How to Rotate a Video in Windows Media Player

Lee Stanton September 24, 2022

If you’re wondering how to rotate a video in Windows Media Player, the short answer is – you can’t. Unfortunately, the built-in media player doesn’t have a unique feature that allows you to do that.

However, Windows users should know there are plenty of other solutions available in the Microsoft Store. In this article, we’ll talk about the best video editing programs with the most user-friendly tools.

How to Rotate a Video in Windows Media Player?

When it comes to built-in media players, Windows Media Player is pretty solid. It supports a wide range of formats, including both MP4 and MOV. Unfortunately, it lacks some more advanced editing tools. That means you can’t rotate a video in Windows Media Player directly.

However, Windows 10 has built-in editing software that can change the orientation of your video. You can access it via the Photos app on your PC. Here’s how to rotate a video in Video Editor:

Open the Start menu by clicking on the small Windows icon in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
Now, scroll down and click on the Photos app.
Click on the small downward arrow next to the More tab. Select Video Editor from the drop-down menu. You can also use the Search Function to access Video Editor.
Click on the New video project box. A small pop-up window will open asking you to name the video. Press Skip.
Click on the + Add button under Project library to open a drop-down menu. If you want to upload a file from your local drive, choose From this PC. Locate the folder containing the video and click Open. You can also drag and drop the video into the Project library box.
Select the uploaded video and then click Place in storyboard. Drag-and-drop works too.
You’ll see a toolbar under the video. Click on the rotate icon on the right-hand side. Tap until you set the desired rotation.
A quicker way to do it is by using the Ctrl + R keyboard shortcut.
Once you’re done rotating, click the Finish Video button in the top-right corner. A small pop-up video will appear. Set the video quality by choosing one of the options from the drop-down menu.
Click Export to complete the process.

How to Rotate a Video with VLC?

When compared to Windows Media Player, VLC has some more advanced features. It acts as both a media player and a video converter. You can download it for free and use it for editing videos. Here’s how to change the orientation with VLC:

Open your video in the VLC player.
Click on the Tools tab on the menu above. Select Effects and Filters from the drop-down list. You can also use the Ctrl + E keyboard shortcut.
A small pop-up window will appear. Click on the Video Effects section and then the Geometry sub-tab.
Check the little box next to Transform. Change the rotation of your video by selecting one of the options from the list.
If you want to change the rotation to a fixed angle, choose the appropriate setting. There are three options available in the drop-down menu: 270 degrees, 180 degrees, and 90 degrees.
To flip the video, choose either the horizontal flip or vertical flip from the drop-down menu.
You can also simultaneously flip and rotate your video. Click Transpose to flip the video horizontally and rotate by 270 degrees to the right. Click Anti-transpose to flip vertically and rotate by 90 degrees to the right.
If you want to change the orientation to a specific angle, check the Rotate box below. Move the dialer with your cursor to rotate the video.
Click Close when you’re done.

Additional FAQs

How Do I Permanently Rotate a Video?

If you want to keep the orientation even when the video’s not playing, there are some extra steps. Here’s how to permanently save the rotation setting in VLC:

1. Open the VLC player and click on the Media tab.

2. Click Convert/Save or use the Ctrl + R shortcut.

3. A small pop-up window will appear. Select the + Add button to upload your video.

4. Click Convert/Save to open a new window.

5. Under Convert, click on the small Settings icon.

6. Open the Video Codec tab, select Filters, and check the box next to Video transformation filter. Also, turn Rotate video Filter on to set the orientation to a fixed angle.

7. Open the section that reads Audio codec. In the Encoding parameters dialog, open the Codec drop-down menu and choose MP3 from the list of options.

8. Click Save.

9. Choose a preferred folder for the file from the Convert section and click Start.

10. To complete the process, click Play.

Why Is My Video Sideways on Windows Media Player?

