Learn How to Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on Mac, iPad, and iPhone in This Guide. And You Can Also Use iMovie Alternatives Like Wondershare Filmora to Edit Your Videos

How to Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie

Liza Brown

Nov 07, 2023• Proven solutions

The ratio between the height and width of the screen or an image is called the aspect ratio. Different video posting platforms require different aspect ratios. For example, for YouTube, the commonly used aspect ratio is 16:9, which is a standard for almost all videos. However, for TikTok, the required aspect ratio is 9:16.

The video’s original aspect ratio is based on the default settings of the recording device. Some phones and tablets provide the option of changing your video’s aspect ratio before you start recording. But it can also be changed afterward with the help of editing software.

Social media apps and websites require you post images and videos of a specific size. And if you post your content in its original dimensions it most probably be will get cropped in the wrong places and will diminish the quality of your video or image.

To post that perfect video, it is better to resize it before posting it online. Several online editing tools are available on the market that you can use to change the dimensions of your content. iMovie has to be one of the most popular editing software used worldwide. So, if you use iMovie for editing videos, and you want to know how you can change the aspect ratio of your content, read on to find it out.

In this article

01 How to Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on Mac?

02 How to Easily Change Aspect Ratio on Mac with Wondershare Filmora? [Recommend: Auto Resize]

03 How to Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on iPhone?

04 How to Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on iPad?

05 FAQs About Changing Aspect Ratio in iMovie

Change iMovie Aspect Ratio

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Change iMovie Aspect Ratio

For macOS 10.12 or later

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How to Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on Mac?

Learn to change the aspect ratio of videos in iMovie on Mac by following these simple steps:

Step 1. Open a pre-existing project in iMovie or create a new one. It is better to adjust the video size before starting any other editing procedures. Changing the dimensions of videos afterward may affect the editing procedures and effects applied to the video.

Step 2. To resize the video, click on “File” and then click on “Project Properties” on the drop-down list, a pop-up window will appear.

Step 3. On the popping-up dialog, you will see several options regarding aspect ratio.

Step 4. Choose the settings that are suitable for your video, and you’re done. Your video will now appear in your chosen dimensions.

How to Easily Change Aspect Ratio on Mac with Wondershare Filmora?

Wondershare Filmora is one of the best alternatives to iMovie. You can use Filmora to change the aspect ratio of your videos with a few simple steps:

Change iMovie Aspect Ratio

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Change iMovie Aspect Ratio

For macOS 10.12 or later

Secure Download

Step 1. Open the Wondershare Filmora application on Mac.

Step 2. Open the video you want to edit in the app by clicking on “Import” on the menu bar. You can also drag and drop the video on your timeline, and your file will open in the Filmora app.

Step 3. To adjust the aspect ratio of your video, click on the “Crop and Zoom” option and a pop-up will appear on your screen. Now, you have two options to consider, you can either choose presets having aspects ratios of 16:9, 4:3, 1:1, and 9:16, or you can choose custom settings. For custom dimensions, click on Custom and type in your desired ratio.

Step 4. When you are satisfied with the settings, click OK and the aspect ratio of your video will be changed.

How to Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on iPhone?

Here’s how you can aspect ratio of your videos in iPhone using iMovie:

Step 1. Open the video you want to edit in iMovie. You can either choose a pre-existing project or create a whole new one.

Step 2. To change the aspect ratio, tap on the “Zoom” option that you will see in the top right corner of your iPhone screen.

Step 3. You can also use your fingers to resize the video by zooming in or out as required.

Step 4. Tap “Done” and the aspect ratio of your video will be changed.

How to Change Aspect Ratio in iMovie on iPad?

The procedure of changing the aspect ratio on the iPad is quite similar to that of the iPhone. The following steps will help you change the aspect ratio of your videos on iPad using iMovie:

Step 1. Open the iMovie app on your iPad. Import a pre-existing project on your timeline or start a new one.

Step 2. Resize your video by tapping on the “zoom” option.

Step 3. Readjust the video size using your two fingers.

Step 4. Tap “Done” when you are happy with the selected size.

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FAQs About Changing Aspect Ratio in iMovie

1. What is the standard aspect ratio for YouTube Videos?

On a computer, the standard aspect ratio for videos on YouTube is 16:9. If your video has a different aspect ratio, YouTube will change it automatically to a size that is suitable for the website. But, it may ruin the quality of the video, or black bars might appear on the sides of the aspect ratio that is too small.

2. What resolution does iMovie support?

The resolution of the first film or video clip that you add to your timeline will define the resolution of your entire iMovie project. The latest versions of iMovie can support 4K and videos with frame rates higher than 30 frames per second.

3. Can I crop a video in iMovie?

Of course, you can crop a video in iMovie. To do so, open a project in iMovie and click on the “Crop to Fill” button. The video will appear in an adjustable frame. Now you can drag the frame and set it to the size you want.

4. How do I change movie dimensions in iMovie 10?

You can only change the size of your movie/video when you share/export your project. Go to the “size” option after clicking on “File” to change the dimensions of your movie.

5. How do I compress videos in iMovie?

Click on the “share” option after clicking on “File”. The video can be compressed for Facebook, Email, Vimeo, and more. Select the option for which you want to compress the file. You may have to make small changes for large videos.

Final Word

Aspect ratio is simply defined as the relationship between the width and height of an image, video, or screen. Various video posting platforms have a standard aspect ratio for videos. So. Before posting your video creation, you have to make sure that the aspect ratio of your video aligns with the website standards.

To tweak the aspect ratio of your videos, you can use iMovie, which is a powerful video editor for Mac and iOS devices. You can also use Wondershare Filmora which is the best alternative to iMovie and is highly compatible with both Mac and Windows devices.

Try It Free

For Win 7 or later (64-bit)

Try It Free

For macOS 10.12 or later

Secure Download

Liza Brown

Liza Brown is a writer and a lover of all things video.

Follow @Liza Brown

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