CapCut in 5 Days: Learning Plan

How it works

5 days + a bonus Chai God challenge. Each day takes about 3 hours. Tap a day below to open it.

📺 Watch the video and copy along (45–60 min)
🎞️ Make a 9:16 reel, 15–30 s, straight away (~90 min)
👀 Review it and show a parent (15–30 min)

Jump to: Day 1 · Day 2 · Day 3 · Day 4 · Day 5 · Chai God challenge

Tick boxes as you go

🛡️ Safety rules (read first)

Age rules (checked Oct 11, 2026): CapCut's Terms of Service (last updated April 15, 2026) say the service is 'only intended for individuals 13 years old and older', and that anyone 13–17 may only use it with a parent's or legal guardian's consent. A 12-year-old is under that minimum, so a parent should decide whether he uses CapCut at all. If yes, it should be on a parent's device or account, with a parent nearby, not on his own account. Source: capcut.com/clause/terms-of-service.
Ask before posting: Get a parent's OK before posting or sending any reel anywhere. Keeping reels on the device is perfectly fine.
Music and rights: Use music and sound effects from CapCut's own library. Don't use songs downloaded from the internet or taken from TikTok unless you know you're allowed to. Even library items can have limits on where they can be used, so check with a parent before posting.
Watermark: On the free version, desktop exports get a CapCut watermark (Justin Brown explains this in the Day 1 video). On the phone, CapCut adds an ending clip that you can delete (Day 2 video, about 5:50). That's fine for practice.
Safe filming: Film pets, toys, snacks, sports, your room or backyard. No faces of strangers, no house number, street signs, school logo or your full name in the video. Be gentle with pets.
Owner's projects (Day 5 + Chai God): Use only the photos and music the owner gives you. The owner decides what gets posted and posts it from the restaurant's or brand's own account, never from yours. No other diners' faces, no prices or health claims, nothing made up.
AI and accounts: Skip AI image tools that need you to upload photos of yourself, and don't buy anything or start a free trial without a parent.

Day 1Meet CapCut: the big tour

Watch + follow along (pause often) 50–60 min
Reel task 90 min
Review + show a parent 20–30 min
Breaks / snacks rest

📺 1. Watch

CapCut Desktop Tutorial for Beginners (PC & Mac, Step-by-Step)

Justin Brown - Primal Video · uploaded 27 Jul 2026 · 29:07

▶ Watch on YouTube

📱/💻 Desktop (Mac/PC). Most tools also exist in the phone app.

⏭️ Nothing to skip. Justin uses the paid version, but almost everything works in the free version too.

What to watch for (tap a time to jump there)

1:26The editing screen: the 4 areas: media (top left), preview player, settings panel (right), and the timeline at the bottom.
3:00Project settings: Name the project and pick the shape. For reels, choose 9:16 (tall).
7:07Trim and split: Drag the clip edges to trim, and split with Ctrl/Cmd + B. Q and W delete to the left or right and close the gap (8:36).
13:38Text, titles and auto captions: Add a text box and style it, then let CapCut write captions for you (15:42).
20:54Music, volume and export: Add music, keep it quieter than voices (he starts at about -20 to -30 dB), then press Export (28:10).

I watched it and tried each skill

🎞️ 2. Reel project: My Room Tour in 20 Seconds

Film 5–6 short clips (3–5 s each) of your room or a favourite corner of the house, such as your desk, shelf, best toy or poster. Edit them into a 15–25 second 9:16 reel with a title at the start and music underneath.

Film: Your room, desk, toys, shelves. No people's faces, no windows that show the street, no house number or name tags.

Format: 9:16 (tall) · 15–30 seconds

Skills you must use

Set the project to 9:16
Import clips
Trim and split (Ctrl/Cmd + B)
Add a title with text
Add music from CapCut's library and lower its volume
Export

Checklist

Video is 9:16 (tall)
15–30 seconds long
At least 5 clips, each trimmed tight (no boring bits)
A title in the first 3 seconds that is easy to read
Music is not too loud
Exported and saved, and you watched it once from start to end

⭐ Extra challenge: Add auto captions to a 3-second voice line you record yourself ("Welcome to my room!") and change their font and colour.

