How to rotate or flip a video in CapCut

The Rotate button only works in quarter turns. For a smaller angle, such as a horizon that’s a few degrees off, use two fingers on the preview: twist to turn, pinch to resize. CapCut snaps back to level as you get close, and a slight zoom hides the corners that open up. On desktop, type an exact value into Rotate under Video → Basic in the panel on the right.

Mirror reflects the clip left to right, which is the fix for a selfie or webcam video with backwards writing (why videos come out mirrored). If your version has no top-to-bottom flip, turn the clip upside down with two taps of Rotate and then Mirror it; that gives the same picture as a vertical flip.

The difference between the two flips, and when each is the right fix, is explained in flipping a video horizontally or vertically.

In the mobile app, Ratio is in the main toolbar when no clip is selected (some versions call it Aspect ratio). Choose 9:16 for TikTok, Reels and Shorts, or 16:9 for YouTube. On desktop, the ratio menu sits under the player preview.

Once the canvas matches the turned clip, pinch or drag the clip so it fills the frame, or use Canvas to put a blurred copy or a colour behind it instead of black. Converting horizontal video to vertical helps you decide between rotating and cropping a landscape shot.

Move the playhead to where the turn should begin, tap Split, do the same where it should end, then select only the middle piece and rotate or mirror it. Everything either side stays as it was. For a gradual turn, add keyframes with the diamond button above the timeline and change the angle between them.

Ordinary CapCut exports don’t put a logo over the picture, but the mobile app has added a short CapCut ending clip to new projects. If you see it at the end of your timeline, select it and delete it before exporting, or switch off the default ending in the app’s settings. Templates and some Pro effects carry their own branding or need a subscription, so check the preview before you post.

CapCut re-encodes the whole clip when it exports. Match the original’s resolution and frame rate (1080p at 30 fps for most phone clips) so the turn doesn’t lower the quality as well.

If the clip just needs to be upright, a full editor is more than you need. Open it in the tool at the top of this page and press Turn right, Turn left or Upside down. With the default settings the turn is written as a rotation flag, so it’s lossless and saves in seconds, with no account, app or watermark; Mirror handles the left-to-right flip. Then import the fixed file into CapCut if you’re still editing. Your phone’s own gallery can rotate too: see rotating a video on iPhone or on Android.