Rotate a Video Clip in Windows Media Player

If you record movies on your home camera, then load them onto your computer to watch in Window Media Player, it can be frustrating if they are not orientated properly. While Windows Media Player is just a player, Windows also provides a movie-editing program so you can quickly rotate your video file before watching it again in the Windows Media Player. If you have Vista or an earlier operating system, Windows Movie Maker is already installed. If you have Windows 7, you will have to download the free movie program from the "Start" menu.

Windows 7

Step

Press the circular button in the lower-left corner of the screen. Select "Getting Started" from the pop-up menu. Choose "Get Windows Live Essentials."

Step

Choose your language in the new window and press the "Download" button. You will need an Internet connection to complete this.

Step

Place a check mark next to "Movie Maker" and press "Install." A progress bar will slowly go across your screen. When it is finished, Windows Live Movie Maker will be installed.

Step

Click the circular button in the lower corner again, and choose "All Programs." Scroll down till you find the "Windows Live" folder and click on it. Select "Windows Live Movie Maker" from the folder. The program window will open up.

Step

Press the "Add Videos and Photos" button on the toolbar. Navigate to the folder where your video file is, then drag and drop it onto the right side of the screen. You will see the video in a window on the left side of the screen.

Step

Click the "Rotate Left 90 degrees" or "Rotate Right 90 degrees" until the video file that you see on the left is orientated that way you want it.

Step

Select the Movie Maker tab, which is just to the left of the Home tab, and select "Save Movie" from the drop-down menu. Choose your desired resolution type and then press "Save." The movie will now be rotated the next time you play it in Windows Media Player.

Vista and Earlier

Step

Press the "Start" button on the bottom left corner of your screen and select "All Programs." You will find the native Windows applications above the folders, so select "Windows Movie Maker."

Step

Click the "Import Media" button at the top-left of the program window. Navigate to the video file, and press "Import."

Step

Click on the video file and drag it to the timeline at the bottom of the screen. There will be a space that says "Drag media here."

Step

Click on the "Tools" menu and choose "Effects" form the drop-down menu. You will see a list of possible effects appear in the middle of the screen.

Step

Find the rotate effect that you want, either "Rotate 90," "Rotate 180" or "Rotate 270." The rotate effects will rotate the video file counterclockwise. Click and drag the rotate effect over the video file, then drop it.

Step

Click on the "File" menu and choose "Publish Movie" or "Save Movie File" depending on your version of the Movie Maker software. Choose where you want to publish the file, and the quality you want to publish it at. When the progress bar finished, the movie is now rotated and you can double-click the file to play it in Windows Media Player.