How to Crop a Video to Square or Vertical (Change Aspect Ratio)
Last updated: June 12, 2026
Want to turn a landscape video into a square for Instagram, or vertical for TikTok? That's cropping. This guide shows you how to change a video's aspect ratio to fit each platform — free, no upload, in your browser.
What is cropping?
Cropping changes a video's aspect ratio by trimming part of the frame — for example, taking just the center of a landscape video to make a 1:1 square. Where trimming cuts time, cropping cuts the frame area. Since social platforms each prefer a certain ratio, cropping to match fills the screen with no empty bars.
How to crop a video
With our crop tool, just pick a ratio and it center-crops automatically. Your video is never uploaded — it's processed in your browser.
- Choose a video (drag & drop).
- Pick a ratio (the white box previews the crop area).
- Click “Crop to this ratio.”
- Download the result.
Which ratio for which platform?
| Ratio | Best for |
|---|---|
| 1:1 (square) | Instagram feed, X, general use |
| 4:5 (portrait) | Instagram feed (uses more screen) |
| 9:16 (full vertical) | TikTok, Instagram Reels/Stories, YouTube Shorts |
| 16:9 (landscape) | YouTube regular videos, widescreen |
Rule of thumb: 9:16 for phone-first apps, 1:1 or 4:5 for feed posts.
Center cropping
The tool crops from the center. If your subject is in the middle, it fits perfectly. If the subject is off to one side it may get cut, so try to keep it centered when filming. The white preview box shows exactly what will be kept.
FAQ
- Q. Does quality drop?
- A. The cropped area keeps its resolution; it re-encodes but the difference is minimal.
- Q. Can I crop somewhere other than the center?
- A. Currently it center-crops. Keep your subject centered for best results.
- Q. It says a server is required.
- A. The engine can't run from file://. Use it on the live site (https://).