Canva's 9:16 format is built for vertical video on phones and social platforms

Canva lets you resize any video to 9:16 aspect ratio — the tall, narrow format used by Instagram Reels, TikTok, YouTube Shorts, and phone screens. You do not need to re-shoot or use a separate tool. The process takes about two minutes and works whether your original video is horizontal, square, or already vertical.

The 9:16 format is taller than it is wide. If your video is currently 16:9 (the standard landscape format from most cameras and phones held horizontally), Canva will either crop the sides or add blank space, depending on which option you choose. Understanding this trade-off before you start helps you decide whether to crop, add background, or re-record.

Key Takeaways

  • Open your video in Canva, click the File menu, select Change dimensions, and choose 9:16 from the preset list or enter it manually.
  • If your video is wider than 9:16, Canva will ask whether to crop the sides or add a background — choose based on what matters most in your footage.
  • Adding a background (rather than cropping) preserves all the action in your original video but may look less polished if the background is plain.
  • After resizing, preview the result before exporting to make sure the framing works for your content.

Step-by-step: resizing to 9:16 in Canva

Start by uploading your video to Canva or opening an existing project that contains video. Click the File menu in the top left corner. From the dropdown, select Change dimensions. A panel will appear showing your current dimensions and a list of preset sizes.

Look for 9:16 in the preset list — it is usually labeled as "Portrait" or "Vertical" and appears near the top. Click it. If you do not see it, you can type 9 and 16 into the width and height fields manually. Canva will then show you a preview of how your video will look in the new format.

If your original video is wider than 9:16, Canva will ask what to do with the extra space. You will see two options: Crop or Add background. Crop removes the sides of your video to fit the new shape. Add background keeps the entire video visible but fills the empty space on the sides with a solid color or image. Choose whichever preserves the part of your video that matters most.

Crop versus background: which one to choose

Cropping works best when the action in your video is centered. If you filmed someone speaking directly to the camera or a product shot against a plain background, cropping the sides will not lose important content. The result looks natural because nothing is added — it is just a tighter frame of what was already there.

Adding a background works better when you need to keep the full width of your shot. If your video shows multiple people spread across the frame, or if the edges contain important detail, cropping will cut them off. A background fill lets you keep all of that. The downside is that the added space on the sides may look empty or distracting, especially if you choose a plain color. You can change the background color after resizing by clicking on the colored area and picking a new shade or uploading an image.

Test both options in the preview before you decide. Canva shows you exactly what the result will look like, so you can see whether cropping loses something you need or whether a background looks acceptable for your platform.

Exporting your 9:16 video

Once you have resized and are happy with the preview, click read or Export in the top right corner. Canva will ask what format you want. For video, choose MP4 — it works on every platform and keeps file size reasonable. You can also choose MOV if you are editing further in another program, but MP4 is the safest choice for uploading directly to social media.

Canva will process the video, which usually takes 30 seconds to a few minutes depending on length and your internet speed. You will see a progress bar. Once it finishes, the file downloads to your computer. You can then upload it to Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, or any other platform that accepts 9:16 video.

Common issues and how to fix them

If the preview looks cut off or distorted, you may have chosen Crop when you meant to choose Add background, or vice versa. Go back to File > Change dimensions and select the other option. Canva will show you the alternative preview so you can compare.

If the video plays but looks stretched or squeezed, the platform you are uploading to may be re-scaling it. This is rare with 9:16, which is the native format for most vertical video platforms. Check that you downloaded as MP4 and that the file size is reasonable (usually 5 to 50 MB depending on length). If the file is unusually large or small, re-export and check your quality settings.

If you want to adjust the background color or image after resizing, click on the colored area in your canvas and use the color picker or upload a new image. You do not need to re-export — just make the change and read again.

When to resize before editing versus after

You can resize to 9:16 at any point in your Canva project — before you add text and graphics, or after. If you resize first, you will see the final frame as you add elements, which helps you position text and images to avoid the edges. If you resize last, you may need to move things around to fit the new shape.

For most projects, resizing early is easier. Open your video, change dimensions to 9:16 right away, then add text, stickers, or other elements knowing exactly how much space you have. This prevents the frustration of adding a title only to discover it gets cut off when you resize.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I resize a video that is already 9:16?

Yes. If your video is already vertical, Canva will not need to crop or add background — it will straightforward confirm the dimensions and let you export. This is useful if you want to add text, transitions, or other effects to a vertical video before uploading.

Does resizing reduce video quality?

Resizing itself does not reduce quality, but cropping can remove detail if you crop too much. Adding a background does not affect the original video quality. The export settings (resolution and bitrate) matter more — Canva defaults to good quality for social media, but you can adjust if needed.

What if I want to resize to a different aspect ratio, like 1:1 or 4:5?

Canva supports many preset ratios. Go to File > Change dimensions and scroll through the list. You will see options for square (1:1), Instagram feed (4:5), landscape (16:9), and others. You can also type in any custom ratio you need.

Can I undo a resize if I change my mind?

Yes. Click File > Change dimensions again and select your original ratio, or use the undo button (Ctrl+Z on Windows, Command+Z on Mac) if you have not saved yet. Canva keeps your original video intact until you export.

Does Canva charge extra to resize video?

No. Resizing is included in Canva's free plan. You only pay if you use premium images, music, or templates within your project — the resize feature itself is free.