Step-by-Step Guide to Rotating a Video File on Your Computer

Sometimes, you record a video, and when you open it on your computer, it's sideways or even upside down. It can feel annoying, especially when you want to share it with friends or post it online. Luckily, fixing a video's direction is easier than it sounds. You can rotate any video on your computer using simple tools, and you don't have to be a tech expert to do it. In this guide, we'll walk through how to rotate a video file in different ways so you can get it looking just right without stress.

Why Would You Need to Rotate a Video?

Before we get into how to rotate a video, it's helpful to know why it happens in the first place. Most of the time, videos need to be rotated because they were recorded in a different direction than expected. Maybe you held your phone sideways, but the phone didn't switch to landscape mode. Maybe you used a camera that didn't recognize its position. Sometimes, the video gets flipped during file transfers between devices.

Rotating a video simply means turning the whole video around a certain number of degrees. Usually, you rotate it 90 degrees, 180 degrees, or 270 degrees, depending on how it looks. When a video is rotated the right way, it feels easier to watch and looks normal to everyone.

Built-In Tools to Rotate a Video on Windows and Mac

If you’re using a Windows PC or a Mac, you might not even need to download anything new. Both systems have built-in tools that make rotating a video fast and simple.

On Windows, you can use the Photos app. Even though most people think of it only for pictures, it can edit videos, too. Open the Photos app, find your video, click "Edit & Create," then choose "Trim." When you do that, you'll see an option to rotate the video. Each click usually rotates it 90 degrees. Once you've rotated it the right way, you just save a copy. It keeps the original safe in case you want to go back.

On a Mac, the easiest way is with QuickTime Player. QuickTime opens most video files automatically. If your video needs rotating, click "Edit" in the menu, and you’ll see options like "Rotate Left" or "Rotate Right." Like Windows, every click rotates the video another 90 degrees. After rotating, you just click "Export" to save the fixed video.

Free and Easy Software Options for More Control

Sometimes, you want a little more control. Maybe you need to rotate a large batch of videos, adjust angles that aren't exactly 90 degrees, or change the format at the same time. This is where free software tools come in handy.

One popular choice is VLC Media Player. Many people already use VLC to watch movies because it supports almost every video format. But VLC can also rotate videos for free. First, open your video in VLC. Go to "Tools" and then "Effects and Filters." Click on the "Video Effects" tab and then go to the "Geometry" section. Here, you can rotate your video by any angle you want — not just 90 or 180 degrees. After adjusting it, you'll need to "Convert/Save" the video to lock the changes.

Another good tool is HandBrake. HandBrake is a free video converter that can rotate videos while changing their size, format, or quality if needed. Open HandBrake and load your video. Under the "Filters" tab, you'll find rotation options. You can rotate, flip, or even crop your video if parts of the screen don't look right. HandBrake is a little more detailed, so it's great if you want more than just a basic turn.

There are also simple web tools you can use if you don’t want to install anything. Websites like Clideo or Kapwing let you upload your video, rotate it, and download the fixed version. Just keep in mind that uploading large videos can take time, and you’ll need a good internet connection.

Choosing the right tool depends on what you need. If you’re just fixing one short video, Photos or QuickTime is probably enough. But if you’re editing a lot of videos or want fine-tuned control, VLC or HandBrake will give you more options without costing anything.

Step-by-Step: How to Rotate a Video Using VLC

First, if you don’t already have VLC, download it from the official website. It’s a quick and easy install.
Open VLC and click "Media" in the top left, then choose "Open File" to load your video.
Once the video is playing, click "Tools" and then "Effects and Filters."
In the window that pops up, click the "Video Effects" tab, then click "Geometry."
Check the box that says "Transform." Now you can pick "Rotate by 90 degrees," "180 degrees," or other angles.
If you need a custom rotation (like 45 degrees), check "Rotate" instead of "Transform," and use the angle wheel to set it exactly how you want.
After setting the rotation, click "Close" to apply it.
Now, to save the rotated version, click "Media" again and choose "Convert/Save."
In the window that appears, add your video file, then click "Convert/Save."
Pick a destination for the new file, give it a name, and start the conversion.
The new video will be rotated and saved without touching your original file.

This method might sound like a lot of steps, but once you do it once or twice, it feels natural. It’s a great way to fix videos exactly the way you want without paying for expensive software.

Conclusion

Rotating a video on your computer is a simple fix for a common problem. Whether you use built-in tools like Photos or QuickTime or free programs like VLC and HandBrake, you have plenty of easy options to get the job done. The key is finding the method that feels easiest for you. Once you try it once, rotating videos will never feel confusing again. Next time your video turns up sideways, you'll know exactly what to do.