Wonky videos can be a pain in the neck---literally! Videos recorded in landscape style often look as though they've been made with the phone in portrait style. The outcome is a video that needs rotating earlier 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 without the sender realizing it was wonky.

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

First introduced in Windows 3.0, Windows Media Player has been a fixture of Microsoft'south desktop operating system for thirty years. Information technology's still available---you'll find it in Windows x by tapping First and searching for "windows media". Otherwise, you can download Windows Media Thespian 12.

Windows Media Actor 12 has support for H.264 and MPEG-4 Part ii video formats, MP4 and MOV container formats, AVCHD, and several others.

So, there'south a adept chance that you're using Windows Media Role player to view your videos. But what happens when the video has been recorded in the incorrect orientation?

Sadly, Windows Media Player does not back up video rotation. In fairness, this should not come as much of a surprise. Other tools have been released over the years that offer a far superior media player experience.

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

Every bit a result, you will take to use a 3rd-party tool to flip your video.

If yous want to go on using Windows Media Role player, you'll need some other app to handle things like fixing and rotating videos.

Three key options are bachelor for rotating a video for playback in Windows Media Player:

  • Gratis 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 can play.

(Windows Movie Maker tin also rotate videos, only as this is no longer supported, it is not recommended.)

Free Video Flip and Rotate

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

Start past downloading Complimentary Video Flip and Rotate from DVD Videosoft. This is a complimentary Windows video rotation tool, compatible with Windows XP Service Pack 3 and after. 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 electric current state. On the right, you'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, you lot will observe a row of arrows. The first three are for rotation (the others are for flipping video clips). Click one of the arrows to rotate the video.
  2. Select the correct conversion format in the drop-down in the lesser left corner. For Windows Media Player, employ MP4. When you're set up, click Save. The finished video volition exist set to the desired orientation.

How to Rotate a Video Online With RotateMyVideo

If you don't want to install some other tool, but desire to stick with Windows Media Actor (despite it being no good for rotating videos) why non utilize 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 Selection Video button. Select the video you wish to rotate, then wait every bit it is uploaded to the site. And then follow the simple steps beneath.

Rotate your video in Windows
  1. Use the Rotation arrows to rotate the video left or right, in xc-degree steps.
  2. Modify the ratio if necessary and when done click Rotate Video.
  3. In one case washed, click Download to relieve the rotated video to Windows. You lot tin can then view it in Windows Media Player.

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

  1. Open the video via Media > Open File.
  2. To rotate the video, utilize Tools > Furnishings and Filters then Video Effects > Geometry.
  3. Await for Transform, check the box, and set the drop-downwards box to rotate as required. Yous can rotate videos by 90, 180, or 270 degrees.
  4. Click Save, so Shut to finish, and Play to view the fixed video.
Rotate a video for playback in Windows

Unfortunately, this is isn't temporary; information technology volition also rotate all subsequent videos played in VLC media actor. As such, recollect to disable rotation by clearing the Transform checkbox.

To relieve the rotation and view the rotated video in a different app such as Windows Media Player, utilise the Catechumen/Save tool.

    1. Starting time, complete the steps higher up, and then open Media > Convert/Save and click Add together.
    2. Find the file yous wish to rotate, and then Convert/Salve.
    3. In the subsequent screen, discover the conversion Profile 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 Salve, so Start to begin the conversion.

VLC media player will brandish a bar to denote progress. One time this has completed, click Play to enjoy the rotated video.

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

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 use software. We've offered three suggestions to rotate your videos for subsequent viewing in Windows Media Actor.

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

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

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

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

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Well-nigh The Writer

Christian Cawley (1599 Articles Published)

Deputy Editor for Security, Linux, DIY, Programming, and Tech Explained, and Really Useful Podcast producer, with all-encompassing 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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