Microsoft video editor Clipchamp only usable with OneDrive

Microsoft's video editor Clipchamp, which is also available for free, can no longer be used without OneDrive. This was apparently planned for a long time, but now not even simple clips can be created and saved locally – without OneDrive; the software is now useless.

The video editor Clipchamp usually comes pre-installed on Windows 11 installations. The free version was sufficient for many simple tasks. Combining video clips, photos, music, text, and simple effects was possible up to a resolution of 1080p. However, anyone who starts Clipchamp now is prompted to log in with OneDrive access. This is necessary so that users can “edit across devices and collaborate with others.” The new projects will be saved to OneDrive. “This makes your content safer and easier to access from different computers.” (sic).

The “More options” selection box offers the option to use local folders. A subsequent dialog clarifies: “If you choose to save projects locally, they will not appear in the Clipchamp app.” Projects must be saved to OneDrive to remain editable.

Clipchamp effectively non-functional without OneDrive

This is followed by a supposed download with progress, which, however, fails with errors on all test machines. When Clipchamp finally displays the usual main menu, the surprise is prompt: The option to create a new clip throws users back into the setup loop that requires OneDrive integration. Thus, neither previously created video projects can be opened and edited nor new ones created. When asked by heise online, Microsoft merely refers to an FAQ, which already announced this change for August 2025. However, there is no mention that the software without OneDrive only increases the attack surface for cybercriminals and wastes storage space, as it is no longer usable.

This could be the wake-up call for many to try other software and uninstall Clipchamp to increase security. There are numerous simple video editing programs, but they are usually advertising vehicles for a full version, thus significantly restricting interested users. Other free full versions are aimed more at video editing professionals and quickly overwhelm users. Kdenlive (short for KDE Non-Linear Video Editor) offers a compromise. Contrary to what the name might suggest, the program also runs on Windows. An introduction to Kdenlive explains its usage and functional scope. Unlike the free version of Microsoft's video editor, Kdenlive can now even mask moving objects using local AI.

(dmk)