A smaller editing preview and a finished video have different jobs. Keep the original clips available while trying Shotcut’s proxy workflow.
What a proxy changes
Shotcut’s official documentation describes proxies as lower-resolution copies used while editing. They reduce the amount of image data the computer processes. Export normally uses the original or edit-friendly media. A softer preview therefore does not, by itself, tell you the resolution or quality of the finished movie.
Try one representative clip
Our suggested first check uses a copy of a small project containing one demanding clip. Save the project, then use Settings — Proxy — Use Proxy and follow the prompts in your installed version. Let the relevant job finish before comparing playback. Keep the original media in place; the proxy is an editing aid rather than the only copy of the recording.
Understand preview scaling
Shotcut documents proxy editing alongside Preview Scaling. Treat these as preview controls and check the project’s video mode separately. Our suggested comparison looks at the same short section before and after changing the preview workflow. Observe seeking, playback and the clarity you need to place an edit. Do not turn a smoother preview into a promise that every effect will run quickly on your computer.
Check storage and the delivery copy
Settings — Proxy — Storage identifies where generated copies are kept. Account for this extra space before starting a large batch. Our suggested delivery check exports a short sample, then opens that exported file in a separate player. Inspect its dimensions, sound and important details. Keep project, original clips and delivery file clearly named so a proxy folder is not mistaken for the complete project archive.
Go straight to the people who make it.
Official proxy-editing documentationOfficial Shotcut tutorialsSource check: 2026-10-02. General guidance; follow your device’s current instructions.