Change Video Aspect Ratio in 2025: Steps & Tools

How to change video aspect ratio

01
Upload or import your video
Begin by creating or opening a project. Drag your video file into your workspace—whether it’s MP4, MOV, WMV, or another common format. Descript automatically keeps audio and visuals in sync, so you can worry less about mismatched lips and more about the final look.
02
Pick and apply your new aspect ratio
Open your composition settings to see various dimension options—landscape (16:9), square (1:1), portrait (9:16), or go custom if you’re picky. Don’t sweat the resolution mismatch; the quality won't magically jump to 4K if you started with 1080p.
03
Export or share your newly sized video
Once you’ve finished your edits, finalize the project. Download your video in up to 4K, or share it via a link. The actual resolution depends on your source files, so if the original footage was 720p, that’s the best you’ll see in export—no illusions here.

Aspect ratio tips & beyond

Multiple compositions, multiple dimensions
When you change video aspect ratio for one scene to upload on Instagram Stories, you can also make a version for YouTube by simply duplicating the project and applying a different ratio.
Go vertical, stay horizontal, or go rogue
Do you want to show off vertical phone footage? Or maybe you’re after a cinematic widescreen? If none of the defaults tickle your fancy, set a custom width and height—unleash your rebellious side.
Remember, resolution is key
Changing your ratio doesn’t magically upgrade pixel quality. If you upsample a 1080p source to 4K, it’ll still look like 1080p. Keep that in mind when you share final videos—bigger numbers don’t mean better footage.

More than aspect ratio changes

Because life's too short to just resize your content.

Seamless video editing
Cut, trim, and refine your footage without a labyrinth of menus. Edit right from your transcript, or fine-tune within a timeline.
Automatic captioning
Generate near-instant captions with AI transcription so your message is crystal clear—even with the sound off.
Use templates to save time
Build or pick from ready-made layouts to streamline repeat projects—perfect if you produce content for multiple platforms.
Easy exporting & embedding
Share your final video as a link, embed it on a site, or publish directly to your favorite video platform in a few clicks.

Don’t just take our word for it

With a 4.6-out-of-5-star rating and a bunch of distinctions on G2, Descript’s users have declared it an industry standard in the video and podcasting world.

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1 transcription hour / month

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Questions? We have answers

What's the difference between resolution and aspect ratio?
Aspect ratio is the ratio of width to height, like 16:9 or 1:1. Meanwhile, resolution deals with how many pixels make up your video. You can change video aspect ratio without altering resolution—though your footage may get cropped or letterboxed.
Can I crop my footage to fit a new aspect ratio?
Absolutely. Use the layout and positioning controls to reframe your video so crucial content stays on screen. Just remember that heavy cropping might cut out parts of your original content.
Will changing aspect ratio reduce my video quality?
Not necessarily. Resizing your canvas won’t drastically reduce quality on its own, but cropping too much or upscaling might create a blurrier result. Keep your original footage’s resolution in mind.