👀 3. Review + share

Watched my reel twice, once with the sound off (can you still follow it?)
Wrote down 1 thing I'm proud of and 1 thing to fix next time
Showed it to a parent (and asked before posting anywhere)

🛡️ Reminder: a parent sets up CapCut (it's officially 13+) · ask before posting · no faces of strangers, house numbers, street signs or school logos · no buying or free trials · library music only · a watermark/ending clip on free exports is OK for practice.

Day 2CapCut on the phone + perfect 9:16 reels

Watch the chapters below + follow along on the phone 55–60 min
Reel task 90 min
Review + show a parent 20–30 min
Breaks / snacks rest

📺 1. Watch

CapCut Video Editing Tutorial Using Phone (Full Course for Beginners 2026)

Lerin Nic · uploaded 14 Jan 2026 · 45:48

▶ Watch on YouTube

📱/💻 Phone app (iPhone/Android).

⏭️ The video is 45 min. Watch the chapters below. 'Text behind subject' (29:14) is optional, and the end of the video (from about 45:00) is an ad for the creator's courses.

What to watch for (tap a time to jump there)

1:37Import and arrange clips: The order you tap clips is the order they appear. Pinch the timeline, then hold and drag a clip to move it (2:38).
3:36Trim, split and remove the CapCut ending: Split + delete, drag the white edges to trim, and delete the CapCut outro clip at the end (about 5:50).
6:11Aspect ratio 9:16: Change the format to 9:16 for reels/Shorts and pinch to make each clip fill the screen.
23:59Text and auto captions: Text templates, auto captions, styling all captions at once and fixing one caption (26:31–29:00).
36:36Music, fades, voiceover and export: Pick music from CapCut's own sound library, add fade in/out (about 39:45), record a voiceover (about 40:35), then export (42:57).

I watched it and tried each skill

🎞️ 2. Reel project: Snack Review Reel

Make a 20–30 second 9:16 "snack review" of a favourite snack (or a simple recipe like a sandwich or smoothie). Show the package or ingredients, the opening or making, and a final close-up, then give it a score out of 10 with on-screen text.

Film: Hands and snacks only, on a table at home. Ask before using the kitchen. No faces needed.

Format: 9:16 (tall) · 15–30 seconds

Skills you must use

New project on the phone
Set aspect ratio 9:16 and pinch clips to fill the screen
Split / trim / delete the CapCut ending
Text template for the title
Voiceover or auto captions
Library music with fade in and fade out

Checklist

⭐ Extra challenge: Try a manual zoom with 2 keyframes (from 34:08 in the video) so the final close-up slowly zooms in on the snack.

👀 3. Review + share

Watched my reel twice, once with the sound off (can you still follow it?)
Wrote down 1 thing I'm proud of and 1 thing to fix next time
Showed it to a parent (and asked before posting anywhere)

Day 3Music beats, text tricks and sound

Watch + follow along (pause after each trick) 45–55 min
Reel task 90 min
Review + show a parent 20–30 min
Breaks / snacks rest

📺 1. Watch

15 Pro Editing Techniques You Can Do in Free CapCut

Matt Loui · uploaded 10 Sep 2026 · 18:36

▶ Watch on YouTube

📱/💻 Desktop (free version). Similar tools exist on the phone.

⏭️ Skip 4:27–5:07 (sponsor) and 9:50 (course ad). Skip 'AI Designer' (14:30). It needs an account and uploading photos of yourself, so don't use it without a parent.

What to watch for (tap a time to jump there)

10:44Cut to the beat: CapCut marks the beats of a song on the timeline, so you know exactly where to cut.
1:40Video inside text: Use a text mask so your video plays inside big letters.
8:24Professional zooms with keyframes: Add 2 keyframes and change the scale for a smooth zoom that also hides cuts.
11:32Text-to-speech voiceover: Type text and let CapCut read it out loud, so you don't need your own voice.
17:02Sound effects: Search CapCut's free sound effects (e.g. 'whoosh', 'water'). Pick ones without the gem icon, because the gem means paid.

