Rotate Video turns a sideways or upside-down video the right way round: 90° right, 90° left or 180°. You can also mirror it, left to right. For MP4 and MOV files there is a fast, lossless method that keeps the original quality; or the frames can be re-encoded so the video plays the right way round in every app and site. A preview shows the turn before you save. The video stays on your device.
How to rotate a video
- Choose a video: MP4, MOV, WebM or MKV.
- Pick ↻ 90° right, ↺ 90° left or 180°. Tick Mirror (flip left to right) if you need it.
- Check the preview of the turn.
- Choose the Method: Fast and lossless or Re-encode the frames.
- Click Rotate video, then download the result.
Which turn do I need?
| The video looks | Choose |
|---|---|
| Lying on its left side (top points left) | 90° right |
| Lying on its right side (top points right) | 90° left |
| Upside down | 180° |
| Text reads backwards, like in a mirror | No turn, with Mirror ticked |
The preview shows the result straight away, so if the first choice is wrong, simply pick the other one.
Two methods
Fast and lossless (MP4 and MOV; players apply the turn). Video files can carry a rotation note, the same way phones record portrait videos. This method writes that note and copies the video and sound exactly as they are, without re-encoding. It takes seconds even for long videos, and the quality and file size stay the same. Most players follow the note.
Re-encode the frames (works in every app and site). Every frame is turned and the video is encoded again. It takes longer, but the picture itself is now the right way round, so it also plays correctly in the few apps and editors that ignore the rotation note. Mirroring and WebM or MKV files always use this method. The result is MP4 with H.264 video and AAC sound, or WebM where the browser cannot encode MP4.
Start with the fast method. If the video still plays sideways in the app you use, rotate the original again with re-encoding.
Why videos end up sideways
Phones decide between portrait and landscape from how you hold them when recording starts. Begin with the phone flat on a table or turn it after pressing record, and the video can be saved the wrong way. Some cameras, drones and older apps also ignore orientation altogether. Webcam and selfie videos are often mirrored, which makes writing in the picture read backwards: use Mirror to fix it.
Good to know
- iPhone videos in HEVC cannot be read in some browsers. If yours will not open, try a recent Chrome or Edge, or Safari on a Mac.
- Portrait videos for social media: after turning, crop to the shape you need with Crop Video.
More video tools
Cut the start and end with the Video Cutter, shrink the file with the Video Compressor, or join several clips with Merge Videos.
Private by design
Your video is processed on your own device and never uploaded. See how it works.