How to Rotate a Video on Instagram

Filmed an amazing video for Instagram, only to realize you were holding your phone sideways? It’s a frustratingly common problem, and when you open the Instagram app to post, you find there’s no obvious button to fix it. This guide cuts right to the solution, showing you exactly how to rotate your video so it looks perfect for your Feed, Stories, or Reels. We’ll cover the quickest methods using your phone's built-in tools, free desktop editors, and the best third-party apps for the job.

So, Why Can't I Rotate a Video in the Instagram App?

This is the first question everyone asks, and it’s a valid one. You can trim clips, add filters, stickers, and music, so why not a simple rotation? The answer comes down to Instagram's design philosophy. Instagram isn't built to be a full-fledged video editor, it’s a content sharing platform.

Its editing features are designed for final-touch enhancements, not fundamental corrections. The app expects your media to be largely "post-ready" when you upload it. While this might seem inconvenient, it keeps the posting process streamlined. The good news is that fixing a video's orientation is incredibly easy if you do it before you hit the upload button, and you almost certainly already have the tools to do it for free.

How to Rotate an Instagram Video the Easy Way: Use Your Phone's Built-In Tools

For 99% of sideways videos, this is the fastest and most effective solution. You don’t need to download any new apps or pay for software. Your phone’s native photo library app can handle this in seconds.

For iPhone and iPad Users (Using the Photos App)

Apple’s Photos app has a surprisingly powerful and intuitive editor built right in. If you filmed your video on an iPhone, this should be your first stop. The process takes less than 30 seconds.

• Step 1: Open the Photos app. Find the app on your home screen and open it to view your camera roll.
• Step 2: Find and select your video. Scroll through your library to find the video you want to rotate and tap on it to open it.
• Step 3: Tap 'Edit'. In the top-right corner of the screen, you’ll see the word "Edit." Tap it to open the editing tools.
• Step 4: Go to the Crop/Rotate tool. Along the bottom of the screen, you'll see a row of icons. Tap the last one on the right - it looks like a square with rotation arrows. This is the crop and rotate screen.
• Step 5: Rotate the video. In the top-left corner, there are two icons. The one that looks like a box with a curved arrow is the rotate button. Tap this button once to rotate the video 90 degrees. Keep tapping it until the orientation is correct.
• Step 6: Save your changes. Once the video looks right, tap the yellow "Done" button in the bottom-right corner. The app will save your rotated video, replacing the original. Now, when you go to Instagram to upload, you can select this newly corrected version.

For Android Users (Using Google Photos)

While different Android manufacturers (like Samsung or Pixel) have their own Gallery apps, the Google Photos app is a standard across most devices and offers a simple way to rotate video. The process is just as quick as it is on an iPhone.

• Step 1: Open the Google Photos app. Find and launch the app.
• Step 2: Select the video you need to fix. Tap on the sideways video to open it.
• Step 3: Tap 'Edit'. Look for the "Edit" button at the bottom of the screen and tap it to reveal the editing options.
• Step 4: Navigate to the Crop tool. At the bottom of the next screen, you’ll likely see options like 'Suggestions,' 'Crop,' 'Tools,' etc. Swipe along this menu and tap on "Crop."
• Step 5: Tap the rotate icon. Now that you're in the cropping interface, you'll see a rotate icon - it typically looks like a square with a single arrow. Tap it repeatedly until your video is oriented correctly. You can also drag the corners to adjust framing if needed.
• Step 6: Tap 'Save copy'. Once you're done, tap the "Save copy" button. Google Photos will create a new, rotated version of the video in your camera roll, leaving the original file untouched. You can now upload the new version to Instagram.

Rotating a Video on Your Computer Before Uploading

If your video file is on your computer, you can fix it just as easily without needing to buy professional software like Adobe Premiere Pro. Both Mac and Windows computers come with free, pre-installed tools that get the job done quickly.

On a Mac (Using QuickTime Player)

QuickTime Player is more than just a video viewer, it has some basic editing features, including rotation.

• Step 1: Open your video with QuickTime Player. Right-click the video file and choose "Open With" >, "QuickTime Player."
• Step 2: Find the Rotate options. With the video open, click on "Edit" in the menu bar at the very top of your screen.
• Step 3: Choose your rotation. In the dropdown menu, you will see options like "Rotate Left," "Rotate Right," "Flip Horizontal," and "Flip Vertical." Click "Rotate Left" or "Rotate Right" as many times as needed.
• Step 4: Save the new video. To save the change, go to "File" >, "Export As" and choose a quality (1080p is usually perfect for Instagram). Give it a new name and save it. You can now send this file to your phone or upload it directly to Instagram via your web browser.

