Ever found yourself watching a video on your computer, only to realize it is playing sideways or upside down? It is a common annoyance, right? You probably thought, “I will just quickly fix this in Windows Media Player.” Well, here is the scoop: Windows Media Player, while fantastic for playing videos, does not actually have a built-in feature to permanently rotate or edit your video files. But do not fret! Windows 10 has a super-easy way to rotate your videos using another pre-installed app, the Photos app, which includes a video editor. You can quickly open your video in the Photos app, hit the rotate button, and save your newly oriented video in just a few clicks.
Tutorial – How to Rotate a Video in Windows 10 Media Player
So, while Windows Media Player is perfect for simply watching your movies and clips, it is not designed for editing tasks like rotating videos. But don’t worry, Windows 10 has a neat trick up its sleeve. We are going to use the Photos app, which comes standard on your computer and has handy video-editing tools, including the ability to rotate your footage. Let’s get that video playing the right way up!
Step 1: Find your video file.
First things first, locate the video file on your computer that you want to rotate.
Think of your video as a physical photo tucked away in a folder somewhere on your desk. You need to know where it is before you can pick it up and turn it around. Most likely, it is in your “Videos” folder, “Downloads,” or perhaps on your desktop. Just navigate through your File Explorer until you spot it.
Step 2: Open the video with the Photos app.
Right-click on your video file, then hover over “Open with,” and select “Photos.”
This is like choosing the right tool for the job. Instead of just playing the video, we are telling Windows, “Hey, I want to edit this, so open it in the Photos app, please!” The Photos app will launch, and your video will start playing within it.
Step 3: Access the video editing tools.
Once the video is open in the Photos app, look for the “Edit & Create” button at the top right of the window and click it. From the dropdown menu, choose “Edit.”
This is your gateway to making changes. The Photos app offers a few creative options, but for rotating, we need to go to the main “Edit” section. It is where all the magic happens for trimming, adding effects, and yes, rotating.
Step 4: Rotate your video.
In the editing interface, you will see a “Rotate” button. Click this button repeatedly until your video is oriented correctly.
Imagine you are spinning a physical photo around. Each click of the “Rotate” button will turn your video 90 degrees clockwise. So, if it is sideways, one click might fix it. If it is upside down, you will need to click twice. Keep clicking until it looks just right.
Step 5: Save your rotated video.
After you have your video facing the right way, click the “Finish video” button, usually found in the top-right corner.
This is the most important step! If you do not save your changes, all that hard work will be for nothing. The Photos app will then ask you to choose a location and a name for your new, rotated video file. Make sure to save it somewhere you will easily find it later.
After you have completed these steps, a brand-new, perfectly oriented version of your video will be saved to your computer. You can then open this new file with Windows Media Player or any other player you prefer, and it will play exactly as it should, without any neck craning required. The original, unrotated video will still be there, too, just in case you need it for some reason.
Tips for Rotating Videos in Windows 10 Media Player
- Always save your rotated video with a new name or in a different location to avoid overwriting your original file. This way, you always have the original just in case you make a mistake or change your mind.
- If the Photos app is not opening, try repairing or resetting it in Windows Settings, or reinstalling it from the Microsoft Store. Sometimes apps just need a little reset to work perfectly again.
- For more advanced editing needs beyond simple rotation, consider using more robust video editing software, some of which might even be free. Windows 10 also comes with a more powerful “Video Editor” app (sometimes found under the Photos app’s “Edit & Create” menu or searchable directly).
- Remember that rotating a video can sometimes make the file size slightly larger or smaller, depending on the compression settings used during saving. It is usually a minor change, but good to be aware of.
- Check your video’s orientation before you start editing. Sometimes, what looks like a rotation issue is actually just you holding your device the wrong way when recording. A quick preview can save you some editing time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I rotate a video directly within Windows Media Player?
No, unfortunately, Windows Media Player itself does not have a built-in feature to permanently rotate or edit video files. It is primarily a media playback application, not an editor.
Why does my video play sideways in the first place?
Videos often play sideways because the device that recorded them, like a smartphone, was held in a different orientation (portrait instead of landscape) than how the video was intended to be viewed. Sometimes, the camera’s internal sensor might record the orientation incorrectly, too.
Will rotating the video reduce its quality?
When you rotate and save a video using the Photos app, there might be a very slight, almost unnoticeable re-encoding. For most casual users, the quality difference will be negligible. However, repeated saving and re-saving can lead to some generational loss, just like making copies of copies.
Is the Photos app the only way to rotate videos in Windows 10?
No, it is not the only way. Many other video editing programs, both free and paid, can rotate videos. Windows 10 also has a more advanced “Video Editor” (often found within the Photos app’s “Edit & Create” menu, or searchable independently) that offers more robust editing options, including rotation.
What if I want to flip a video horizontally or vertically instead of rotating it?
The “Rotate” button in the Photos app only rotates the video 90 degrees at a time. If you need to flip a video (mirror it), you will need to use a more advanced video editor. The Photos app’s basic video editor does not have a dedicated flip function.
Summary of Video Rotation
- Locate video file.
- Open video with Photos app.
- Access video editing tools.
- Rotate video using the button.
- Save your rotated video.
Conclusion
So, there you have it! While it might seem a little confusing at first that Windows Media Player cannot handle video rotation directly, you now know the secret. Windows 10 has a perfectly capable, built-in tool, the Photos app, ready and waiting to help you fix those wonky video orientations. It is a quick, straightforward process that takes just a few clicks, making sure your videos are always presented in the best possible light, or rather, the correct orientation.
Think of it like this: your car is great for driving, but you would not use it to fix a leaky faucet, would you? You would grab a wrench. Similarly, Windows Media Player is your car, perfect for the journey of watching videos, but the Photos app is your trusty wrench, designed for those little fixes like rotating a video. This distinction is really important for getting the job done efficiently. No need to download complicated software or spend money on premium tools for a simple task like rotating a video. Your Windows 10 computer already has everything you need to make those adjustments.
I encourage you to give it a try next time you encounter a sideways clip. It is a skill that will save you a lot of frustration and make your viewing experience much more enjoyable. Plus, now you can confidently tell your friends how to rotate a video in Windows 10 Media Player, even if you are secretly directing them to the Photos app. Learning these little tips and tricks about your operating system can really make a difference in how smoothly your digital life runs. Keep exploring, keep learning, and enjoy your perfectly oriented videos!
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read over 50 million times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.