How to Rotate a Video on Your iPhone - Make Tech Easier

If you capture a video on your iPhone and it appears sideways or upside down, don’t worry—you can easily adjust its orientation afterward. Whether you're using the latest iOS version or an older one, there are multiple straightforward ways to rotate your video—no technical expertise required.

Table of Contents

• Rotate a Video Using the Photos App
• Rotate a Video on iPhone (iOS 12 and Earlier)
• Additional Options for Rotating Videos on iPhone
• Common Issues & Fixes When Rotating Videos

Rotate a Video Using the Photos App

Starting with iOS 13, Apple introduced built-in video rotation tools directly inside the Photos app’s editor—making it simple to fix orientation without third-party software.

Launch the Photos app, locate your video, then tap the Edit button at the bottom. Next, select Crop to access rotation and framing controls.

Tap the Rotate icon at the top of the screen to turn the video in 90-degree increments. Continue tapping until the video displays correctly.

Once satisfied, tap Done to apply and save the changes.

Note: While the Photos app is compatible with all iOS versions, full video editing—including rotation—is only available on iOS 13 and newer. Photo rotation works on earlier versions, but video editing does not.

Rotate a Video on iPhone (iOS 12 and Earlier)

Even if you’re running iOS 12 or an older system, rotating videos is still possible. The solution? Use iMovie, Apple’s free video editing app.

Open iMovie, choose Start New Project → Magic Movie, then pick the video from your library. iMovie pulls content directly from your Photos app.

Place two fingers on the preview screen and twist them to rotate the video manually. A white arrow will appear, indicating the direction of rotation. Repeat as needed until the orientation matches your preference. Tap Done, and the edited version will be saved automatically to your camera roll. You can repeat this process for any additional clips.

Alternatively, open the video in the Photos app, tap the three-dot menu (⋯), and select iMovie to launch the editor directly with that clip loaded.

Additional Options for Rotating Videos on iPhone

iMovie isn’t your only option—several other free apps offer reliable video rotation, especially useful when dealing with inverted or flipped footage.

Keep in mind that feature availability may vary depending on your iOS version. All the following apps are free to download and support basic rotation:

• Google Photos – Though designed for Android, Google Photos runs smoothly on iPhone. Open your video, go to the Crop editor, and use the Rotate button—it functions just like the one in Apple’s Photos app.
• Video Rotate Flip – As the name suggests, this app specializes in quick orientation adjustments. Use the intuitive editor to rotate or flip your video with a single tap.
• InShot – A powerful yet user-friendly editor that includes rotation among its many features. Start a new project, import your video, and tap Rotate from the toolbar below the preview.
• CapCut – Even if you don’t plan to use advanced effects, CapCut makes rotation effortless. Begin a project, select your video, tap the timeline, open the Edit menu, and keep tapping Rotate until the angle is right. If CapCut is temporarily unavailable, try one of the alternatives listed here for photo and video editing.
• Filmora – For AI-powered enhancements, Filmora lets you rotate while leveraging smart editing tools. Create a new project, add your video, tap it in the timeline, and select Rotate from the context menu.

Which app suits you best depends on your iOS version and whether you need extra editing capabilities beyond simple rotation.

Common Issues & Fixes When Rotating Videos

If your video won’t rotate—or seems stuck in one orientation—check if Orientation Lock is turned on. This setting prevents automatic screen rotation, which can interfere with both playback and editing.

Swipe down to open Control Center, then tap the Orientation Lock icon (a small lock symbol). If it’s highlighted in red, tap it to disable. If it’s grey, it’s already off.

Also, some third-party apps may lack full functionality on outdated iOS versions. Before downloading, verify that the app supports your device’s operating system. You might be able to install and open it, but editing or exporting could fail silently.

Lastly, if your rotated video disappears after editing, double-check where the app saves output files. The Photos app stores edits directly in your library. Third-party apps may save to a separate folder—review the app’s settings or file manager to locate your final clip.

No matter which method you choose, always back up your original videos before editing. Losing important footage is avoidable with a solid backup routine. Check out our guide on how to back up your iPhone if you’re unsure where to begin. Also, see our troubleshooting tips for fixing cellular data issues on iPhone or iPad.

iMovie Price: Free Download .app-info{background-color:#464646;border-radius:5px;color:white;} .app-name{font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;color:white}.app-name a{color:white;text-decoration:none;} Google Photos Price: Free (with in-app purchase) Download .app-info{background-color:#464646;border-radius:5px;color:white;} .app-name{font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;color:white}.app-name a{color:white;text-decoration:none;} Video Flip Rotate Price: Free (with in-app purchase) Download .app-info{background-color:#464646;border-radius:5px;color:white;} .app-name{font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;color:white}.app-name a{color:white;text-decoration:none;} InShot Price: Free (with in-app purchase) Download .app-info{background-color:#464646;border-radius:5px;color:white;} .app-name{font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;color:white}.app-name a{color:white;text-decoration:none;} CapCut Price: Free (with in-app purchase) Download .app-info{background-color:#464646;border-radius:5px;color:white;} .app-name{font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;color:white}.app-name a{color:white;text-decoration:none;} Filmora Price: Free (with in-app purchase) Download .app-info{background-color:#464646;border-radius:5px;color:white;} .app-name{font-size:1.5rem;font-weight:bold;color:white}.app-name a{color:white;text-decoration:none;}

The above is the detailed content of How to Rotate a Video on Your iPhone - Make Tech Easier. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!