The trend of making vertical video content is hot nowadays. But if you’re currently recording videos in landscape mode for YouTube or other platforms, you don’t need to create new content from scratch to join the trend.
Thanks to the growing popularity of vertical videos on platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Snapchat, there are plenty of tools that make the conversion process simple and effective. So, if you want to know how to make a video vertical, well, you have come to the right place.
In this post, we will walk through how to make a vertical video. This will ensure that your content looks interesting and high-quality for mobile viewing.
In this article
Part 1: Primary Methods for Making a Vertical Video
Many people are asking “How to make my video vertical?” After all, vertical videos are essential for platforms like YouTube Shorts, Instagram Reels, and TikTok, as they are optimized for mobile viewing. To create compelling vertical content, it’s important to use the right video editing software that can help you cater to this format with ease.
Among them, Wondershare Filmora is regarded as one of the most potent and efficient video editing programs, making it ideal for both newcomers and experts. Its sophisticated AI features, intuitive interface, and built-in all-around construction make it a very flexible tool for editing and making vertical videos.
Why You Should Pick Filmora:
- Filmora offers various built-in tools that make it simple to convert horizontal videos into vertical formats or edit directly in a vertical aspect ratio.
- Everything is designed to be accessible and simple to navigate. You don’t need to be an expert to produce professional-looking vertical videos.
- Filmora’s AI-driven tools, such as Auto Reframe, make editing vertical videos faster and more precise. These tools automatically detect and keep the subject in focus.
- To save time, Filmora offers many vertical video templates designed specifically for platforms like TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. You can easily apply these templates to streamline the editing process while maintaining a professional look.
- Filmora includes a Video Compressor that allows you to optimize file sizes without compromising video quality. This is especially useful when creating vertical videos for social media, where file size restrictions and faster upload times are important.
- Auto reframe video in 16:9, 1:1, 9:16, 4:3 or 21:9.
- Offers cool video effects and filters to make your video become professional.
- Cross-platform supported - (Windows, Mac, iOS, Android)
- Resize Your Videos Without Quality Lose
There are two generic ways to make a video vertical: cropping and rotating the video. Here, we will show you these strategies using Filmora to ensure you obtain the finest results with the least amount of work.
Method 1: Crop the video
Cropping involves removing the sides of a wide video to fit it into a vertical or square frame. This method trims the edges while keeping the focus on the central content. It’s an easy and effective approach, especially when the main subject of the video is clearly defined and remains the focal point.
Step-by-step Guide on How To Crop the Video
To make a vertical video by cropping in Filmora, you can follow these steps:
Step 1: Import the clip and add it to the timeline.
Step 2: Right-click the video on the timeline and select “Crop and Zoom.”
Step 3: In the Crop and Zoom window, change the ratio to suit what you need. Since you want to make a video vertical, make sure the width is smaller than the height. Typically, you'll select a 9:16 aspect ratio, which is ideal for vertical formats like Instagram Reels or TikTok.
Adjust the cropping box accordingly to center your main content so that the important parts of the video remain within the new frame. To crop the video, select "Apply."
Method 2: Rotate the Video by 90 Degrees
The second method to make a video vertical is by rotating the video by 90 degrees. This approach works if your original video was shot in a horizontal format but needs to be displayed vertically. However, it may result in content distortion or incorrect framing if the original video wasn't designed with this orientation in mind.
Step 1: After adding the video to the timeline, right-click the clip and choose “Rotate 90 CW”
Step 2: Now, your video will be rotated 90 degrees clockwise, making it into a vertical format.
Part 2. How to Make A Video Vertical Using Advanced Method
In addition to the two primary methods before, Filmoraalso offers an advanced option for making a vertical video with its Auto Reframe feature. This feature makes it truly unique—it automatically detects and keeps the subject in focus even after you transform your video to a vertical orientation. Your content will always remain prominent and professional on whatever platform.
Here’s How Auto Reframe in Filmora Works:
Auto Reframe in Filmora uses artificial intelligence to focus on the most essential elements of your videos. Whether your videos are meant for Instagram, YouTube Shorts, or TikTok, this feature will guarantee that they appear flawless when viewed vertically.
