How To Make a Horizontal Video Vertical | Repurpose Your Content

When you work on a video project, you may need to fit a horizontal video into a vertical format. This can occur when creating content for social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok, where vertical videos are more common. Whether repurposing old footage or adjusting your video's orientation, understanding the right steps can make the process easy and effective.

In this article, you will learn how to make a horizontal video vertical to ensure your content stays consistent and good on all platforms.

Everything to know about making horizontal videos vertical

Whether using basic editing apps or more advanced software, mastering how to make a horizontal video vertical can transform your content for social media or other platforms. Moreover, cropping, rotating, and adjusting your videos can help them fit perfectly in different formats.

3 basic approaches to making a horizontal video vertical

It is important to understand various techniques when looking for how to convert a landscape video to a portrait. Each method has its approach to adjusting the video's orientation, and selecting the right one depends on your video's content and specific needs. Here are 3 popular methods to employ:

1. Crop the video

1. Cropping involves cutting off the sides of your horizontal video to fit a vertical frame. This technique focuses on trimming the edges and preserving the central part of the video. It's a straightforward approach that works well if the main content is centered and crucial.

2. Use a vertical background for the video

Placing your horizontal video onto a vertical background keeps the original video intact while filling the extra space with a background image or color. This method is useful for maintaining the full content of the video and adds a design element to the vertical frame.

3. Rotate the video by 90 degrees

Rotating the video by 90 degrees changes its orientation from horizontal to vertical. This method shifts the entire video into a vertical frame but may require further adjustments to ensure it fits well. It's a quick way to change the video's format, but it can lead to content distortion or awkward framing.

Effective solution to make horizontal video vertical on PC: CapCut

For those looking for effective methods on how to change a video from horizontal to vertical, the CapCut desktop video editor is a versatile and user-friendly option to consider. It offers a range of features that make video editing straightforward. Its precise cropping tool, auto reframing, and vibrant background canvas make resizing and editing your horizontal videos effortless.



Key features

Wondering how to make a horizontal video into a vertical one? Use the below-listed features of the CapCut desktop video editor to simplify the process:

• Customizable aspect ratios

It allows you to set specific dimensions for your video, making it easy to adapt horizontal videos to vertical formats or any other size required.

• Precise video cropping

The video cropper enables the exact cropping of video edges, helps you focus on the important content, and removes unwanted areas to fit a vertical frame perfectly.

• Auto reframe for instant results

Automatically reframes and adjusts the video's orientation and framing and quickly converts horizontal videos to vertical without manual cropping.

• Versatile background fillers

It provides options to add solid colors, images, or blurred backgrounds, filling any extra space around your video to match the new vertical format.

• Supports various video formats

It is compatible with multiple video file types, ensuring you can work with any footage you have, regardless of its original format.

How to make horizontal video vertical with CapCut

To easily make a horizontal video vertical, download the CapCut desktop video editor. To do so, click the download button below to get the installer. Once the download is complete, open the installer and follow the on-screen instructions to install CapCut on your PC.

Step
1. Upload the video
2. Start by opening the CapCut desktop video editor. Start a new project and click the "Import" button to upload videos from your computer. Alternatively, you can simply drag and drop the video onto the workspace.
3. 

   

Step
4. Adjust the video aspect ratio
5. After importing the video, drag it to the timeline to begin editing. Then, click the "Ratio" tool and manually select the crop ratio to "9:16" to convert the horizontal to vertical format. You can also use the smart tool by going to "Video> Basic> Auto reframe" to fit the video to the desired format.
6. However, if the background is empty, you can use the Canvas features within the video tab to apply blur or a solid color to fill the background. Moreover, employ other tools like video stabilization, color adjustment, and video filters to improve the overall appeal of your content.
7. 

   

Step
8. Export and share

Once satisfied with the adjustments, click on export to save your video in the desired format. You can then share it directly from CapCut or upload it to your preferred platform.



Effortlessly convert horizontal videos to vertical online: Kapwing

Kapwing is a simple online tool that helps you easily change horizontal videos to a vertical format. Its easy-to-use interface lets you quickly adjust your video's orientation, making it perfect for social media platforms and other vertical video needs. You can upload your video, resize and crop it as needed, and add backgrounds for further enhancements.

Key features

• Easy aspect ratio adjustment.
• Automatic reframing.
• Various background fillers.
• Multi-format support.

