What is the difference between metadata rotation and re-encode?

Metadata rotation (MP4 only) writes a rotation flag in the container without touching the video stream — it is instant and lossless. However, some older players ignore that flag and still show the video sideways. Re-encode physically rotates every frame using the transpose filter, which works in all players but takes longer and reduces quality slightly unless you use a lossless codec.

Why does FFmpeg use "transpose" instead of a simple rotate flag?

The transpose filter both rotates and adjusts the frame dimensions (swapping width and height for 90/270° turns). A plain rotate filter would leave black bars or crop the frame incorrectly. For 180° rotation, FFmpeg uses two flips (hflip + vflip) which is equivalent and lossless in many codec paths.

Will re-encoding reduce my video quality?

Using the default CRF 18 with libx264 in the generated command produces near-lossless quality that is visually indistinguishable from the original for most content. You can lower the CRF value (e.g. CRF 12) for even higher fidelity at the cost of a larger file.

How do I rotate counter-clockwise 90 degrees?

Select the "270° clockwise" option — rotating 270° clockwise is mathematically identical to rotating 90° counter-clockwise. The generated FFmpeg command uses transpose=2 which achieves exactly this.

Does this work for formats other than MP4?

The re-encode option works for any format FFmpeg supports: MOV, MKV, AVI, WebM, FLV, and more. The metadata-only option is specific to MP4/MOV containers because only those support the rotation display matrix without re-encoding.

How do I install FFmpeg?

On macOS: brew install ffmpeg. On Ubuntu/Debian: sudo apt install ffmpeg. On Windows: download from ffmpeg.org/download.html or run winget install ffmpeg. Once installed, paste the copied command directly into your terminal.

Video Rotator

Pick a rotation angle and get the exact FFmpeg command to rotate your video 90, 180, or 270 degrees — copy and run it locally.

Video Filename

Used in the generated command. Change this to match your actual file.

Rotation Angle

Method

Re-encode (all formats) Rotates every frame. Works with MP4, MKV, MOV, AVI, WebM, and more.

Metadata only (MP4/MOV) Instant, lossless — sets a display rotation flag. Most modern players respect it.

Visual Preview

TOP 16:9

Original orientation — no rotation applied

FFmpeg Command

Run in your terminal. Requires FFmpeg installed.

FFmpeg Rotation Reference

Rotation	FFmpeg filter	Notes
90° CW	transpose=1	Rotates right; swaps w/h
180°	hflip,vflip	Two flips = 180°; w/h unchanged
270° CW	transpose=2	= 90° CCW; swaps w/h
Metadata	-display_rotation	MP4/MOV only; no re-encode

Copied!

Summary

Video Rotator generates the correct FFmpeg command to rotate any video file by 90, 180, or 270 degrees. Enter your filename, choose the rotation angle and whether to re-encode or use a fast metadata-only fix for MP4 files, then copy the ready-to-run terminal command. No upload required — the command runs entirely on your own machine.

How it works

Enter your video filename (e.g. clip.mp4) in the filename field.
Select the rotation angle: 90° clockwise, 180°, or 270° clockwise (= 90° counter-clockwise).
Choose between lossless metadata rotation (MP4 only, instant) or full re-encode (all formats).
The correct FFmpeg command is generated instantly with the right transpose or vflip flags.
Click Copy to copy the command, then paste it into your terminal and run it.

Use cases

Fix a portrait video recorded sideways that plays on its side in media players.
Correct orientation on drone or action-cam footage shot at an unexpected angle.
Rotate screen recordings that captured in the wrong orientation.
Flip a video 180° to correct upside-down footage.
Batch-rotate multiple files by adapting the generated command in a shell loop.
Learn the correct FFmpeg transpose flags without consulting documentation each time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Last updated: 2026-06-11 · Reviewed by Nham Vu