Horizontal to vertical video
Convert a 16:9 video to 9:16 for Reels, TikTok and Shorts: crop the subject from the center or keep the whole frame with a blurred fill. Reframing is free and runs in your browser.
7 ready recipes
Upload a horizontal (16:9) video to a vertical platform as it is and it sits in the middle of the screen as a thin strip with empty space above and below. A vertical (9:16) version fills the phone screen and stands out far more in the feed.
The Reframe tool in the Captions & reframe section of Ryna Video Studio makes the same video vertical (9:16), square (1:1) or wide (16:9). There are two methods: Center crop cuts the picture from the middle to fill the screen, while Blurred fill keeps the whole video and fills the remaining space with a blurred copy of the same video.
The tool is free and doesn't change the original; the reframed version appears as a separate video in your Results feed, where you can download it. You can upload your own video or pick a clip you made in the studio.
Vertical video recipes
Each card is a type of video with a recommended setting. “Open the tool in the studio” opens the Captions & reframe section; upload or pick your video and apply the card's ratio and method on the Reframe card.
Subject in the middle: Center crop
If the speaker, product or main action is in the middle of the frame, choose 9:16 and Center crop. The vertical video fills the whole screen; the space on both sides is cropped.
9:16Center cropFree
Open in studioNothing gets cut: Blurred fill
For group shots, wide landscapes or videos with text near the edges, choose Blurred fill. The whole video stays in the middle and the space above and below fills with a blurred version of the same video. This is how you make a video vertical without cropping or stretching it.
9:16Blurred fillNo cropping
Open in studioSquare video for the Instagram feed
Choose 1:1 to take up more space in the feed. Use Center crop if the subject is centered, or Blurred fill if the whole frame matters.
1:1Instagram feed
Open in studioTurn a vertical video horizontal
Make a vertical phone video 16:9 for YouTube, a website or a presentation. Blurred fill fills the side space with a blurred version of the video instead of black bars.
9:16 → 16:9YouTubeBlurred fill
Open in studioVertical first, then subtitles
Reframe first. The reframed version appears in your Results feed; open its “With this video…” menu, choose “Captions, dub, clips…” and add subtitles to the vertical version. If you add subtitles first, a center crop can cut off the ends of the lines.
9:16Reframe firstThen subtitles
Open in studioVertical clips from a long horizontal recording
For an interview, webinar or podcast recording, use Highlight clips: it picks the most engaging moments and cuts them into short clips, and with “Vertical 9:16” and “Burn subtitles” ticked every clip is ready to post. This tool uses credits; the amount is shown on the button.
Highlight clips9:16Uses credits
Open in studioChoose 9:16 from the start for new generations
If you're generating a new video with AI, choose 9:16 at the start; the model composes the scene for a vertical frame and you won't need to crop later. Reframing is for videos you already have.
9:16 generationNo crop needed
Open in studio
Center crop or blurred fill?
Center crop takes a vertical strip from the middle of the horizontal picture and fills the screen completely. When the subject is centered, it gives the cleanest result, but people, text and action at the sides of the frame get cut off. The tool doesn't track the subject; it always crops from the center.
Blurred fill places the video in the middle of the screen without cropping and fills the space above and below with an enlarged, blurred version of the same picture. Nothing is lost and nothing is stretched; the main video just appears smaller on screen. It's the safe choice for wide landscapes, group shots and videos with text near the edges.
Which aspect ratio does each platform want?
Instagram Reels, TikTok and YouTube Shorts favor full-screen vertical (9:16) video. Square (1:1) is a good middle ground for the Instagram feed and some ad placements. YouTube videos, websites and presentations use horizontal (16:9) video.
If you publish the same content on several platforms, make a separate version for each ratio. Because reframing is free, you can make 9:16, 1:1 and 16:9 versions from the same source at no extra cost.
Plan for vertical while you shoot
If you know you'll convert the video to vertical later, keep the subject centered and don't place important text or logos near the edges, so nothing is lost after a center crop. Adding your logo with Brand stamp after reframing is another option.
If you're generating a new video with AI, choosing 9:16 from the start gives the best result: the model composes the scene for a vertical frame and no crop is needed. A center crop only uses part of the picture, so the vertical version has less detail; the higher the source resolution, the sharper the result.
Tool at a glance
- Tool
- Captions & reframe › Reframe
- Aspect ratios
- Vertical 9:16, square 1:1, horizontal 16:9
- Method
- Center crop (fills the screen) or blurred fill (no cropping)
- Source
- A video you upload or a clip you made in the studio; the length limit is shown in the studio
- Credits
- Free
Step by step
- 1
Open the tool
Open the Captions & reframe section in Video Studio, or use the “Open the tool in the studio” link on this page.
- 2
Pick the video
Upload your horizontal video with “Upload video”, or choose a clip from the studio with “Pick from my videos”. The length limit is shown below the field.
- 3
Choose the aspect ratio
On the Reframe card, choose 9:16 (vertical), 1:1 (square) or 16:9 (horizontal).
- 4
Choose the method
Center crop if the subject is centered, Blurred fill if nothing should be cut.
- 5
Reframe and download
Press “Reframe”; it's free. Download the vertical version from your Results feed, or continue by adding subtitles and a logo.
Is it free?
Yes. Reframing is free and doesn't use credits; a free Ryna account is all you need to use the studio. Audio cleanup, cutting silences, merging clips and the brand stamp in the same section are free too. Automatic captions, dubbing and highlight clips use credits; the amount is shown on each button.
Tips
- Center crop when the subject is centered; blurred fill when something important sits at the edges.
- Add subtitles after reframing.
- Make a separate ratio for each platform from the same source.
- Choose 9:16 from the start for new generations.
- Add your logo with the brand stamp after reframing so it isn't cropped.
- Try Highlight clips to pull vertical clips from long horizontal recordings.
Copyright and platform rules
Turning someone else's video vertical and republishing it can still infringe copyright even though the ratio changed; only process videos you own or have permission to use. Also check each platform's rules on reuploading other people's content.
Frequently asked questions
- How do I turn a horizontal video vertical?
- Open the Captions & reframe section in Video Studio, upload your video, choose 9:16 and a method on the Reframe card, and press “Reframe”. Center crop fills the screen; blurred fill keeps the whole video.
- How do I make a video vertical without cropping it?
- Choose Blurred fill. The video sits in the middle without cropping and the space above and below fills with a blurred version of the same video; nothing is stretched or squeezed.
- Is it free to convert a video to vertical?
- Yes, reframing doesn't use credits. You can use it with a free Ryna account.
- Do I need an app or software?
- No. The tool runs in Ryna Video Studio in your browser, and you can upload the video from your phone or computer.
- The subject ends up outside the frame after a center crop. What should I do?
- The tool doesn't track the subject; it always crops from the center. If the subject is near an edge, choose blurred fill, and keep the subject centered in future shoots.
- Does converting to vertical reduce quality?
- A center crop only uses the middle of the picture, so there's less detail: the vertical strip in the middle of a 1080p horizontal video is about 608 pixels wide. With blurred fill, the video is scaled down to fit. The higher the source resolution, the sharper the vertical version.
- Which aspect ratio should I use for Instagram?
- 9:16 works for Reels and Stories, 1:1 for feed posts. You can make both versions of the same video for free.
- Can I turn a vertical video horizontal?
- Yes, choose 16:9. Blurred fill fills the side space with a blurred version of the video instead of black bars.
Related pages
Open the tool in the studio
Upload your video or photo and apply one of the recipes. The studio shows the credit cost before it runs.
Open the tool in the studio