To crop a video for TikTok, crop it to 9:16 (1080×1920 pixels) so it fills the phone screen, keeping your subject and any text in the center of the frame. The MobileStudio Crop Video tool's 9:16 preset does this on any device in a few clicks, and the video never leaves your phone or computer.
The short answer
| Setting | TikTok-friendly value |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 |
| Size | 1080×1920 pixels |
| Format | MP4 with H.264 |
| Safe area | Keep text away from the bottom and right edges |
| Source | Vertical recording if possible |
Why crop to 9:16 for TikTok?
TikTok is a full-screen vertical feed. A 9:16 video fills the whole screen, while landscape and square videos play with empty space around them, which makes them easier to scroll past. Cropping to 9:16 before uploading also means you choose what's in frame, instead of TikTok's automatic fit.
How do I crop a landscape video for TikTok?
- Open Crop Video.
- Drop in the landscape video.
- Choose 9:16.
- Drag the vertical box over the subject, and play the preview to check they stay in frame.
- Click Crop & download, then upload the MP4 to TikTok.
A 1080p landscape video gives about a 608-pixel-wide strip, which looks fine on a phone but softer than a native vertical recording. Use 4K footage if you have it. More tips in how to make a video vertical.
How do I crop a video for TikTok on iPhone?
Open the video in Photos, tap Edit > Crop, tap the aspect ratio button, and choose 9:16. Position the frame and tap Done. Apple's crop guide covers the Crop screen, which can also rotate and straighten.
How do I crop a video for TikTok on Android?
Use the browser tool in Chrome, which always has a 9:16 preset. Google Photos' crop options vary by phone, as its editing help notes. See how to crop a video on Android.
Where should text go in a TikTok video?
TikTok places your caption, username, and sounds at the bottom, and the like, comment, and share buttons on the right. Keep important text and faces in the center and upper half of the frame. TikTok's own text tool lets you drag captions into place, as its editing help describes. To burn text into the video before uploading, use Add Text to Video.
Can I crop a video inside TikTok?
TikTok's editor lets you adjust clips, but cropping first gives you precise control and works with any video. It also keeps the same framing if you post the clip to Reels and Shorts, which use 9:16 too. See video aspect ratios explained.
How do I crop a screen recording for TikTok?
Phone screen recordings are already vertical, but taller than 9:16 on most modern phones. Crop a little off the top and bottom, which also removes the status bar, so the app fills the frame cleanly. Desktop screen recordings are landscape: crop to the part of the window that matters, or fit the whole screen over a background if the full interface is the point.
Should I crop or record vertically?
Record vertically whenever you can. Holding the phone upright gives the full resolution in the right shape. Crop when the footage already exists, such as a landscape screen recording, a webinar clip, or a YouTube video you made.
Where MobileStudio fits
Crop Video is one of our free tools. MobileStudio itself turns phone screen recordings into polished, vertical app demos with device frames and zooms, ready for TikTok. Get MobileStudio.
Quick FAQ
What size is a TikTok video?
9:16, usually 1080×1920 pixels.
How do I make a horizontal video fit TikTok?
Crop it to 9:16 with Crop Video, or fit it with bars.
Will TikTok crop my video?
It fits non-vertical videos to the screen. Crop to 9:16 first to control the framing.
Does cropping lower quality on TikTok?
Only by reducing pixels. Start from 4K for the sharpest vertical crop.
Can I use the same crop for Reels and Shorts?
Yes. All three use 9:16.