I watched it and tried each skill

🎞️ 2. Reel project: Beat-Synced Pet or Toy Hype Reel

Make a 15–25 second 9:16 hype reel starring your pet (or favourite toy or LEGO build) where every cut lands on the music beat. Start with the pet's or toy's name in big letters with video inside the text, and end with a fun sound effect.

Film: 8–12 short clips of your pet or toy from different angles: close-up, far away, moving, top-down. Be gentle with pets and don't chase them for the shot.

Format: 9:16 (tall) · 15–30 seconds

Skills you must use

Beat markers on a library song
Cutting on the beat
Video-in-text title
Keyframe zoom
Sound effect
(Optional) text-to-speech line

Checklist

⭐ Extra challenge: Add a text-to-speech narrator that introduces your star ('Meet Biscuit, the fastest cat in town!').

👀 3. Review + share

Watched my reel twice, once with the sound off (can you still follow it?)
Wrote down 1 thing I'm proud of and 1 thing to fix next time
Showed it to a parent (and asked before posting anywhere)

Day 4Motion, transitions and effects

Watch twice, then rebuild each trick step by step 45–60 min
Reel task 90 min
Review + show a parent 20–30 min
Breaks / snacks rest

📺 1. Watch

7 Stupidly Simple CapCut Tricks You NEED to Know

Zeven 7 · uploaded 16 Sep 2026 · 5:35

▶ Watch on YouTube

📱/💻 Desktop. The tricks are fast, so pause after each one and copy it.

⏭️ The video is short (5:35) but very fast. Watch it once all the way through, then go trick by trick. The end (from 4:59) is a Patreon ad.

What to watch for (tap a time to jump there)

1:11Bounce motion with keyframes: Use 3–4 keyframes instead of 2 to make text or objects bounce into place.
2:44FPS lag effect: A choppy, cool 'low frame rate' motion from the effects library (set to about 10–20).
3:06Warp screens: Wide angle and fisheye effects add depth and a bendy look.
3:32White flash reveal: A white shape for 1 frame over each word makes a flashy transition between words or clips.
4:11Negative text captions: A text mask plus curves makes captions that flip the colours of the video behind them.

I watched it and tried each skill

🎞️ 2. Reel project: Backyard / Sports Trick-Shot Reel

Make a 20–30 second 9:16 trick-shot reel: ball in a basket, bottle flip, paper-ball into a bin, a skateboard or football skill, or a domino run. Show 2–3 attempts (one fail is funny!) and a final success with a bouncy 'YES!' title and a white-flash reveal.

Film: Your backyard, garden or room. Only film your own family if they say OK, and no strangers in the background. Stay safe: no dangerous stunts.

Format: 9:16 (tall) · 15–30 seconds

Skills you must use

Bounce text with 3+ keyframes
White flash reveal or CapCut transitions between attempts
One effect (FPS lag or fisheye) used once, not everywhere
Speed change (slow-mo the winning shot; see the Day 1 video at 19:31)
Music + sound effects

Checklist

9:16 and 20–30 seconds
At least 2 different transitions
A bouncy keyframed title
Slow-motion on the winning moment
Effects used carefully (the reel still looks clean)
Music from the library, with no loud clipping

⭐ Extra challenge: Make the final title shiny like in the video (1:53) or use negative-text captions for a score counter ('Attempt 1… 2… 3!').

👀 3. Review + share

Watched my reel twice, once with the sound off (can you still follow it?)
Wrote down 1 thing I'm proud of and 1 thing to fix next time
Showed it to a parent (and asked before posting anywhere)

Day 5Restaurant reel: India Restaurant (from photos)

Watch + follow along with a few of the owner's photos 45–55 min
Reel task 90 min
Review + show a parent and the owner 20–30 min
Breaks / snacks rest

📺 1. Watch

Turn ANY Photo into a Video using CapCut

iPhone Photography School · uploaded 10 Apr 2024 · 14:41

▶ Watch on YouTube

📱/💻 Phone app (the same ideas work on desktop).