On a Windows PC (Using the Clipchamp App)

Modern Windows versions come with a shockingly capable and free video editor called Clipchamp. If you have an older version of Windows, the classic "Photos" app can also rotate videos, but Clipchamp has become the standard.

• Step 1: Open Clipchamp. You can find it by searching in your Start Menu.
• Step 2: Create a new video. Click "Create a new video" and drag your video file into the "Import media" area.
• Step 3: Add the video to your timeline. Drag the video from the media library down into the timeline at the bottom of the screen.
• Step 4: Rotate the clip. Click on the video in the timeline to select it. A small floating toolbar will appear near the video preview window. On that toolbar, you'll find a rotate icon. Click it until the video has the right orientation.
• Step 5: Export your video. Click the "Export" button in the top-right corner, select your desired quality (1080p is recommended), and save the file to your computer.

Using Third-Party Apps for More Editing Control

Sometimes you need more than just a simple rotation. Maybe you want to crop the video to a specific aspect ratio (like 4:5 for the Instagram feed) or add text and graphics. This is where free mobile editing apps shine. Apps like CapCut, InShot, and VN Video Editor are powerhouse tools that creators of all levels use.

A Quick Guide to Rotating a Video in InShot

InShot is a popular and very user-friendly app for quick edits.

• Step 1: Download InShot from the App Store or Google Play Store and open it.
• Step 2: Tap on "Video" and then "New" to start a new project. Select the video you want to edit from your camera roll.
• Step 3: Once the video is loaded into the timeline, swipe through the toolbar at the bottom until you find the "Rotate" tool.
• Step 4: Tap "Rotate" once. Your video will turn 90 degrees. Tap it again if needed. Next to it, you'll also see "Flip" if you need to mirror the video.
• Step 5: After rotating, you can use the "Canvas" tool to set the aspect ratio for Instagram - for example, 9:16 for a Reel or 4:5 for a feed post.
• Step 6: Tap the export icon (usually a box with an upward-facing arrow) in the top-right corner to save the video back to your phone.

It's Not Just About Rotation: Choosing the Right Orientation for Instagram

Rotating your video is a technical fix, but ensuring it has the right orientation is a strategic one. To get the best engagement, your video should be formatted for the specific way it will be viewed on Instagram.

Understanding Instagram's Main Formats

• Stories &, Reels (9:16 Vertical): This is the full-screen, vertical orientation. Content designed for Stories and Reels should always be 9:16. It fills the entire mobile screen, creating an immersive experience that commands a user's full attention. A horizontal video posted to Reels will appear tiny, surrounded by black bars, and is almost guaranteed to get swiped away instantly.
• Feed Posts (4:5 Recommended): While you can post square (1:1) or horizontal (16:9) videos to your feed, the optimal format is a vertical 4:5 ratio. Why? It takes up the most vertical real estate in the feed without getting cut off, grabbing more attention as someone scrolls. A 16:9 horizontal video appears as a thin sliver and is easily missed.

Why the Right Orientation Boosts Engagement

It all boils down to creating a seamless user experience. People hold their phones vertically. When you present them with content that fits that natural behavior, you reduce friction. A viewer doesn't have to awkwardly turn their phone to watch your video, an action most people won’t take.

Content that fills the screen feels more native to the platform, more professional, and more engaging. This leads to longer watch times and better interaction, which are positive signals to the Instagram algorithm, meaning your content is more likely to be shown to others.

Final Thoughts

Fixing a sideways video for Instagram is wonderfully straightforward once you know the secret: do it before you upload. By using your phone's built-in Photos app or a simple desktop tool, you can correct the orientation in under a minute and have your content ready to go. This small step ensures your videos look polished and professional, helping you make a better impression on your audience.

Once your video is perfectly oriented and edited, getting it scheduled and in front of your audience is the next step. Managing a content calendar, especially one heavy with video, can become complicated. This is where an effective social media tool makes all the difference. We built Postbase to be a video-first platform, simplifying the process of planning and scheduling Reels, Stories, and TikToks from one clean visual calendar. It clears the path for you to focus on creating great content, not fighting with outdated workflows and unreliable posting.