To crop a video on iPhone, open it in the Photos app, tap Edit, tap Crop, then drag the corners or tap the aspect ratio button to pick a shape like Square or 9:16. Tap Done to save. It's free and built in. For a guaranteed MP4 or a quick 4:5 for the Instagram feed, the MobileStudio Crop Video tool works in Safari too.
The short answer
| Goal | Steps in Photos |
|---|---|
| Free crop | Edit > Crop > drag the corners > Done |
| Square video | Edit > Crop > aspect button > Square |
| Vertical 9:16 | Edit > Crop > aspect button > 9:16 |
| Undo a crop | Edit > Revert |
| MP4 output | Use Crop Video in Safari |
How do I crop a video in Photos?
- Open Photos and tap the video.
- Tap Edit, then Crop at the bottom.
- Drag the corners of the frame to the area you want. Drag inside the frame to reposition the video.
- To use a preset shape, tap the aspect ratio button at the top and choose one, such as Square, 9:16, 4:5, or 16:9. Tap the orientation buttons to switch between portrait and landscape versions.
- Tap Done.
Apple documents this in its crop, rotate, and flip guide. The same Crop screen also rotates and straightens video.
How do I undo a crop on iPhone?
Open the video, tap Edit, then Revert, and confirm Revert to Original. Photos keeps the original, so you can always go back.
How do I crop a video to 9:16 on iPhone?
In Edit > Crop, tap the aspect ratio button and choose 9:16. If the video is landscape, the box will be a narrow vertical strip; drag the video so the subject sits inside it. That's the shape for Reels, TikTok, Shorts, and Stories. More in how to make a video vertical.
How do I crop a video for Instagram on iPhone?
| Post type | Crop to |
|---|---|
| Reels and Stories | 9:16 |
| Feed post, portrait | 4:5 |
| Feed post, square | 1:1 |
Instagram accepts Reels between 1.91:1 and 9:16, according to its Reels size help page. Details in how to crop a video for Instagram.
How do I crop a video on iPhone in the browser?
- Open Crop Video in Safari.
- Pick the video from Photos.
- Choose a preset (9:16, 1:1, 4:5, 16:9) or Free.
- Drag the box into place and tap Crop & download.
This exports an H.264 MP4, which plays on Windows and Android without conversion, unlike HEVC MOVs from Photos.
Does cropping on iPhone reduce quality?
The kept area keeps its quality, but there are fewer pixels in the frame. A 4K video cropped to 9:16 still has plenty of detail; a 1080p video cropped hard can look softer. Apple's video editing overview covers the other edits you can make at the same time.
Can I crop a screen recording on iPhone?
Yes. Screen recordings are in Photos, so tap Edit > Crop and remove the status bar or empty areas. Cropping to the part of the app you're showing makes demos easier to follow. See how to screen record on iPhone.
Where MobileStudio fits
Crop Video is one of our free tools. MobileStudio itself turns iPhone screen recordings into polished app demos in any aspect ratio, right on your phone. Get MobileStudio.
Quick FAQ
Can you crop a video on iPhone?
Yes. Open it in Photos, tap Edit, then Crop.
How do I zoom in on a video on iPhone?
Crop it: a smaller crop box acts as a zoom.
Does cropping a video on iPhone remove the original?
No. Use Edit > Revert to restore it at any time.
Why can't I crop a video in Photos?
Shared or iCloud-only videos may need downloading to your library first.
How do I crop a video to square on iPhone?
In Edit > Crop, tap the aspect button and choose Square.
