iMovie Change Aspect Ratio: How to Change iMovie Aspect Ratio on Mac/iPhone [2024 Updated]

The aspect ratio refers to the ratio between the height and width of a video, and it determines how the video looks on various players. For social media shares, different platforms require video with different ratios. For instance, for YouTube, the commonly used aspect ratio is 16:9, which is a standard for almost all videos. However, for TikTok, Instagram Reel, or the YouTube Shorts, the required aspect ratio is 9:16.

So if you want to post your video to social media platform that ask for a specific ratio, you may need to change your video aspect ratio!

This article shows you how to change video aspect ratio in iMovie on Mac/iPhone/iPad, including how to make iMovie 9:16 for the TikTok or Instagram Reels size and more.

Content:

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Part 1 How to Change iMovie Aspect Ratio to 9:16 on Mac - iMovie TikTok/Reels/Shorts Size

iMovie was designed to edit landscape videos, so you can easily make a video in the typical orientation for your YouTube post. But, if you want to make a vertical video for your TikTok or Shorts, you may need to change the iMovie aspect ratio to 9:16 to fit those video sizes.

Here, we would introduce you how to change aspect ratio to 9:16 in iMovie to fit the TikTok or Shorts size. Follow us and check the simple steps below:

Step 1

Open iMovie and click File > New App Preview from the top menu bar, instead of the Create New option, which will create a typical landscape oriented project.

Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on Mac - App Preview

Step 2

Now, you’ll access the iMovie interface. In order to adjust the iMovie project ratio to 9:16, you need to add a portrait footage, a video or photo in the ratio of 9:16, to the timeline first.

Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on Mac - Set Ratio

Step 3

After that, you can import the video footage you want to change its aspect ratio to iMovie and drag it into the timeline after the vertical footage, then it would be loaded in the canvas in the pre-set ratio, 9:16.

Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on Mac - Add Video

Step 4

Now, you can delete the first vertical footage, then use the crop tool to center the subject in your final 9:16 video and make any edits, such as adding text, adding music, cropping a video, splitting a video, etc., if needed.

Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on Mac - Adjust

Step 5

Once done, click the share button from the top right to save your final video in the aspect of 9:16. You can choose App Preview to export the video as an MP4 file in 1080 x 1920 HD resolution or use the standard Export File option.

Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on Mac - Export

Part 2. How to Change Aspect Ratio Flexibly with the Best Alternative for iMovie on Mac

Well, with the App Preview mode of iMovie, you can now easily change your iMovie aspect ratio to 9:16 for a TikTok or Shorts video size, but how about more other video sizes, such as the 1:1 for Instagram Story, a 21:9 one for the wide screen, or any cinematic videos in other ratio?

Here comes a great online iMovie alternative, FlexClip, to change video aspect ratio and make your iMovie video in the ratio of 9:16, 1:1, 4:5, and more, for a perfect post on TikTok, Instagram, YouTube, and more social platforms.

FlexClip is a powerful online video editor offering rich editing tools to help you make a stunning video. It can easily help you change the aspect ratio to 16:9, 4:5, 1:1, 21:9, and 9:16 in a few clicks.

Change Video Aspect Ratio for TikTok, Instargam, and More with FlexClip

Get Started Now View Templates

Step 1

Turn to FlexClip's online video editor, or click the Get Started Now button above to change aspect ratio of your iMovie or any other video directly.

Step 2

Go to the Media to upload your saved iMovie project or any video to change aspect ratio from your Mac or iPhone as well as any PC or Android device, and then apply your video to the Timeline for changing its aspect.

Upload Your Video to FlexClip

Step 3

Focus on the Ratio icon on the top left of the canvas to select the aspect ratio you want for your video from the ratios of 16:9, 4:5, 1:1, 21:9, and 9:16. You can also zoom out the video or drag it to highlight the center part and not miss the important information in your video.

Change Video Aspect Ratio with FlexClip

While you're in the editor, you can use FlexClip's tools to make any other edits you'd like to your video:

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Part 3 How to Change iMovie Aspect Ratio on iPhone/iPad - Crop to Another Aspect Ratio

Frankly speaking, the video aspect ratio conversion option isn't available at the moment in iMovie on the iPhone/iPad. But here is a workaround to help you change the video aspect ratio in iMovie on iPhone/iPad - crop your video to another aspect ratio.

Step 1

Open the iMovie app on your iPhone or iPad, crate a new project and load the video you want to change its aspect ratio.

Step 2

To change the aspect ratio, tap on the the video on the timeline and then you will see the Pinch to Zoom icon in the top right corner of your iPhone screen, you can use your fingers to resize the video by zooming in or out as required to make it in the ratio you want.

Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on iPhone - Pinch to Zoom

Step 3

Once you make the video to the size you want, you can edit your video in iMovie as usual, whether that's adding titles, backgrounds, transitions, or anything else! Once finished, you can tap Done, then click on the Share button and Save Video.

Note: iMovie for iOS doesn't offer the specific aspect ratio options for you to choose from. You can only change your video aspect ratio to 16:9 in iMovie, or zoom your video to another aspect ratio with black bars added, so you need to do the final touch to remove the back bars from the video on your iPhone.

Step 4

Go to the Photos app, select the exported "iMovie video", tap Edit in the upper right corner, and use the crop tool to remove the black bars from the video and then tap Done to save the final video with your desired aspect ratio.

Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on iPhone - Crop to Remove Black Bars

Sandy /

Has 4-year of professional photographing experience. Very much into recording every detail of life. She is passionate about all things related to video production, and loves to exploring tips and tricks about it.