Microsoft Makes Clipchamp More Powerful With Local AI 4K Upscaling

Microsoft Clipchamp can now upscale lower-resolution videos to 4K using a new AI-powered Video Super Resolution feature on Windows 11.

Microsoft is adding Video Super Resolution to Clipchamp, giving users a way to improve older or low-quality footage without relying on cloud processing.

Clipchamp uses on-device AI for video upscaling

Video Super Resolution uses an on-device AI model to estimate additional detail and sharpen footage. Microsoft says the processing stays on the PC rather than sending videos to the cloud.

Supported PCs can use the CPU, while Copilot+ PCs can use their NPU for processing. Microsoft lists compatible hardware from AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm.

The addition is encouraging, especially after Clipchamp introduced a OneDrive requirement a few months ago.

Users can upscale videos to 4K

After adding a video to the Clipchamp timeline, users can open the new Upscale tab and select a higher target resolution.

Depending on the source footage, Clipchamp can offer 480p, 720p, 1080p, or 4K output.

The feature could help improve older smartphone videos, compressed footage, and low-resolution webcam recordings.

AI upscaling can still create artifacts

Microsoft warns that Video Super Resolution cannot restore details that never existed in the original footage.

As a result, AI processing may introduce subtle visual distortions, particularly around faces and fine details.

Video Super Resolution only works in the Windows app

Because the feature depends on local hardware, Video Super Resolution currently works only in the Clipchamp desktop app for Windows. Microsoft does not offer it in the browser version.

In other news, Clipchamp was removed from the new version of Microsoft Photos.