Wonky videos can be a hurting in the neck---literally! Videos recorded in landscape mode oftentimes look as though they've been made with the phone in portrait way. The result is a video that needs rotating before it can be viewed.

While some mobile apps can't rotate videos, what if the video has already been synced to your PC? Alternatively, it might have been shared with you lot without the sender realizing it was wonky.

Then, how can you rotate a video in Windows Media Player?

Beginning introduced in Windows iii.0, Windows Media Player has been a fixture of Microsoft'due south desktop operating organisation for thirty years. It'southward still available---you'll find it in Windows 10 by tapping Beginning and searching for "windows media". Otherwise, you lot tin can download Windows Media Histrion 12.

Windows Media Histrion 12 has support for H.264 and MPEG-4 Office 2 video formats, MP4 and MOV container formats, AVCHD, and several others.

So, there'due south a skilful adventure that yous're using Windows Media Player to view your videos. But what happens when the video has been recorded in the incorrect orientation?

Sadly, Windows Media Role player does not support video rotation. In fairness, this should non come as much of a surprise. Other tools take been released over the years that offer a far superior media thespian experience.

Windows Media Player is good for playback of video files, including Hard disk drive/Blu-ray standard. Withal, rotation and advanced filters are not options with this tool.

As a result, you will have to use a third-party tool to flip your video.

If you want to continue using Windows Media Player, you'll need some other app to handle things like fixing and rotating videos.

Three cardinal options are available for rotating a video for playback in Windows Media Role player:

  • Free Video Flip and Rotate from DVDVideoSoft
  • RotateMyVideo at rotatemyvideo.net
  • VLC media player from Videolan

Each solution rotates your video with the minimum of fuss, saving it in a format Windows Media Player tin can play.

(Windows Movie Maker can besides rotate videos, merely as this is no longer supported, information technology is not recommended.)

Free Video Flip and Rotate

The beginning way to rotate a video for Windows Media Thespian playback is with Free Video Flip and Rotate.

Kickoff by downloading Free Video Flip and Rotate from DVD Videosoft. This is a free Windows video rotation tool, compatible with Windows XP Service Pack 3 and later. It is particularly suited to Windows 10.

    1. Install and click Add file (or drag your video file into the app window).
    2. With the video selected, check the previews in the main app window. On the left is the default view of the video in its current state. On the right, y'all'll see a preview of how the video looks once rotated.
Free Video Flip and Rotate interface
Rotate videos in Windows
  1. Beneath the video, y'all will detect a row of arrows. The first three are for rotation (the others are for flipping video clips). Click 1 of the arrows to rotate the video.
  2. Select the correct conversion format in the drop-downwardly in the bottom left corner. For Windows Media Player, use MP4. When y'all're ready, click Salvage. The finished video volition be set to the desired orientation.

How to Rotate a Video Online With RotateMyVideo

If y'all don't want to install some other tool, just desire to stick with Windows Media Histrion (despite it being no skilful for rotating videos) why not use an online utility?

RotateMyVideo rotates and flips your videos, letting you download the results to your PC. You might also share it on Facebook or YouTube or download it to your phone.

Windows users should visit the site and click the Pick Video button. Select the video you wish to rotate, so wait every bit it is uploaded to the site. And then follow the simple steps below.

Rotate your video in Windows
  1. Utilise the Rotation arrows to rotate the video left or right, in xc-caste steps.
  2. Change the ratio if necessary and when done click Rotate Video.
  3. Once done, click Download to salvage the rotated video to Windows. You can and then view it in Windows Media Actor.

To rotate a video with VLC media thespian, start past visiting www.videolan.org and downloading the app.

  1. Open up the video via Media > Open up File.
  2. To rotate the video, use Tools > Effects and Filters then Video Furnishings > Geometry.
  3. Look for Transform, check the box, and gear up the drop-down box to rotate equally required. You can rotate videos past 90, 180, or 270 degrees.
  4. Click Salve, then Close to end, and Play to view the fixed video.
Rotate a video for playback in Windows

Unfortunately, this is isn't temporary; it will also rotate all subsequent videos played in VLC media player. As such, remember to disable rotation by clearing the Transform checkbox.

To relieve the rotation and view the rotated video in a dissimilar app such as Windows Media Histrion, use the Convert/Save tool.

    1. First, complete the steps above, then open Media > Catechumen/Save and click Add.
    2. Find the file you wish to rotate, then Convert/Save.
    3. In the subsequent screen, find the conversion Contour and click Settings (spanner icon).
    4. In Profile Edition, click Video Codec > Filters and check the Video transformation filter.
Rotate videos in Windows with VLC
  1. Click Save, then Start to begin the conversion.

VLC media player will display a bar to announce progress. In one case this has completed, click Play to relish the rotated video.

With the file saved, view the rotated video in Windows Media Player or any other player of your choice.

Don't Get a Crick in Your Neck---Rotate Your Videos in Windows!

Incorrectly oriented videos are a massive inconvenience. Rather than rotate your screen, or living with a bad neck, the best solution is to apply software. Nosotros've offered three suggestions to rotate your videos for subsequent viewing in Windows Media Player.

Free Video Flip and Rotate is a useful downloadable utility, while RotateMyVideo is a handy web app. Both effortlessly rotate videos recorded at the incorrect orientation.

Finally, VLC media player can also rotate videos in Windows (and other operating systems). However, it is too an accomplished media player, and tin effortlessly replace Windows Media Player.

VLC media thespian is jam-packed with useful tricks. Check our guide to some of the top free VLC media player features.

Plus, for more manipulation tips, here's how to rotate an prototype in Photoshop.

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Nearly The Author

Christian Cawley (1596 Manufactures Published)

Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained, and Actually Useful Podcast producer, with extensive experience in desktop and software support. A contributor to Linux Format magazine, Christian is a Raspberry Pi tinkerer, Lego lover and retro gaming fan.

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