There are several reasons why your video is sideways on Windows Media Player. For example, older versions of the app can’t support videos recorded in landscape mode. You can try reinstalling Windows Media Player to get the latest updates. Here’s how to do it:

1. Type “Features” in the search dialog box. Click Turn Windows features on or off.

2. A small pop-up window will appear. Locate Media Features and check the box to open a drop-down list.

3. Remove the checkmark from the box next to Windows Media Player.

4. Go back to Start and restart your computer.

5. Re-open the Turn Windows features on or off control panel, go to Media Features and expand. This time, check the Windows Media Player box and click OK.

7. Restart your PC one last time.

However, sometimes the problem is caused by the latest Windows update. Here’s how to check if that’s the case:

1. Write “system restore” in the search dialog box. Click on Create a restore point to open the System Properties window.

2. Then, click System Restore.

3. A new pop-up window will appear. Click Next to open a list of restore points. Select the update you think caused the problem and click Next.

4. Wait until the system restore is complete. It can take several minutes.

5. After it’s done, re-open Windows Movie Player to check if the video is functioning properly.

What Is the Best Way to Rotate Videos?

When it comes to Windows 10, the most compatible editing program is the Movie Maker. It offers a wide range of advanced editing tools that don’t require much skill. Here’s how to rotate videos in Movie Maker 10:

1. Open Movie Maker and go to the Quick Tools section.

2. Click on the Rotate Video tool.

3. Upload the file from your computer.

4. Choose Rotate Left to rotate the video by 90 degrees clockwise. Choose Rotate Right to rotate counterclockwise by 90 degrees.

5. You can also flip the video vertically (Vertical flip) or horizontally (Horizontal flip).

6. Before you save the changes, click Preview for a sneak peek.

7. If you’re satisfied, click on the Save video icon in the bottom-right corner.

8. A small Video encoding options window will appear, check the boxes to choose the format, resolution, and encoder.

9. Select a destination folder for your video and click Save.

Unlike Windows Media Player, the built-in video player for macOS has a tool for rotating. Here’s how to do it:

1. Click the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen to access Spotlight.

2. Type “QuickTime” in the dialog box to locate the media player. Double tap it to start.

3. Go to the File > Open File. Browse your local drive and find the video file you want to edit.

4. Open the Edit section on the menu bar above.

5. Choose Rotate Left from the drop-down menu to rotate clockwise. For counterclockwise rotation, click Rotate Right. Each time you click, the orientation will change by 90 degrees.

6. To save the video, go back to the File section. Choose Export from the drop-down menu.

7. Set the video quality and then click Save.

You can also rotate videos on your iPhone or Android device. Both Google Play and the App Store have a wide range of video editing programs you can download for free. Here’s a list of apps that have a rotate video feature:

· Rotate Video FX (Android).

· Smart Video Rotate and Flip – Rotator and Flipper (Android).

· Video Rotate: Video Flip (Android).

· Video Rotate and Flip (iOS).

· Video Rotate + Flip Video Easy (for iPad).

How Do I Rotate a Video in Windows?

Windows Movie Maker, the original editing tool for Windows, was officially discontinued in 2012. However, the new Photos app feature is a suitable replacement. You can use it for rotating videos, adjusting the video quality settings, and much more.

Another solution is to download a video editing app. One of the more popular ones for Windows 10 is Movie Maker 10. You can get it from the Microsoft Store app on your PC.

However, if you don’t have Windows 10, you won’t be able to use either Movie Maker or Video Editor. Luckily, there are other third-party tools available for older versions of Windows. Some even resemble the Windows Movie Maker with their interface and editing tools.

Here’s a list of third-party programs you can use on Windows 7 and 8:

· VideoLAN Movie Creator

· Shotcut

· VSDC Free Video Editor

· Avidemux

· VideoPad Video Editor

See You on the Flip Side

While Windows Media Player lives up to its name, it’s not useful for anything other than playback. If you want to change your video’s orientation, you have to use a different app. Although Windows Movie Maker is no longer available, the new built-in editing tool works even better.

You can also download a video editing program for more fine-tuning. The Movie Maker 10 is probably the most compatible with Windows 10. However, if you have an older version of Windows, you can use VLC player to tweak your videos.

Which do you prefer – VLC or Windows Media Player? What’s your favorite editing tool? Comment below and tell us if there’s another way to rotate videos in Windows Media Player.