How To Make a Vertical Video Horizontal | Enhance Your Viewing Experience

When you record a video on your phone, it often ends up as vertical footage if you hold it upright. But sometimes, you need your video to be horizontal, like for a YouTube upload or a presentation that needs a widescreen format.

Therefore, in this case, knowing how to make a vertical video horizontal can be really helpful. In this article, we will explore everything related to the conversion of a video's aspect ratio, its advantages, and some of the most effective ways to do it.

Vertical vs horizontal videos

Vertical videos are popular on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok. These platforms are designed for mobile viewing. On the other hand, horizontal videos are best for platforms like YouTube and for viewing on larger screens.

They provide a wider and more immersive experience. However, knowing how to make portrait video landscapes can help you adjust them to different formats. These professional-looking videos are well-suited for all the platforms and boost your video growth.

Why convert vertical video to horizontal

When creating video content, your chosen orientation can greatly affect how your audience interacts. Therefore, understanding how to change video from vertical to horizontal can have several advantages. Below are some of them:

1. Enhance viewing
2. Converting your video to a horizontal format can greatly improve the viewing experience, especially on larger screens like TVs or computer monitors. Horizontal videos fill the entire screen, creating a more immersive and engaging visual experience.
3. Optimize widescreen
4. It's best to use a horizontal format to share videos because most platforms and devices are set up for widescreen viewing. Thus, it is always recommended to make a portrait video landscape to ensure that content looks perfect in these widescreen environments.
5. Improve consistency
6. It's important to keep your videos in a consistent format to maintain a professional appearance. If you have vertical and horizontal videos in your library, converting them into different aspect ratios can help create a more unified appearance.
7. Expand reach
8. Horizontal videos work well on more platforms like social media and traditional media. By understanding how to change a vertical video to a horizontal one, you can reach a broader audience in different viewing environments in the easiest possible way.
9. Align professionally

The horizontal video format is commonly used in many professional settings. Thus, converting your vertical video to a horizontal can make it more suitable for presentations, corporate videos, or marketing materials with enhanced professionalism while meeting high standards.

3 effective ways to make a vertical video horizontal

If you are wondering how to change vertical video to horizontal, you can use a few methods. Depending on your tools and the look you want, you can choose the best approach. Here are 3 effective methods to perfectly fit your content to any screen:

1. Convert vertical video to horizontal on PC: CapCut desktop video editor

CapCut desktop video editor is known for its easy-to-use design and strong features. It is especially helpful for changing video orientations, size, and aspect ratio, allowing you to easily switch from vertical to horizontal formats. Additionally, it provides other exciting features to fine-tune the video for refined results.



Key features

Below are some features of the CapCut desktop video editor that can help you convert vertical videos to horizontal:

• One-click auto reframe

Auto reframe the video to fit the visuals to vertical screens and center the main subject when converting from vertical to horizontal.

• Manually adjust the aspect ratio

Allows you to manually choose the desired aspect ratio for your needs, ensuring your video fits perfectly across various screen formats.

• Smart fit options

Intelligently resizes video and aligns your content to the new orientation while maintaining the quality and avoiding distortions.

• Desired background fillers

Enables you to add background fillers, such as blurred edges or solid colors, to fill the empty spaces when converting video orientation.

• Effective video stabilization

Reduces shakiness in the footage, ensuring that your video remains stable and professional-looking after conversion.

How to convert vertical video to horizontal with CapCut

To convert a vertical video to a horizontal one using the CapCut desktop video editor, first download it. Click the download button below to get the installer. Once downloaded, follow the simple steps to install the software on your PC.

Step
1. Import the video
2. To begin, open the CapCut desktop video editor. Locate and import your vertical video file. You can do this by clicking the "Import" button or dragging and dropping the file directly into the workspace.
3. 

   

Step
4. Crop and adjust the video's aspect ratio
5. Now, drag the video to the timeline to begin editing. Select the video and click on the "Resize" tool shown just above the timeline. Set the aspect ratio to 16:9 for a horizontal format. You can manually adjust the framing to ensure the main subject is centered.
6. You can also use the "Auto reframe" tool in the right toolbar, which automatically adjusts the video’s size and alignment to fit the new orientation seamlessly. To fill any gaps created during the conversion, you can add background fillers, such as a blurred video version or solid colors.
7. 

   

Step
8. Export and share

Once satisfied with the video's aspect ratio, click "Export" and choose the desired output resolution, frame rate, format, and bitrate. Then, click the "Export" button again to save it to your computer. Moreover, you can directly share it across social media platforms.



2. Convert vertical video to horizontal online: Canva

Canva is a user-friendly platform that helps you create attractive graphics and edit videos online. It's great for turning vertical videos into horizontal ones, even if you're new to video editing. With Canva, you can adjust your video's shape, trim and improve content, and add different backgrounds to make your video look better.

Key features

• Easy drag-and-drop functionality.
• Versatile template library.
• Different design elements.
• Fast processing time.

