How to Rotate a Video With Media Player

If you’ve ever encountered a video that plays upside down or sideways on your computer, you’re not alone. It’s a common problem, especially with videos shot on mobile phones or other handheld devices. While it’s natural to turn to Windows Media Player for playing videos, you might be disappointed to discover that it doesn’t have a built-in function to rotate videos. But don’t worry – there are solutions. In this article, we’ll explore how to rotate videos using alternative media players like Media Player Classic and VLC Media Player. Let’s dive into the step-by-step guide and some common FAQs to resolve this issue!

Understanding the Limitations of Windows Media Player

Windows Media Player is a great tool for playing various types of media files, but when it comes to rotating videos, it falls short. This means you’ll need to rely on other media players that offer this functionality. Whether you’re using Windows or macOS, the tools we discuss here will work smoothly on both operating systems.

The Need for Video Rotation

Why do videos sometimes appear in the wrong orientation? Often, this happens when videos are shot on mobile devices and are then transferred to your computer. The metadata may not include information about orientation, causing the video to appear incorrectly. Thankfully, rotating a video can be done quickly with the right software.

Other Media Players for Video Rotation

Before you give up on your upside-down or sideways video, let’s look at two powerful and free media players: Media Player Classic and VLC Media Player. Both of these options allow you to rotate videos during playback easily, and we’ll show you how.

Rotating a Video Using Media Player Classic

Media Player Classic, also known as MPC-HC (Media Player Classic – Home Cinema), is an excellent alternative to Windows Media Player. Here’s how you can rotate your video using this program.

Downloading and Installing Media Player Classic

To get started with Media Player Classic:

1. Visit the official MPC-HC website.
2. Click on the download button and select the appropriate version for your system.
3. Once downloaded, open the setup file and follow the installation instructions.

Opening and Rotating the Video

Now that you’ve installed the player, here’s how to rotate the video:

1. Open Media Player Classic.
2. Drag and drop your video into the program or use the File > Open File option.
3. While the video is playing, use the following keyboard shortcuts to rotate it:
   • Alt + 8: Rotate from top to bottom.
   • Alt + 2: Rotate from bottom to top.
   • Alt + 4: Rotate left to right.
   • Alt + 6: Rotate right to left.
   • Alt + 1: Rotate diagonally counterclockwise.
   • Alt + 3: Rotate diagonally clockwise.
   • 5: Reset to the default orientation.

By pressing the keys repeatedly, the video will gradually rotate in the desired direction.

Rotating a Video Using VLC Media Player

VLC Media Player is another versatile and widely-used media player. It’s a great option for rotating videos, and here’s how to do it.

Downloading and Installing VLC Media Player

To download VLC:

1. Go to the VLC website.
2. Download and install the player on your computer, following the setup instructions.

Steps to Rotate a Video in VLC

Once installed, follow these steps:

1. Open VLC Media Player.
2. Drag and drop the video into the VLC window or use Media > Open File.
3. Click on Tools in the menu bar, then select Effects and Filters.
4. In the Video Effects tab, go to the Geometry sub-tab.
5. Check the box next to Transformation, and choose your desired rotation (90°, 180°, etc.) from the drop-down menu.

Alternatively, if you want to rotate the video manually, check the Rotation box and use the slider to adjust the angle. Once you’re satisfied with the rotation, click Save and then Close.

Rotating a Video on macOS Using VLC

For macOS users, the process of rotating a video in VLC is slightly different but just as easy.

Steps to Rotate in VLC on macOS

1. Open the VLC Media Player.
2. Drag and drop your video file or select File > Open File to load your video.
3. Go to Window and select Video Effects.
4. Under the Geometry tab, check the Transformation box.
5. Choose the desired rotation from the menu or manually adjust the rotation using the slider.

How to Save a Rotated Video in VLC

One of the best features of VLC is that it allows you to save the rotated version of the video. Here’s how you can save the rotated video permanently:

1. After rotating the video, go to Media > Convert/Save.
2. Add your video file and click on Convert/Save.
3. In the Profile section, select your desired format (usually MP4).
4. Under Settings, click on the Edit Selected Profile button (the wrench icon).
5. Go to the Video Codec tab, select the Filters tab, and check the Video Transformation Filter box.
6. Click Save, then start the conversion process by pressing Start.

Now your video will be saved with the corrected orientation.

Alternatives to Media Players for Video Rotation

If using a media player to rotate your video isn’t your preferred method, there are other software options you can use, such as HandBrake, Movavi, and Adobe Premiere Pro. These programs not only allow you to rotate videos but also provide advanced video editing capabilities.

Conclusion

Rotating a video that plays in the wrong orientation can be frustrating, but with tools like Media Player Classic and VLC Media Player, the process becomes simple and efficient. While Windows Media Player lacks this feature, the alternatives we discussed are powerful, free, and available for both Windows and macOS. Now you can enjoy your videos in the correct orientation without any hassle.

FAQs

1. Can I rotate a video using Windows Media Player?
No, Windows Media Player does not support video rotation. You need to use alternative media players like VLC or Media Player Classic.

2. Is Media Player Classic safe to download?
Yes, Media Player Classic is safe and free to download from its official website.

3. Can VLC rotate videos on Mac?
Yes, VLC can rotate videos on both Windows and macOS.

4. Will rotating a video affect the quality?
No, rotating a video during playback does not affect its quality.

5. Can I save the rotated video permanently?
Yes, VLC allows you to save the rotated version of a video permanently.

6. Is VLC Media Player free?
Yes, VLC is completely free to download and use.

7. Do I need to download any extra codecs for VLC?
No, VLC comes with all necessary codecs pre-installed.

8. Can I use VLC to rotate videos on my phone?
Yes, the VLC mobile app also supports video rotation.