To rotate a video in VLC for viewing, open Tools > Effects and Filters (on Mac, Window > Video Effects), go to Video Effects > Geometry, tick Transform, and choose a rotation. That only changes playback. To save the rotated video, convert it with a rotate filter, or use the MobileStudio Rotate & Flip Video tool, which saves an upright MP4 in a few clicks.
The short answer
| Goal | How |
|---|---|
| Watch it upright in VLC | Effects and Filters > Geometry > Transform |
| Save a rotated file with VLC | Media > Convert / Save, with the rotate filter on |
| Save a rotated file quickly | Rotate & Flip Video |
| Rotate on the command line | FFmpeg transpose filter |
How do I rotate a video in VLC for playback?
On Windows:
- Open the video in VLC.
- Choose Tools > Effects and Filters (Ctrl+E).
- Open the Video Effects tab, then Geometry.
- Tick Transform and choose Rotate by 90 degrees, 180, or 270.
- Click Close.
On Mac: choose Window > Video Effects, open Geometry, tick Transform, and pick the rotation.
The setting can stick for the next videos you open, so untick it when you're done.
How do I save a rotated video in VLC?
- Choose Media > Convert / Save (on Mac, File > Convert / Stream).
- Add the video and click Convert / Save.
- Pick a profile such as Video - H.264 + MP3 (MP4) and click the wrench icon to edit it.
- In Video codec > Filters, tick Video transformation filter.
- Save the profile, then open Tools > Preferences, set Show settings to All, go to Video > Filters > Transformation, and pick the rotation.
- Choose a destination file and click Start.
It works, but it's easy to miss a step. Settings move between VLC versions, too.
Is there an easier way to save a rotated video?
Yes:
- Open Rotate & Flip Video in Edge, Chrome, or Safari.
- Drop in the video.
- Click Left 90° or Right 90°, and Flip if needed.
- Click Export MP4.
The rotation is baked into the picture, so the file plays upright everywhere, including in VLC with no effects turned on.
How do I rotate a video with FFmpeg instead?
ffmpeg -i in.mp4 -vf "transpose=1" -c:a copy out.mp4
transpose=1 is 90 degrees clockwise and transpose=2 is counterclockwise. For 180 degrees, use -vf "transpose=1,transpose=1". The FFmpeg documentation explains the filter. VLC and FFmpeg share many of the same libraries, so the results are similar.
Why does my video play sideways in VLC but not on my phone?
The phone reads the orientation note in the file; VLC may be showing the raw picture, especially with older files or after a conversion. Either rotate playback as above, or fix the file once with the browser tool. More in how to fix a sideways video.
Why is my converted VLC file still sideways?
The rotate filter wasn't applied to the conversion. Check that Video transformation filter is ticked in the profile's Filters tab and that the rotation is set under Preferences > All > Video > Filters > Transformation before you click Start. If the profile uses Keep original video track, VLC copies the video without filters, so untick it.
Can I rotate a video with Clipchamp instead of VLC?
Yes, on Windows 11. Select the clip, choose Rotate from the floating toolbar's menu, and export. Microsoft's Clipchamp guide covers editing. See how to rotate a video on Windows.
Where MobileStudio fits
Rotate & Flip Video is one of our free tools. MobileStudio itself turns phone screen recordings into polished app demos. Get MobileStudio.
Quick FAQ
Can VLC permanently rotate a video?
Yes, by converting with the rotate filter on, but it takes several steps.
Why does VLC keep rotating every video?
The Transform effect is still ticked. Untick it in Effects and Filters.
How do I rotate a video 90 degrees in VLC?
Tools > Effects and Filters > Video Effects > Geometry > Transform > Rotate by 90 degrees.
Does rotating in VLC reduce quality?
Converting re-encodes the video, so use a high-quality profile.
What's the fastest way to save a rotated video?
The browser tool: rotate and export.
