Reframe a Landscape Video for TikTok (9:16) — Free
TikTok's 9:16 vertical frame turns half a landscape video into useless letterboxing. This guide crops smartly to keep the subject centered without losing meaningful action.
Step-by-step
Crop to 9:16 with subject centered
Open the Video Crop tool, pick the 9:16 preset, and drag the crop window to follow the main subject.
Resize to 1080×1920
Use the Resizer to hit TikTok's native resolution. Avoids server-side upscaling and preserves sharpness.
Burn in captions (optional)
Most TikTok viewers watch with sound off. Use the Video Text tool to burn in captions or hooks for the first 3 seconds.
Recommended settings
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 vertical |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 1080 × 1920 |
| Max duration | 10 minutes (most accounts) |
| Codec / format | H.264 + AAC in MP4 |
Check before you publish
- Check the subject stays inside the crop for the whole clip, not just the frame you set it on. Someone walking out of a 9:16 window is the usual failure.
- Keep the bottom third clear. The caption, the handle and the sound name sit there, and text burned underneath them is unreadable.
- Confirm the export is 1080 x 1920. Anything smaller gets upscaled by TikTok and comes back noticeably softer.
Tools you may also need
FAQ
Should I use blurred-background bars instead of cropping?
Cropping wins for action footage. Blurred bars (the "TikTok background blur" look) work better when the subject moves laterally and you cannot keep them in a 9:16 crop.
What about Reels and Shorts?
Same 9:16 / 1080×1920 spec. The same export works for TikTok, Reels, and Shorts.
Does this run in my browser?
Yes — every step in this guide uses an in-browser FFmpeg WebAssembly tool. Your video never uploads to a server and never leaves your device.