diff --git a/croppa/main.py b/croppa/main.py
index 1c44e1b..6a919d3 100644
--- a/croppa/main.py
+++ b/croppa/main.py
@@ -1683,15 +1683,27 @@ class VideoEditor:
         template_offset = None
         if self.template_matching_enabled and self.tracking_template is not None:
             if self.current_display_frame is not None:
-                # Apply template matching to the ORIGINAL frame (before any transformations)
-                # This avoids infinite recursion and ensures template can find the object
-                result = self.track_template(self.current_display_frame)
-                if result:
-                    center_x, center_y, confidence = result
-                    print(f"DEBUG: Template match found at ({center_x}, {center_y}) with confidence {confidence:.2f}")
-                    
-                    # Template matching returns coordinates in raw frame space
-                    template_offset = (center_x, center_y)
+                # Use only the cropped region for much faster template matching
+                if self.crop_rect:
+                    crop_x, crop_y, crop_w, crop_h = self.crop_rect
+                    # Extract only the cropped region from raw frame
+                    cropped_frame = self.current_display_frame[crop_y:crop_y+crop_h, crop_x:crop_x+crop_w]
+                    if cropped_frame is not None and cropped_frame.size > 0:
+                        # Track template in cropped frame (much faster!)
+                        result = self.track_template(cropped_frame)
+                        if result:
+                            center_x, center_y, confidence = result
+                            # Map from cropped frame coordinates to raw frame coordinates
+                            # Add crop offset back
+                            raw_x = center_x + crop_x
+                            raw_y = center_y + crop_y
+                            template_offset = (raw_x, raw_y)
+                else:
+                    # No crop - use full frame
+                    result = self.track_template(self.current_display_frame)
+                    if result:
+                        center_x, center_y, confidence = result
+                        template_offset = (center_x, center_y)
         
         # Calculate offset from feature tracking if enabled
         feature_offset = None
@@ -1785,12 +1797,27 @@ class VideoEditor:
             return None
         
         if self.current_display_frame is not None:
-            # Apply template matching to the ORIGINAL frame (before any transformations)
-            # This avoids infinite recursion and ensures template can find the object
-            result = self.track_template(self.current_display_frame)
-            if result:
-                center_x, center_y, confidence = result
-                return (center_x, center_y, confidence)
+            # Use only the cropped region for much faster template matching
+            if self.crop_rect:
+                crop_x, crop_y, crop_w, crop_h = self.crop_rect
+                # Extract only the cropped region from raw frame
+                cropped_frame = self.current_display_frame[crop_y:crop_y+crop_h, crop_x:crop_x+crop_w]
+                if cropped_frame is not None and cropped_frame.size > 0:
+                    # Track template in cropped frame (much faster!)
+                    result = self.track_template(cropped_frame)
+                    if result:
+                        center_x, center_y, confidence = result
+                        # Map from cropped frame coordinates to raw frame coordinates
+                        # Add crop offset back
+                        raw_x = center_x + crop_x
+                        raw_y = center_y + crop_y
+                        return (raw_x, raw_y, confidence)
+            else:
+                # No crop - use full frame
+                result = self.track_template(self.current_display_frame)
+                if result:
+                    center_x, center_y, confidence = result
+                    return (center_x, center_y, confidence)
         
         return None