How to change a portrait video to landscape with Canva

Here is how to convert vertical video to horizontal online with Canva:

Step
1. Open Canva and start a new project
2. To get started, first log in to your Canva account. Click the "Create a design" button and select "Custom Size." Enter the dimensions for a horizontal aspect ratio, such as 16:9.
Step
3. Upload your vertical video
4. To upload your vertical video file, click the "Uploads" tab in the navigation menu. Once the file is uploaded, you can drag and drop the video onto the timeline to begin editing.
Step
5. Adjust the aspect ratio and crop
6. Select the video on the timeline and use the cropping tool to change the aspect ratio to 16:9. You can manually adjust the framing to keep the important parts of the video within the new horizontal format.
Step
7. Add background fillers
8. If there are empty spaces after adjusting the aspect ratio, use Canvas background options to add a filler. You can choose a solid color, pattern, or blurred background to maintain a seamless look.
Step
9. Export your horizontal video

Once satisfied with the edits, click on the "Export" button. Choose the desired quality and format, and download your newly converted horizontal video, which is ready to share.



3. Convert vertical video to horizontal on mobile: CapCut mobile app

The CapCut mobile app is the perfect option for anyone looking for how to convert vertical video into horizontal video on their phone. It has various features like canvas, precise cropping, and video trimming that you can use to fit your social media content on any platform with different video formats. Moreover, it provides advanced options like color adjustments and filters to enhance the visual appeal of your video.

Key features

• User-friendly interface.
• Customizable aspect ratios.
• Variety of canvas to cover empty spaces.
• High-quality export options.

How to change portrait video to landscape with the CapCut mobile app

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

Step
1. Open the app
2. To begin editing your video, first locate the CapCut app on your mobile device and open it. Then, navigate to your gallery within the app and select the specific video you want to edit.
Step
3. Select video
4. Now tap on the video to open it in the editor. Upon doing so, you will be directed to the editing workspace, where you can begin making adjustments to the orientation of the video.
Step
5. Adjust aspect ratio
6. Tao on the "Crop" option among the various other tools and set the format to "16:9". Many other formats can be chosen according to your requirements.
Step
7. Apply background canvas
8. Tap on the "Canvas" option, and select an appropriate background filler like a blur, solid color, or any other specific background. Then, use pinch-to-zoom gestures to resize and position the video within the new landscape frame.
Step
9. Export the video

After you have made all the necessary adjustments to your video, you can tap on the 'Export' button. This will allow you to save your video to easily share or use it as you like.



Maintain the frame when converting the video: Tips and tricks

The content can sometimes become distorted or cropped when you change video formats. To maintain your video's original frame and quality when switching orientations, follow the below-listed tips:

1. Choose the right aspect ratio
2. Selecting the correct aspect ratio is crucial when it comes to making a vertical video to a horizontal video. The standard aspect ratio for vertical videos is 9:16. Before importing your video, ensure your project or canvas is set to this ratio.
3. Use the fit-or-fill options
4. Many video editing tools provide 'Fit' or 'Fill' options. If converting from horizontal to vertical, use the 'Fit' option to adjust your video within the new frame without cropping. The 'Fill' option can help cover the frame completely.
5. Adjust the frame manually
6. Manually adjust the video frame after rotating it. This means zooming in or out and moving the video to fit the new orientation. If you're not sure how to make a vertical video horizontal, this manual adjustment will make sure that your key content stays in view.
7. Check for resolution changes
8. When you change the orientation of a video, the resolution can be affected. Therefore, make sure the video's resolution stays high after conversion. If the quality decreases, you may need to adjust settings or export the video to a higher resolution.
9. Preview before exporting

Review your video before exporting it. This will help you identify any framing issues or distortions caused by changing orientation. Make final adjustments to ensure everything is positioned correctly and the video maintains its intended look and feel.

Conclusion

To sum up, knowing how to make a vertical video horizontal is pretty important. It is key for adapting your content to different screens. Whether you're creating videos for presentations or social media, changing the format can improve the viewer's experience and make your content look better.

However, if you want to use a reliable tool for converting vertical videos to horizontal, then CapCut desktop video editor would be the best choice. With it, you can adjust the video orientation, crop and resize as needed, and fine-tune details to achieve a seamless horizontal presentation.

FAQs

• Is it better to film horizontal or vertical videos?

When deciding between horizontal and vertical video, consider your intended platform. Horizontal videos work well for YouTube and widescreen displays, while vertical videos are best for mobile apps like Instagram and TikTok. To edit and adjust both orientations effectively, consider using the CapCut desktop video editor.

• How to edit vertical video to horizontal for free?

You can edit a vertical video to a horizontal one for free using various online tools and mobile apps. Many platforms offer simple resizing and cropping features. You can either manually adjust the aspect ratio or use the auto-fit options. However, to use all these features for free, employ the CapCut desktop video editor that provides advanced options at no cost.

• Can I make a vertical video horizontally on my iPhone?

Yes, you can convert a vertical video to a horizontal one on your iPhone using apps like CapCut mobile app. These apps typically offer resizing and frame adjustment features. They also provide various canvas options to fill any empty background after conversion. However, try out the CapCut desktop video editor for a robust editing solution for PC.