⏭️ No 2026 beginner food-reel tutorial was good enough, so this is the best one for turning PHOTOS into a moving video (uploaded April 2024). Skip from 14:03 (an ad for the creator's course). Bonus 2-minute clip for steam: see 'Extra videos' below.

What to watch for (tap a time to jump there)

2:109:16 for photos: Set the aspect ratio to 9:16, then pinch each photo to fill the screen. Use a blurred background for photos that don't fit (3:21–4:30, 'apply to all' at 4:30).
4:46Music + photo timing: Add music, then trim each photo so it changes with the music (5:21).
6:34Make photos move with keyframes: Keyframe at the start, move or zoom the photo, keyframe at the end. That's the slow 'Ken Burns' zoom/pan (7:20).
9:20Fix a keyframe: Edit a keyframe only when it's red (selected), and delete extra ones.
11:30Smooth motion with graphs: Ease in/out makes the movement start or stop softly. Then fade out the music (12:23).

I watched it and tried each skill

Extra videos

How to Create Steam Effect in CapCut - CapCut Tutorial (Video Nerd · 23 Feb 2026 · 1:48): Steam: Effects → Video effects → search 'Steam' (0:16), then change the speed and how strong it looks (0:40). If it shows a Pro/paid mark, skip it.

🍛 Food polish tips

Be honest: these are PHOTOS, so make them feel alive with slow keyframe zooms and pans, and change photos on the beat.
Crop-in close-ups: put the same photo in twice and zoom the second copy right into the sauce, the rice or the garnish. One photo gives you a wide shot AND a close-up.
Steam: try the 'Steam' video effect from the extra video. Use it lightly, on hot dishes only.
'Sauce pouring': use 2–4 photos in a row (before → pouring → after), each for about one beat. If the owner also gives you a short pouring clip, use that instead.
Plating: start with a top-down or wide shot of the table, then cut to close-ups.
Warm grade: Adjust → temperature a little warmer and saturation a little up (Day 1 video at 27:06), or a food filter. Keep it natural, because food that looks orange isn't tasty!
Cuts on the beat: use beat marks like in Day 3 (Day 3 video at 10:44).
Caption: 'India Restaurant · Providence, RI' in a clean, simple font (Day 1 video at 13:38), big enough to read on a phone.

🎞️ 2. Reel project: India Restaurant Dinner Reel

Use ONLY the dinner photos from India Restaurant (Providence, Rhode Island) and the music track the owner gives you. Make a 15–30 second 9:16 reel that makes people hungry: a wide plating shot, then close-ups, 'steam', a 'sauce pour' sequence, and the restaurant name.

Film: No filming needed: use the owner's photos. Leave out (or crop out) any photo that shows other diners' faces.

Format: 9:16 (tall) · 15–30 seconds

Skills you must use

9:16 with photos filling the screen (or a blurred background)
Slow keyframe zoom/pan on every photo
Crop-in close-up from one photo
Photo sequence for the 'sauce pour'
Cuts on the music beat (Day 3)
Warm grade with temperature/saturation or a filter
Caption 'India Restaurant · Providence, RI'
Music fade-out at the end

Checklist

9:16 and 15–30 seconds
Only the owner's photos and music track
Every photo moves (no frozen stills)
At least 2 crop-in close-ups
Photos change on the beat
Warm but natural colours
Caption 'India Restaurant · Providence, RI' is easy to read
No other diners' faces anywhere
Music fades out at the end

⭐ Extra challenge: Add a 'menu card' end screen with the names of the dishes you showed (no prices), OR a before/after split showing the photo before and after your warm grade.

👀 3. Review + share

Watched my reel twice, once with the sound off (can you still follow it?)
Wrote down 1 thing I'm proud of and 1 thing to fix next time
Showed it to a parent AND the owner (they decide if it's shared; the restaurant should be OK with it)

🛡️ Reminder: use only the photos and music the owner gave you, and check with the owner that the music is OK to use · ask a parent AND the owner before posting · the restaurant should be OK with it being shared · no other diners' faces · no purchases or free trials.

