How to export a vertical 9:16 video for social media

Your video looks fine in the editor, but the exported file has black bars, cuts off the subject, or appears blurry after you post it. Those problems usually come from the project shape, how each clip fits the frame, or the export settings.

Use a 9:16 portrait canvas for a full-screen vertical post, check the crop before exporting, and match the frame rate to your footage. The steps below work in most video editors, though menu names vary.

Export a vertical video

1. Open your project in a video editor and set the project or canvas aspect ratio to 9:16. If you are starting with landscape footage, first consider how much the crop will remove. The guide to vertical clips in a wide project explains why black bars can appear.
2. Set the video frame size to 1080 pixels wide by 1920 pixels tall for a standard full-HD vertical video. If the editor has a separate canvas size and export size, check both.
3. Review every clip in the vertical frame. Choose a fill or crop option when you want the video to cover the canvas, then reposition the image so faces, text, and other important details remain visible.
4. Choose a frame rate that matches your source footage, usually 30 frames per second for everyday phone video. Use 60 frames per second only if the source was recorded at 60 fps and you want smoother motion.
5. Export as an MP4 using H.264 video and AAC audio if those formats are available. Start with a video bitrate around 8 to 12 Mbps for 1080p at 30 fps, then watch the exported file before posting.

Some editors have separate project, preview, and export settings. Changing the preview size alone may not change the exported video. Check the final file's dimensions and orientation after export if the editor shows those details.

Choose the right settings

Canvas: 9:16 portrait

An aspect ratio describes the frame's width compared with its height. A 9:16 canvas is tall and narrow, which suits full-screen vertical posts. At 1080 by 1920 pixels, the ratio is exactly 9:16. A 720 by 1280 export has the same shape but fewer pixels, so fine details may look softer.

Frame rate: match the source

Frame rate is the number of images shown each second. Matching the source helps keep motion natural. Exporting 30 fps footage at 60 fps does not create new motion detail, and it can make the file larger without making the original movement smoother.

Format: MP4 with H.264

MP4 is a common video container, and H.264 is a widely supported video format. AAC is a common audio format for the same file. If your editor offers several export presets, choose one intended for online video or social media, then confirm that it keeps the 9:16 dimensions.

Bitrate: enough detail without an oversized file

Bitrate is the amount of data used to store each second of video. A higher bitrate can preserve more detail, but it makes the file larger. For 1080p vertical video at 30 fps, 8 to 12 Mbps is a useful starting range. Fast movement, detailed textures, and foliage can need more data. For 60 fps, try roughly 12 to 20 Mbps. Social platforms may recompress your upload, so a huge export does not guarantee a sharper post.

Fix common export problems

1. Remove black bars. Check that the project canvas is 9:16, not just the export file name. Set clips to fill or crop the frame and adjust their position. If you choose fit, the editor may show the entire landscape image with empty space above and below.
2. Keep faces and captions away from the edges. Reposition the clip and move titles inward. Social apps place buttons, captions, and account details over parts of the screen, and the exact covered areas can vary by app and device.
3. Improve a blurry export. Confirm that the export size is 1080 by 1920, rather than a smaller draft size. A larger export cannot restore detail that was missing from the original footage, but a low export resolution can make good footage look worse.
4. Correct choppy motion. Match the export frame rate to the source and avoid mixing clips with very different frame rates without checking their playback. If the original was recorded at 30 fps, exporting at 30 fps is usually the sensible choice.
5. Check the sound before posting. Play the exported file with headphones and speakers. If sound is missing, make sure the timeline's audio tracks are enabled and that the export preset includes audio.
6. Export again after editing. A final crop, title, or project setting change will not alter a file you already exported. Create a new export, then check that copy rather than an older version with a similar name.

Check the finished video before uploading

Open the exported file and watch it from beginning to end. Confirm that it is vertical, the picture fills the frame as intended, important details are not cut off, and the audio is present. Scrub through a few transitions too, since a crop that works for one shot may hide a face or sign in the next.

If the video looks right locally but softer after posting, the social platform may have compressed it. Upload over a stable connection, avoid exporting and re-exporting the same file repeatedly, and use the platform's highest-quality upload option if one is available.