rotate video ffmpeg
Rotate video with FFmpeg
If you need to rotate video with FFmpeg, the common goal is to fix orientation or create alternate portrait and landscape exports. This page shows the practical FFmpeg command, the matching FFmpeg API request, and an online tool you can test in the browser.
FFmpeg CLI
How to rotate a video in FFmpeg
A common FFmpeg rotation workflow uses the `transpose` filter, then writes the rotated result into a new MP4 output.
FFmpeg rotate command
Click any part of the command to see what it does.
FFmpeg rotate command
ffmpeg
This runs the FFmpeg binary. The rest of the command defines the source file, rotation filter, codecs, and output path.
API
Use the same video rotation workflow through the FFmpeg API
If you need orientation fixes inside your product, app, or backend workflow, the FFmpeg API gives you a faster path than maintaining your own media processing infrastructure. You can send one args-based request and reuse the same rotation workflow in production.
Request
curl -X POST https://ffmpeg-api.cloud/v1/jobs \
-H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
-H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-d '{
"ffmpegArgs": [
"-y",
"-i",
"{{input}}",
"-vf",
"transpose=1",
"-c:v",
"libx264",
"-c:a",
"copy",
"{{output}}"
],
"inputs": {
"input": {
"type": "url",
"url": "https://example.com/input.mp4"
}
},
"outputs": {
"output": {
"fileName": "rotated-90.mp4"
}
}
}'Response
{
"jobId": "job_01hxyz...",
"status": "queued",
"runtimeSeconds": 0,
"creditsCharged": 0,
"createdAt": "2026-04-14T10:30:00.000Z"
}Online tool
Try this FFmpeg API rotate video tool online
Upload a source video, choose the target rotation, and run the job in the browser. It is the quickest way to validate orientation changes before wiring the same request into your own app or backend.
Live playground
Rotate video with FFmpeg
Rotate a source video with an args-based FFmpeg API request.
Use cases
Common ways to use FFmpeg video rotation
Rotation is useful when you need to correct orientation problems or generate alternate layout variants from the same source asset.
Fix sideways or upside-down uploads
Correct user-generated content that arrives in the wrong orientation before previews, moderation, or publishing.
Prepare alternate portrait or landscape exports
Generate rotated outputs for app surfaces, social placements, or internal review workflows that need a different orientation.
Normalize assets before later transforms
Rotate source videos into the right orientation before compression, watermarking, thumbnails, or downstream processing.
FAQ
FFmpeg rotate video FAQ
Common questions about rotating video with FFmpeg, using transpose, and moving the same workflow into the FFmpeg API.
Related templates
Other FFmpeg templates
Explore other FFmpeg templates for resize, watermarking, compression, and more.