OpenShot 4.0 is now available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, marking the first major update since version 3.5.1 in April. This release matters because it shifts the timeline engine from web-based components to a fully native Qt implementation, which should improve stability for long editing sessions. Users who rely on offline AI tools for masking will find new capabilities that do not require cloud processing.
Major version shift brings native Qt timeline and local AI masking
The software remains free under the GPLv3 license. The update introduces a new Color View that adds a Color Grade effect with controls for exposure, contrast, temperature, tint, highlights, shadows, saturation, and vibrance. It also supports .cube LUT files with intensity blending and keyframing options for precise color work.
Video scopes now include luma waveform, histogram, RGB parade, and vectorscope with a skin-tone reference guide. The Object Mask feature uses YOLO, EfficientSAM, and Cutie networks converted to ONNX for local AI subject masking. Ten new effects are also available, including Audio Visualization, Beat Sync, Film Grain, Denoise Image, Shadow, Glow, Displacement Map, Timer, Color Grade, and Object Mask.
Recording View captures microphone, screen, webcam, and system audio directly into a project with PiP layout support. We looked at previous OpenShot releases while tracking this major version jump. The update ships globally on August 30, 2026, for all three major desktop platforms.
Source: NotebookCheck
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