Quick Guide: How to Use Auto Edit in PowerDirector

Five steps from a folder of clips and photos to a finished cut.

Updated Oct. 25, 2026 · 1 min read

Steps

1Import your clips and photos

Click Import Media at the top left to add your clips and photos. Or drag the files onto the dashed area in the middle.

Auto Edit takes up to 100 clips, or 3 hours and 20 minutes of footage in total.

Empty Auto Edit window with the Import Media button and the drag and drop area highlighted

2Arrange the clips, then click Next

Use the Sort by Date menu to set the starting order. Drag a card to a new spot if you want a particular shot to open the video, then click Next.

Auto Edit with 10 imported clips, the Sort by Date menu, the media count in the footer, and the Next button all highlighted

3Set the aspect ratio, length, and theme

Pick an Aspect Ratio and a Target video length, or choose Auto to let PowerDirector set the length. Under Video theme, select General to let PowerDirector choose the theme, transitions, and music, or check one or more of the 12 themes. Then click Create.

Auto Edit settings screen with Aspect Ratio, Target video length, the General theme card, the 12 video themes, and the Create button all highlighted

4Check the cut

To restyle the video, click a template on the left. To fix one shot, select it in the strip and use the tools above the preview.

Auto Edit result screen with the template list and the clip tool row highlighted

5Export it or add it to the timeline

Click Export to save the cut as a video file. Or click Add to Timeline to carry on in PowerDirector's full editor.

Auto Edit result screen with the Add to Timeline and Export buttons highlighted

We tested these steps in PowerDirector 365 version 25.0.7 on Windows.

Want more detail on each step?Read the full tutorial →