Steps To Make a Video Vertical with Auto Reframe
Step 1: When you launch Filmora, locate Toolbox on the left side of the screen. Then, select Auto Reframe from the available options.
Alternatively, you can also access the Auto Reframe feature from Filmora’s editing interface. After importing your video and adding it to the timeline, open the Tools menu and select “Auto Reframe.”
Step 2: Now, you simply choose the ideal aspect ratio from the Auto Reframe window. For a vertical video, you can select the 9:16 aspect ratio.
Step 3: Next, play and pause the video to make any changes you want to the frame. You can manually reposition the framing box using your mouse to achieve the desired composition. Repeat this process as needed throughout the video.
When the video file is converted to a vertical format, you can optimize it by using the video compressor feature. This will compress the file into a much smaller size without quality loss, thus saving space in storage and allowing faster upload to social media sites.
To compress your video with Filmora, click Export. You will then have the option to select your compression method: either By Quality or for YouTube Upload.
When choosing to compress by Quality, you can set the quality level of your video anywhere from 10% to 90%. This way, you can find the right balance between file size and video quality. Meanwhile, if you're preparing your video for YouTube, selecting the YouTube Upload option will automatically adjust the compression to meet the platform's recommended bitrate.
Once you’ve made your selection and adjusted other export settings, click Export. Your video will begin compressing based on the chosen settings.
By following these steps, you can not only make a vertical video but also optimize it by reducing file size without compromising quality, thereby enhancing upload efficiency on social media.
Part 3. How To Make a Video Vertical Online with Adobe Express
Adobe Express gives you another way to make vertical videos. It is specifically tailored for those looking to adapt to the popular 9:16 aspect ratio used on social media platforms such as TikTok and Instagram Reels without installing any app.
Making vertical videos online with Adobe Express is simple. Just follow these steps:
Step 1: Visit the Adobe Express video resizer website. Click “Upload your video” to import and start editing your video.
Step 2: In the editing interface, you can select the template for specific platforms like Instagram or TikTok, and then choose the appropriate aspect ratio designed for vertical videos. Once done, click Download.
Filmora vs. Online Tools Comparison to Make Vertical Video
| Feature | Wondershare Filmora | Adobe Express Online |
| Auto Reframe Feature | Yes (Auto detects and frames) | No |
| Advanced Compression | Yes (High-quality compression) | Yes, but it often results in quality loss. |
| Editing Tools | Comprehensive editing features, including cropping, rotating, and Auto Reframe | Basic editing options like cropping and resizing |
| Export Quality | High-quality exports with customizable settings | Moderate |
Part 4: How To Make Vertical Videos on Mac and Windows
There are alternate ways to make vertical videos easily. You can adjust the aspect ratio using iMovie on Mac or VLC on Windows. These tools let you quickly convert your video to vertical format.
1- Using iMovie (Mac Only)
Another way to make a video vertical on a Mac is to use an aspect ratio in iMovie. To crop your video into a vertical format quickly, follow the following steps.
Step 1: Open iMovie and load your project. From the Project Media view, click the clip to edit.
Step 2: Use the crop icon in the toolbar at the top. A crop frame will now appear over your video. You can reposition the crop area by dragging its edges to choose a vertical aspect ratio.
Step 3: Click the Apply button with a checkmark icon once you are satisfied with your adjustments in order to save all those changes.
2- Using VLC Media Player (Windows Only)
If you use Windows, then another simple way to make a vertical video is by changing the aspect ratio with VLC Media Player.
Step 1: Launch VLC Media Player and go to the menu in the top left. Then, select Media. Pick out the video you wish to edit by clicking the "Open File" option in the drop-down menu.
Step 2: Once the video has loaded, click Video from the menu and scroll over to the Aspect Ratio, selecting the vertical value you want, such as 9:16. VLC will immediately apply a new aspect ratio to your video to make it turn into vertical format.
Conclusion
The modern world of digital technology requires that you make a vertical video, especially if you want to engage your mobile user. If you use Wondershare Filmora or an online tool like Adobe Express, the process is pretty simple and easy to follow. Still, Filmora is best for more pinpointed work and creative control due to its Auto Reframe function and more elaborate editing tools.
If you wish to have professional vertical videos, then start making a vertical video using Wondershare Filmora and get a smooth and high-quality output.
