How to Crop a Video on iPhone (Change the Frame or Shape)

Cropping and trimming get mixed up all the time, so let's clear that up first. Trimming changes how long a video runs. Cropping changes what's in the picture: you cut away the edges so the frame shows only what you want, or you reshape a wide clip into a tall one for Reels, Shorts or Stories.

On iPhone you crop a video with the same tool you use for photos, inside the Photos app. Apple's iPhone User Guide covers it in one article on cropping, rotating, flipping and straightening, and the steps below follow it.

Cropping the frame of an iPhone clip by dragging the corners

1. Open the Photos app and tap the video to open it.
2. Tap Edit.
3. Tap the Crop button at the bottom of the screen.
4. Drag the corners of the rectangle so they enclose the part of the picture you want to keep. You can also pinch open or closed.
5. Play the clip to check nothing important drifts out of shot.
6. Tap Done to save.

That play-through check is my addition, and it's worth it. A photo stays still, but people in a video move, so a tight crop that looks perfect on one frame can cut off someone's head a few seconds later.

Freeing the shape so a crop isn't stuck at the original ratio

Here's the detail that confuses people. Apple's help says that when you drag a corner, the crop tool keeps the original aspect ratio of the clip. If you want a different shape, you tap the lock at the top-right corner of the image so the aspect ratio is no longer fixed, then drag freely.

Picking a preset shape such as Square or 9:16

For social video, presets are quicker and more accurate than freehand dragging. Apple's help says you tap the Aspect Ratio button and choose an option such as Square, Wallpaper, 9:16 or 5:7.

Preset	Handy for
9:16	Tall, full-screen phone video such as Reels, Shorts and Stories
Square	Feed posts where a square frame suits the layout
5:7	A slightly tall frame for feed posts
Wallpaper	Matching your iPhone screen shape

Choosing 9:16 on a wide clip is the fastest way to turn a sideways video into a vertical one. Just remember you're cutting away the sides, so frame the action in the middle when you film if you know you'll do this.

Rotating or flipping a sideways iPhone recording

The Crop screen also fixes videos that came out the wrong way round. According to Apple's help, the Rotate button turns the image 90 degrees each time you tap it, and the Flip button flips it horizontally, which is handy for front-camera clips where text reads backwards.

Straightening a tilted shot before you crop

If the horizon leans or a building looks like it's falling over, Apple's help says you can straighten the video, or tilt it vertically or horizontally, using the buttons below the frame on the Crop screen and dragging the slider. Tap the button again to compare with the original, and tap Reset if you want to start over.

Straightening crops the edges slightly to keep the frame filled, so do it before your final crop, not after.

Planning your filming so iPhone crops lose less

The best crop is the one you barely need. If you know a clip will end up tall for Reels or Stories, film with the subject in the centre of the frame and leave room above their head. If you'll want both shapes, step back a little so there's spare picture on every side to cut away. It sounds obvious, but it's the difference between a crisp vertical clip and one where your product is half out of shot.

Cropping also zooms in on what's left, so the tighter you go, the softer the picture can look. Good light when you film helps the cropped version stay sharp.

Undoing or discarding a crop on iPhone

• Before saving: tap Cancel, then Discard Changes.
• After saving: open the video, tap Edit, then tap Revert.
• On other devices: Apple says that with iCloud Photos, edits are saved across all your devices, so a crop you make on your iPhone shows on your iPad and Mac too.

Photos edits like this don't destroy the original footage, which is why Revert can bring back the full frame later.

Cropping video for social posts and client content

A good crop can make an ordinary clip look planned. A few habits I'd suggest:

• Decide the platform first, then pick the preset, so you're not re-cropping later.
• Leave a little space around faces. Platforms add buttons and captions over the edges.
• Crop out clutter such as a messy desk or a stranger in the background.
• Make a duplicate first if you want both a wide and a tall version of the same clip.

If you're producing short promotional clips, my guide to promo videos you can create on an iPhone pairs well with this. For screen-based tutorials where you'd rather capture the right area to begin with, I've compared tools in my screen recording software roundup.

If the Crop button won't behave on your iPhone video

1. Corners won't change the shape: tap the lock at the top-right so the aspect ratio is no longer fixed.
2. Can't find Crop: tap Edit first, then look along the bottom row of buttons.
3. Crop looks fine but the person walks out of frame: play the clip and widen the crop.
4. Want the original back: open it, tap Edit, then Revert.
5. Labels look different: Apple refreshes Photos with iOS updates, so button positions can move.

Frequently asked questions

How do I crop a video on iPhone?

Open the video in Photos, tap Edit, tap the Crop button, drag the corners to enclose what you want to keep, then tap Done.

Why won't my iPhone let me change the crop shape?

Apple's help says dragging a corner keeps the original aspect ratio. Tap the lock at the top-right corner to free it, or choose a preset with the Aspect Ratio button.

How do I make a video vertical on iPhone?

Tap Edit, tap Crop, tap the Aspect Ratio button and choose 9:16. That reframes the clip into a tall shape, cutting away the sides.

Is cropping the same as trimming on iPhone?

No. Cropping changes what's visible in the frame. Trimming changes where the video starts and stops.

Can I undo a crop on iPhone?

Yes. Before saving, tap Cancel and Discard Changes. After saving, open the video, tap Edit, then Revert.