How to Mirror Video on CapCut (Desktop and App)

Selfie footage often comes out back to front: the logo on your T-shirt reads in reverse, or you point left while saying right. Mirroring fixes it in one click. CapCut also uses mirroring creatively, to flip a shot so two clips face each other or to vary a repeated scene. Here's where the button lives on desktop and in the app.

Mirror a clip in the CapCut desktop editor

1. Open CapCut and create a new project.
2. Drag your video onto the timeline.
3. Click the clip to select it.
4. Above the timeline, in the row of editing tools, click Mirror.
5. If you also need to turn the clip, use the Rotate option on the right side of the screen.
6. Preview it, then export with your chosen name, location, resolution and format.

CapCut's guide describes Mirror alongside the other quick tools above the timeline: Split, Delete, freeze, reverse, rotate and resize. It's a single click and it applies to the whole selected clip.

Mirror a clip in the CapCut phone app

1. Open CapCut and tap New project, then add your video.
2. Tap the clip on the timeline to select it.
3. Tap Transform to open the extra tools.
4. Tap Mirror.
5. Use Rotate or resize in the same menu if needed, then export.

Mirror, rotate and flip compared

What you want	Tool to use	Location
Swap left and right	Mirror	Above the timeline on desktop; Transform in the app
Turn the picture round	Rotate	Right side of the screen on desktop; Transform in the app
Crop the frame	Resize	Above the timeline on desktop; Transform in the app
Play a clip backwards	Reverse	Above the timeline on desktop

Mirroring flips any text in the shot

This is the catch with mirroring. It flips everything in the frame, so any writing in the footage, such as a sign, packaging or a slogan on a mug, will read backwards after you mirror it. That's exactly why selfie clips sometimes need it: your front camera may already have reversed the writing. Check any lettering in the shot before and after you click Mirror, and only keep the version where it reads correctly.

Text you add in CapCut afterwards is separate from the video clip, so captions and titles you add later won't be flipped. If you're adding a caption over a mirrored shot, add it after mirroring and you'll have no trouble.

Mirroring only part of a video

Mirror applies to the clip you've selected. If you only want one section flipped, split the clip first so the section is its own piece, select it, then click Mirror. Everything either side stays as it was. It's a neat trick for a mirrored transition, where a shot flips as the music changes.

Creative uses for the mirror effect

• Make two people in separate clips face each other for a conversation-style edit.
• Flip a repeated product shot so a sequence feels varied.
• Correct a selfie video where you pointed the wrong way at a screen behind you.
• Match the direction of movement between clips so a cut feels smooth.

CapCut's guide also suggests combining mirrored segments with speed changes, such as a slowed mirrored moment, to add a twist. And if you're building a longer edit, my guide to freezing a frame in CapCut pairs nicely with a mirrored shot.

Finishing the edit after you mirror

Once the clip faces the right way, the rest of the edit is the same as any other video. Add your music, captions and transitions, then watch it through once at full screen. Mirrored shots can look slightly odd if the person's hair parting or a familiar logo suddenly swaps sides, so a quick watch-through catches anything that feels wrong to people who know you.

If you're editing on an iPhone and want a soundtrack, my guide to adding music to a video on iPhone walks through it. For the flip itself, CapCut's one-tap Mirror is about as quick as editing gets, and it's easy to undo if you change your mind.

Why front-camera footage looks reversed

Many people only discover mirroring because their selfie video looks wrong. What you see on screen while recording and what the saved clip shows don't always match, depending on your phone's camera settings. Rather than guessing, look at a bit of writing in the frame: if it reads backwards in the edit, mirror the clip in CapCut and it'll read correctly. It's a ten-second fix, and it saves you re-recording a whole video because a sign or your name badge came out the wrong way round.

Export without losing quality

When you export, CapCut lets you set the name, where it's saved, the resolution and the format. Keep the resolution at least as high as your original footage. Mirroring itself is just a flip, so there's no reason for your video to look any worse after it.

What I'd do

Select the clip, click Mirror above the timeline on desktop, or Transform then Mirror in the app. Before you export, check any writing in the shot reads the right way round, and split first if you only want part of the clip flipped. Add your captions after mirroring and you're done.

Frequently asked questions

Where is the mirror button in CapCut?

On desktop it's in the editing tools above the timeline. In the app, select the clip and tap Transform, then Mirror.

Does mirroring flip text in CapCut?

It flips everything in the video frame, including writing filmed in the shot. Text you add in CapCut separately isn't part of the clip.

Can I flip a video upside down in CapCut?

Use the Rotate option, on the right side of the screen on desktop or in Transform in the app.

Can I mirror only part of a clip?

Split the clip first so the section is its own piece, then select it and mirror it.

Is the CapCut mirror tool on mobile?

Yes. Tap the clip, tap Transform, and you'll find the Mirror option.