Have you ever captured a video on your iPhone and realized that the aspect ratio doesn’t match the frame size of the device you want to play it on? When the aspect ratio of your video doesn’t match the screen of your TV, computer, or social media platform, black bars will appear on the top and bottom or sides of the video. This can be frustrating, especially if you’ve spent a lot of time editing the video. Fortunately, there are several methods to change the aspect ratio on iMovie for iPhone.
Video Tutorial:
Why You Need to Change Aspect Ratio on iMovie iPhone
There are several reasons why you might need to change the aspect ratio on iMovie for iPhone.
Firstly, if you’re planning to upload your video on social media platforms such as Instagram or Tiktok, you need to change the aspect ratio to match their preferred dimensions. Instagram’s preferred aspect ratio is 1:1 or 4:5 while Tiktok’s preferred ratio is 9:16.
Secondly, when you’re sharing your video with someone who has a different device or screen size, changing the aspect ratio can make the video appear correctly on their screen.
Lastly, changing the aspect ratio can improve the overall look and feel of your video. An improperly cropped video with black bars can distract your audience.
Method 1: Via iMovie App
Changing the aspect ratio of your video in iMovie is pretty simple. Here are the steps you should follow:
1. Open iMovie App.
2. Click on the "+" icon to start creating a new project.
3. Select Movie option from two buttons.
4. Choose a video file from Photos and Camera Roll.
5. Tap on Create Movie option on the bottom right corner of the screen.
6. Select the video you want to edit from the timeline.
7. Click on Crop icon on the bottom right corner of the screen.
8. Choose the aspect ratio you want to crop your video to.
9. Click on Done button located on the top left corner of the screen.
10. Save the changes you made by selecting Done button or Share button to export your video.
Pros:
– Easy to use.
– Included in the app itself with no need for additional installation.
– Provides several aspect ratios to choose from, including Social Media oriented ones.
Cons:
– Might have limited options which can result in less creativity on the user side.
Method 2: Via Video Compressor
Video Compressor is an app that can help you compress and change the aspect ratio of your videos on your iPhone. Here are the steps you should follow:
1. Install and open Video Compressor app on your iPhone.
2. Choose the video you want to compress and change the aspect ratio of from your camera roll or iCloud.
3. Select the aspect ratio you want to change your video to.
4. Use slider to reduce the file size and view the estimated output.
5. Tap on Start button located on the bottom right corner to start the process.
6. Once the process is complete, save the new video to your camera roll or post it on social media.
Pros:
– Provides easy-to-use aspect ratio scaling options.
– Options to reduce video file size without compromising on video quality.
– Multiple aspect ratios including multiple social media options in-app.
Cons:
– Tends to compress videos which can impact the video quality.
– Some features are premium and require payment.
Method 3: Via Video Crop
Video Crop is another app that can help you change the aspect ratio of your videos on your iPhone. Here are the steps you should follow:
1. Install and open Video Crop app on your iPhone.
2. Click on Choose Video button and select the video you want to crop.
3. Click on Crop option located at the bottom of the screen.
4. Choose the aspect ratio you want to crop your video to.
5. Drag the video frame to select the parts you want to keep and remove.
6. Tap on Save button to save your changes.
7. Share or export your newly cropped video.
Pros:
– Provides the option to crop videos and reduce their file size.
– Easy to use with a user-friendly interface.
Cons:
– More limited in aspect ratio selection.
– May not handle 4K footage as well.
What to Do If You Can’t Change Aspect Ratio on iMovie iPhone
If you can’t change the aspect ratio of your video on iMovie for iPhone or experience technical issues, there are several fixes you can try as follows:
1. Check the software version of the iMovie app installed on your iPhone, and if an update is available, install it.
2. Temporarily uninstall and reinstall the iMovie app to solve any technical issues.
3. Check internet connectivity and restart the app.
4. Reducing the video’s resolution might help and therefore make it easier to crop, but at the cost of video quality.
Bonus Tip
A great bonus tip to help you make the most of changing aspect ratios on iMovie iPhone is to look for online tools such as Clideo, Kapwing, or Animoto. These tools allow you to edit videos online and change aspect ratios. Not only do these sites provide greater creative freedom to edit videos but also ensures your videos have been cropped with the correct aspect ratio.
5 FAQs
Q1: Do all iPhone models have iMovie app?
A: No, iMovie is not available to all iPhone models; it’s present on iPhones running on iOS 10.2 or later.
Q2: Can I change the video resolution on iMovie?
A: Yes, iMovie has additional tools you can use to adjust the video resolution without affecting quality.
Q3: Will changing the aspect ratio affect the video quality?
A: Yes, changing the aspect ratio can impact the video’s quality as the video needs to be scaled accordingly.
Q4: Can I change the aspect ratio of any video format?
A: Yes, most video formats can be changed to a new aspect ratio though some minor gains or losses in quality can occur during the process.
Q5: Does iMovie support exporting in all aspect ratios?
A: Yes, iMovie supports exporting videos in most aspect ratios, though not all ratios may be present in the app by default.
Final Thoughts
Now that you’ve learned several ways to change aspect ratios on iMovie for iPhone, you can edit your videos to suit any screen dimension, whether it’s for social media or sharing with friends and family. Using the methods mentioned above, you can crop your video to the exact aspect ratio you want and make videos look more professional. Additionally, you can use the FAQ section to clear any doubts you might have and ensure you’re fully informed about changing aspect ratios on iMovie for iPhone.