BonusChai God reel challenge

Watch the short video 2–3 times + copy each step 30–40 min
Reel task 90–110 min
Review + show the owner 20–30 min
Breaks / snacks rest

📺 1. Watch

CapCut Product Video Editing Tutorial 2026: Create a 3D Product Showcase in 3 Minutes

Create Smarter Lab · uploaded 15 Jul 2026 · 3:26

▶ Watch on YouTube

📱/💻 Desktop (the steps say Ctrl/Alt and mouse). The phone app also has beat marks and effects.

⏭️ Uploaded July 2026 by a small channel (Create Smarter Lab). It's short, clean and has no sponsor; the end (3:12) is just 'subscribe'. Some effects may be Pro-only. If 'Sphere Album' or 'Neon Scan' shows a paid mark, use a free transition and the keyframe zoom from Day 5 instead.

What to watch for (tap a time to jump there)

0:20Import photos + auto beat marks: Import the photos and music, zoom the timeline, then click 'Auto mark beats' (0:38).
0:44Line photos up with the beats: Trim each photo so it ends exactly on a beat marker.
0:57Duplicate and replace: Copy a timed photo (Alt + drag), then drag a new photo onto it and choose 'Replace' (1:08). The timing stays the same.
1:31Effects + transitions on every photo: Search 'sphere album' in effects and transitions (1:52), and set transitions to 1 second.
2:39Check and trim the music: No gaps between photos. Split the music at the end and delete the extra.

I watched it and tried each skill

☕ Brand polish tips

Product close-ups: zoom right into the cup, the steam or the logo on the packaging (crop-in like Day 5).
Warm grade: a slightly warmer temperature makes chai look cosy (Day 1 video at 27:06).
Hook in the first 2 seconds: big text 'Authentic chai, made in Fall River'.
End card: 'Chai God' plus the placeholder '@handle'. The owner will fill in the real account name.
Only say what's true and given by the owner: no prices, no health claims (no 'healthy', 'cures', 'boosts' and so on), no 'best in the world'.

🎞️ 2. Reel project: Chai God Brand Reel

Use ONLY the Chai God photos (packaging and cups) and the music track the owner gives you. Make a 15–30 second 9:16 reel: a text hook 'Authentic chai, made in Fall River' at the start, product close-ups that change on the beat, a warm grade, and an end card 'Chai God' with '@handle'.

Film: No filming needed: use the owner's photos only.

Format: 9:16 (tall) · 15–30 seconds

Skills you must use

Auto beat marks + photos timed to beats
Duplicate + Replace to keep the timing
Product close-ups (crop-in + slow keyframe zoom)
Warm grade
Text hook in the first 2 seconds
End card with 'Chai God' and '@handle'
One effect or transition style, used consistently

Checklist

9:16 and 15–30 seconds
Only the owner's Chai God photos and music
Hook text 'Authentic chai, made in Fall River' readable in the first 2 s
Every cut lands on a beat
Warm, natural colours
End card: 'Chai God' + '@handle' placeholder
No prices, no health claims, nothing invented
Sent to the owner for approval (not posted by me)

⭐ Extra challenge: Make a 3-flavour lineup: Masala, Hibiscus and Original/Green, each with its own photo and name label, changing on 3 beats in a row. Use only the flavours and photos the owner gives you.

👀 3. Review + share

Watched my reel twice, once with the sound off (can you still follow it?)
Wrote down 1 thing I'm proud of and 1 thing to fix next time
Sent it to the owner for approval (the owner posts it on the Chai God account, not me)

🛡️ Reminder: use only the owner's photos and music · the owner approves it and posts it on the Chai God brand account, not on yours · don't make your own account for it · no prices or health claims · no purchases or free trials.

🧰 What you need

CapCut on a computer (Days 1, 3, 4, Chai God) and/or a phone (Days 2, 5). The free version is fine.
For Day 5 and the Chai God challenge: the photos and music track the owner gives you.
A phone or camera to film. Hold it upright for 9:16.
Headphones for checking music volume.
A parent who set it up and said OK.