iOS · iPhone & iPad
Rotate a Video in iMovie on iPhone or iPad
Source-checked About 10 minutes
Answer
Select the clip and rotate it in the viewer with a two-finger twist gesture; repeat to reach the intended orientation and inspect the crop.
Prepare the correct account, device, project, or session
Duplicate the iMovie project or preserve the original media, then confirm the selected clip, timeline range, orientation, audio rights, available storage, and intended delivery platform before editing. Preview after one change at a time and export a short test. Do not delete source media, overwrite the only project, or use protected streaming music that iMovie cannot license for export.
Open the movie project
Add the source video to a movie timeline and select the clip you want to rotate.
Rotate in the viewer
Place two fingers on the viewer and twist clockwise or counterclockwise until the rotation indicator appears.
Repeat for the correct angle
Each gesture rotates the clip in 90-degree increments; repeat when the source is upside down.
Inspect framing and export
Preview the full clip for cropping or black areas and save a new video so the original remains available.
Verify the result
Preview the entire clip and exported test for orientation, crop, stabilization, titles, and black borders before sharing.
Use the supported recovery boundary
If the result is unavailable or the interface differs, stop before deleting additional data, weakening security, or using a third-party workaround. Recheck the exact account, device, permissions, compatibility, and current product state, then compare the outcome with the linked Apple Support guidance. Preserve original files and the exact error so official support can diagnose this task without guessing.
Video walkthrough
If it does not work
- If framing is cut off, undo the rotation and adjust the source or project framing from the preserved copy rather than repeatedly exporting degraded files.
Sources and verification
Checked against official documentation on . Scope: iPhone & iPad.
Follow the linked first-party guidance if labels differ after a platform or app update.