How to Make a Video Vertical or Horizontal

Converting a horizontal video to vertical (or a vertical video to horizontal) is one of the most common creator tasks because short form video platforms want vertical, while YouTube long form and TVs want horizontal. This guide covers both conversions, and the specific choices that determine whether the converted video actually looks good.

The two ways to convert orientation

Straight rotation: turn the whole clip ninety degrees. Fast, but the video plays sideways for anyone whose device doesn't auto rotate, and it usually produces black bars on the finished frame. Reframing: keep the video upright but change the project aspect ratio, then crop or reposition the original footage inside the new frame. Reframing produces a proper vertical or horizontal video that plays correctly on any device.

Making a horizontal video vertical

Import the horizontal (16:9) clip into an editor. Change the project aspect ratio to 9:16 (vertical). The horizontal clip will now appear as a small centered strip inside a much taller vertical frame. Two options: crop into the clip so it fills the vertical frame (loses left and right edges), or scale down and place the horizontal clip inside a vertical background (colour, blur, or graphic). Choose based on what part of the horizontal shot actually matters.

Making a vertical video horizontal

Import the vertical (9:16) clip into an editor. Change the project aspect ratio to 16:9. The vertical clip will now appear as a small strip in the middle of a much wider horizontal frame. Same two options as before: crop into the clip (loses top and bottom edges, often the head or feet in a person shot), or fill the black sides with a blurred version of the clip, a solid colour, or a graphic. Same decision: what specifically matters in this shot.

The blurred background technique

For quick conversions, most editors offer an "auto blur background" option. This takes the same clip, blurs and enlarges it to fill the new frame's empty space, then overlays the original size video on top. The result looks intentional rather than badly cropped. Popular for vertical short form conversion of horizontal source video.

Reframing so the subject stays in frame

When cropping to a new aspect ratio, the subject often ends up partially cut off unless you reposition. In an editor, drag the clip inside the new frame so the subject stays properly composed. For longer clips where the subject moves, keyframe the position so the subject stays centered as it moves across the original frame. This is called "auto reframe" in some editors and needs to be done manually in others.

Common orientation conversion mistakes

Straight rotating a video so it plays sideways on some devices. Cropping without checking that the subject stays in frame. Ignoring the aspect ratio the video will actually be viewed at, producing a video that looks fine on the editor screen but is cut off in real use. Assuming a horizontal video will "just work" on vertical platforms. Adding harsh black bars instead of using a blurred background or clean colour.

Should you shoot vertical or horizontal originally

If the video will only ever live on vertical short form platforms, shoot vertical originally and skip the conversion entirely. If the video will live on both, shoot horizontal but leave composition room on the sides so the vertical crop still works. Serious video creators often shoot slightly wider than needed specifically to give themselves reframing room for multiple platform versions.

Making a video vertical for instagram specifically

Instagram Reels and Stories use 9:16 vertical. Uploading horizontal video shows it with black bars unless converted first. For any shot where the top and bottom of the horizontal frame contains empty sky or foreground, cropping into the frame gives a clean vertical result. For shots where the horizontal edges contain important content, the blurred background technique preserves the whole original while filling the vertical space.

Making a video horizontal for youtube long form

Long form YouTube typically expects 16:9 horizontal. Converting a vertical shot to horizontal produces either a squashed composition or a small vertical strip inside a horizontal frame. Neither looks great. If long form YouTube is the primary destination, shoot horizontal originally rather than converting from vertical after the fact.

Where reframed videos meet the right audience

A well reframed video is only useful if the specific viewers who care about it actually see it. On community based platforms, where reach is earned through voted, deliberate audience backing rather than opaque feed decisions, a creator's work finds the specific audience regardless of orientation gymnastics. Cracy is built for this shape.

Read next: how to shoot better phone video, video editing basics for beginners, and video first social apps guide.