How do I rotate an MP4 video 90 degrees?
Open it in the tool at the top of this page, select Right or Left until it is upright, and export with the Expand canvas. Only the rotation flag changes, so it is lossless and nearly instant.
How to rotate a video in Windows
Quick answer: Windows has no one-click way to rotate a video and save it. File Explorer's rotate buttons only work on images, and the Photos app is built for viewing. To save a rotated copy, use Clipchamp, Microsoft's free video editor, or the tool at the top of this page.
For a plain 90°, 180° or 270° turn, the browser tool is the most direct route: it rewrites the MP4's orientation flag instead of re-encoding, so it's lossless and you don't need an account.
Rotate a video in Windows with Clipchamp
Clipchamp comes with Windows 11 and is a free download from the Microsoft Store on Windows 10. You sign in with a Microsoft account. Its layout changes from time to time, so look for the controls described rather than an exact position.
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Start a new video
Open Clipchamp from the Start menu and create a new video project.
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Add your clip
Import your video, or drag it in from File Explorer, then drag it onto the timeline.
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Rotate it
Select the clip and use the rotate control, in the toolbar over the preview or the properties panel depending on your version. Each click turns it 90°. Flip options sit alongside it.
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Match the aspect ratio
If the clip changed from landscape to portrait, or the reverse, change the project aspect ratio (for example from 16:9 to 9:16) so you don’t get black bars.
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Export
Select Export, choose a resolution such as 1080p, and Clipchamp saves an MP4 to your PC.
What about the Photos app and Media Player?
The Windows Photos app and Media Player are players first. Any rotation you apply while watching changes the view, not the file, so the video is sideways again in any other app. In Windows 11, Photos hands video editing over to Clipchamp.
On Windows 10, the older Photos app included a Video Editor that could rotate clips and export the result. Microsoft has since replaced it with Clipchamp; if you still have Photos Legacy installed, the Video Editor lives there.
VLC can rotate playback quickly and save a rotated file with some setup; see how to rotate a video in VLC.
How to rotate an MP4 video without losing quality
MP4 and MOV files can carry a rotation flag that tells players which way up to show the picture. Phones set it every time you record. Editors such as Clipchamp re-encode the whole video when they export, which takes time and can soften detail. For a quarter turn, the tool above changes only the flag, so the video and audio are copied untouched.
- Drop the MP4 onto the tool at the top of this page.
- Select Right or Left (or press ] or [) until it's upright. Leave Canvas set to Expand.
- Select Export video, then Download. The note under the controls reads "Lossless and instant" when no re-encode is needed.
Trimming, or changing the format, size or quality in Export settings, means a re-encode. If an old player or editor still shows the video sideways, turn on Maximum compatibility. That bakes the turn into the picture, so even players that ignore the flag show it upright.
Which method should you use?
- A quick quarter turn on an MP4 or MOV: the browser tool. It's lossless, with no install and no account.
- Rotating as part of a bigger edit: Clipchamp, which also handles titles, music and transitions.
- A professional project: an editor such as Premiere Pro; see how to rotate a video in Premiere Pro.
- A mirrored or back-to-front clip: flip a video horizontally or vertically, or un-mirror a selfie video.
- Just watching: rotate playback in VLC and leave the file alone.
Rotating video in Windows: FAQ
Can I rotate a video in Windows Media Player?
Windows Media Player doesn’t have an option to rotate and save a video. Use Clipchamp, VLC, or the browser tool on this page.
Why can’t I rotate a video in File Explorer?
File Explorer’s rotate buttons only work on images. Videos need an editor, or a tool like the one above.
Is Clipchamp free?
Clipchamp has a free plan that covers rotating a clip and exporting it at 1080p. Some premium features need a paid subscription.
Which browsers does the tool work in on Windows?
It works in modern browsers on Windows 10 and 11, including Microsoft Edge, which comes with Windows. Nothing is installed or uploaded.
How do I rotate a video on Windows 10?
Install Clipchamp from the Microsoft Store and follow the steps above, use the Video Editor in Photos Legacy if you still have it, or rotate the file in the browser tool on this page.
Will rotating overwrite my original video?
No. Clipchamp and the browser tool both save a new file, so the original stays exactly as it was until you delete it.
My rotated video still plays sideways in an old program. Why?
Some older players and editors ignore the rotation flag. Rotate it again with Maximum compatibility turned on, which re-encodes the video with the turn built into the picture.