Main workflow
VideoCull is fastest when you load a folder, reduce obvious noise in the grid, use review mode only for the clips that still need a closer look, and treat duplicate review as a side pass instead of the main path. Keep the first pass simple. Load a folder, filter only when that removes noise, review the remaining queue, and delete only after the queue looks final.Build a session
A session is the current set of loaded folders plus the active filters, duplicate results, review scope, and sort order. Review decisions and other persistent metadata are restored from cache when those folders are loaded again. Start with one folder when you are learning the flow. Add more folders only when they belong to the same review job and you want one combined queue. See Sessions and folders for add-versus-replace behavior, recursive scans, recent folders, rescans, privacy, and reports.Delete safety
Marking a video as Delete only changes cached status. No file leaves disk until you explicitly run the delete action. That action includes every loaded video marked Delete, even if current filters hide it. Stop and verify the selection if the app warns about permanent deletion or if the delete size looks larger than expected. The full Delete and safety guide explains batch scope, Recycle Bin fallback, cache cleanup, and recovery.Suggested workflow
For most libraries, the fastest safe flow is:- Load one folder or one closely related set of folders.
- Stay in the grid long enough to filter obvious noise out first.
- Enter review mode only for the clips that still need a closer look.
- Run duplicate review as a side pass when repeated clips are the real problem.
- Delete only after the queue looks final.
1
Open a folder
Press
Ctrl+O to open the directory picker, or drag and drop a folder onto the app window. VideoCull accepts folders only.2
Wait for scanning and thumbnail generation
VideoCull scans the folder to find video files, then starts generating thumbnail strips in the background with the bundled FFmpeg. You do not need to wait for all thumbnails to finish. You can start browsing immediately while the rest complete.
3
Browse the grid
Every video appears as a card with thumbnail frames sampled from across the file. Use search, filters, grouping, and sorting to narrow the list.
- Press
Ctrl++to make cards larger. - Press
Ctrl+-to make cards smaller. - Filter by status, file size, duration, rating, or favorites.
- Sort by name, size, duration, date, rating, resolution, or FPS.
Shift-click a card to start batch selection. Apply Keep, Delete, Skip, Reset, or thumbnail regeneration from the batch bar.4
Enter review mode
When thumbnail strips are not enough to make a call, switch to review mode. This opens a fullscreen, one-at-a-time view with the full thumbnail strip, video metadata, and an in-app player you can scrub through.Press
Enter to play the video in-app, or Ctrl+Enter to open it in your default system player.5
Run duplicate review when the problem is repetition
If the library has many repeated clips, run duplicate review after the first scan or after narrowing the scope with filters. Treat the suggested keeper as a starting point, not an automatic answer.
6
Mark videos
In review mode, use the keyboard to act on each video:
After you mark a video, VideoCull automatically advances to the next one. Use
Left and Right to move between videos when playback is paused, or to scrub 5 seconds while a video is playing.Press B while a video is playing to drop a bookmark at the current position.7
Commit the delete batch
Press
Ctrl+Backspace from anywhere in the app to send files marked for deletion to the Recycle Bin when possible.What to try next
- Use duplicate review to find likely duplicate files across the whole session or the current filtered view.
- Change thumbnails per video or intro skip delay in Settings if the default frames are not useful for your footage.
- Export an HTML report if you want a shareable summary of the current keep or delete state.
Sessions and folders
Load, combine, rescan, reopen, hide, and report on folder sessions.
Grid view
Learn what filters, badges, and batch actions are available in the main browsing view.
Review mode
See the full playback and decision workflow in the one-at-a-time review screen.
Duplicate review
Work through likely duplicate files with suggested keepers and override controls.
Delete and safety
Understand exactly when files leave disk and what recovery options remain.
Cache and processing
Choose where progress lives and when processing changes take effect.
Keyboard shortcuts
See the current shortcut set for the grid, review mode, and general actions.