires an Apple Silicon M1 chip or later; computers with Intel processors are not supported. You also need to sign in with an Instagram account to use it.
A timeline for bigger projects
The desktop interface takes advantage of a larger screen and the use of a mouse and keyboard to make adjustments that are more cumbersome on mobile. TechCrunch describes the version as an option for more complex editing projects; Instagram itself has said it aims to support work that no longer fits well on a phone screen.
The editor includes a multi-track timeline for combining clips and audio tracks. It also offers keyframes for transitions and audio waveforms, which help locate cuts precisely. 9to5Mac and Engadget also highlight the options to split, cut, and trim video, along with more detailed controls than those in a mobile interface.
Color correction includes color wheels, curves, and log conversions. You can also import your own LUTs and font files, customize keyboard shortcuts, or transfer shortcuts from other editing programs, according to TechCrunch. These options let users adapt their workflow and the visual presentation of projects from within the application.
Audio options include licensed music and royalty-free tracks, as well as hundreds of sound and video effects. Edits also generates unlimited automatic captions in multiple languages. Marketing4eCommerce adds that the transcription can be reviewed, edited, and customized; Social Media Today and 9to5Mac confirm the availability of multilingual captions.
We built the desktop editor with creators in mind. It has everything you need to make great videos for any platform, free and customizable by you.
— Brett Westervelt, head of Edits
Publish from the editor and export in 4K
Edits for Mac can export in 4K without a watermark and supports horizontal and vertical formats, according to TechCrunch and 9to5Mac. Instagram presents export as a way to share videos on other platforms or use them in personal projects, not just to publish them on its social network.
Anyone who wants to publish on Instagram can do so from the editor, without first downloading the file and transferring it to their phone. TechCrunch mentions integrated features such as tagging and location; 9to5Mac also reports the option to publish trial reels. Marketing4eCommerce notes that users can choose a custom cover and tag other people.
The desktop version also brings back items saved in the mobile application. Text styles and saved audio appear when users sign in, according to Social Media Today, 9to5Mac, and TechCrunch. Marketing4eCommerce says that audio users had saved on Instagram also appears among the content available on desktop.
Syncing these resources does not yet mean users can switch seamlessly between the two devices within the same project. Instagram is working on this feature, which would let users start an edit on Mac and continue it on mobile, or vice versa. The company also plans to release weekly updates for the desktop application, according to TechCrunch and 9to5Mac.
From a mobile alternative to desktop editing
Edits launched in January 2025, primarily as a response to CapCut, ByteDance’s editor. Social Media Today linked that launch to the uncertainty surrounding ByteDance’s future in the United States at the time and to the opportunity Instagram saw to offer an alternative. Direct integration with Instagram was also part of the pitch to encourage people to post short videos on the platform.
Since then, Instagram has expanded Edits’ features for working with text, images, sound, and effects. Digital Trends notes that the application added templates, text customization options, storyboards, and the ability to incorporate public reels to create remixes. The same outlet reports that just over a month before the Mac launch, an AI assistant was added that analyzes reels and their performance to suggest what to post next.
The user figures published in the various reports do not necessarily describe the same measure. Social Media Today reports that the November 5 release notes put Edits at more than 50 million users. Marketing4eCommerce cites 50 million monthly users, while Engadget attributes the figure of more than 50 million active users to Mark Zuckerberg during Meta’s most recent earnings call.
The Mac version is available to download for free, according to 9to5Mac and Digital Trends. Its hardware requirement excludes Intel Macs, while editing between desktop and mobile within the same project is still in development. For now, users who sign in can access their text styles and saved audio from the mobile application on their Mac.
Sources: Social Media Today, Marketing4eCommerce, TechCrunch, 9to5Mac, Engadget, Digital Trends