How to turn horizontal video to vertical with Kapwing

Here is how to change horizontal video to vertical with Kapwing:

Step
1. Upload your video
2. To get started, open your web browser and visit the Kapwing website. Now click on "Upload" or simply drag and drop your horizontal video file into the designated upload area on the website.
Step
3. Adjust the aspect ratio
4. Select the "Canvas Size" option to choose a vertical aspect ratio, such as 9:16. Kapwing provides preset options for quick adjustment, or you can manually set the dimensions to match your needs.
Step
5. Crop and reframe
6. Use the cropping tool to adjust the framing of your video. You can move and resize the video within the vertical frame to ensure the most important content is visible and centered.
Step
7. Add a background
8. If your video leaves empty spaces, use Kapwing's background options to fill them out. You can select a solid color, upload an image, or use a blurred version of the video itself to match the vertical format.
Step
9. Export and share

Once your video looks how you want, click "Export" to save the final product. Kapwing lets you download or share your edited video directly on social media.



A quick way to resize horizontal video clips on a phone: CapCut mobile app

The CapCut mobile app makes it easy to resize horizontal videos on your smartphone. It's perfect for quickly adapting videos to vertical formats for social media posts or stories. With it, you can adjust the aspect ratio, crop videos, and add stylish backgrounds to your phone. The app has an easy-to-use interface to help you achieve professional results without needing advanced software.

Key features

• Custom aspect ratios.
• Intuitive cropping tool.
• Creative background fillers.
• User-friendly interface.

How to convert horizontal video to vertical with the CapCut mobile app

Here is how to edit video from horizontal to vertical with the CapCut mobile app:

Step
1. Import your video
2. Launch the CapCut app on your mobile device and tap "New project" to import your horizontal video. Choose the video from your gallery and add it to the project timeline.
Step
3. Change the aspect ratio
4. Tap on the "Format" option to access aspect ratio settings. Choose a vertical ratio like 9:16 to adjust your video's frame to fit a vertical screen. This will automatically resize your video.
Step
5. Adjust and crop the video
6. Use the cropping tool to refine the video's position and scale within the vertical frame. You can drag and resize the video to focus on key areas and ensure the content looks centered and visually appealing.
Step
7. Add a background
8. If there are empty spaces around your video, select the "Canvas" option to fill them. You can choose a solid color, upload an image, or use a blurred version of the video itself in a single click.
Step
9. Export and save

Once you're happy with your adjustments, tap "Export" to save your edited video. You can download it directly to your device or share it directly on social media platforms from within the app.



Tips to make better vertical videos

Along with understanding how to turn a horizontal video into a vertical one, it is also necessary to ensure your final video looks professional and engaging. Here are some valuable tips to improve your vertical video content:

• Pick the right resolution

Select a resolution that matches your desired vertical format, such as 1080x1920 pixels, for high-quality videos. A higher resolution ensures that your video maintains clarity and detail when viewed on different devices.

• Frame effectively

When creating a vertical video, frame it to focus on the most important elements. Use the cropping and positioning tools to center your main content and avoid including too much space or irrelevant background, which can take away from the impact of the video.

• Add engaging text

Include large, strategically placed text to provide context or emphasize key points in your video. The engaging text captures viewers' attention, making your video more informative, especially when converting horizontal videos to a vertical format.

• Optimize lighting and audio

Good lighting and clear audio are important for high-quality vertical videos. Ensure your video is well-lit, avoiding dark or shadowy footage, and use a good microphone to capture clear sound. Proper lighting and audio make your video more professional and enjoyable.

• Use smooth transitions

Use smooth transitions between scenes or clips to maintain a professional flow in your video. Sudden changes can disrupt the viewing experience, so it's important to avoid them. Smooth transitions help make your vertical video feel more polished and well-edited.

Conclusion

We hope you are now well up on how to make a horizontal video vertical for adapting your content to fit various formats and platforms. You can effectively convert your footage by choosing the right method, whether cropping, adding backgrounds, or rotating the video.

However, consider using the CapCut desktop video editor for an easy and efficient solution. It provides various tools and features that simplify the process, helping you quickly adjust your video aspect ratio and achieve professional results.

FAQs

1. Can I rotate a horizontal video to make it vertical?
2. Yes, you can rotate a horizontal video by 90 degrees to make it vertical. It can be done using reliable software like the CapCut desktop video editor. You can rotate the videos to custom angles to give them a dynamic effect and improve the overall appeal.
3. How to turn a horizontal video vertical without changing orientation?
4. To turn a horizontal video vertically without rotating it, you can crop the video to fit the vertical frame or use a background to fill any space around it. This maintains the original orientation while adapting it to a vertical format. The CapCut desktop video editor makes this process easy with its precise cropping and background options.
5. What is the best way to change the video aspect ratio for social media?

The best way to change the video aspect ratio for social media is to use a tool that allows you to select preset ratios or customize dimensions for different platforms. Tools like the CapCut desktop video editor are ideal as they offer easy aspect-ratio adjustments and format-specific presets for optimal social media presentation.