How Do I Rotate in Media Player Classic?

A video in Media Player Classic.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of the MPC-HC team

Media Player Classic can rotate videos around three axes, even though it doesn't have any options for rotating the video in its graphical user interface. Unlike Windows Media Player, Media Player Classic allows you to rotate your video around the X, Y and Z axes so that you can view it in landscape or portrait mode or fix it if it's upside down. Although some shortcuts are assigned to some rotation commands, you can choose which keys or shortcuts to use to rotate your videos. The player only plays back the video; you can't use it to edit and overwrite the original clip.

Step 1

The View menu and the Options item.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of the MPC-HC Team

Open a video in Media Player Classic, click "View" and select "Options" -- or press "O" -- to display the Options window.

Video of the Day

Step 2

The PnS Rotate commands in the Keys list.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of the MPC-HC Team

Select the "Keys" item from the Player group in the left pane. If the Player group is not expanded, double-click it. Locate the "PnS Rotate" commands in the Keys list.

Step 3

The Key field, a sample key combination and the Apply option.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of the MPC-HC Team

Double-click the "Key" field of the "PnS Rotate X+" command and then press any key to rotate the video around the X axis. Rotate around the X axis to fix upside down videos. Click the "..." (ellipses) button and select "Apply" to assign the key to the command.

To use a keyboard shortcut, press several keys at the same time -- "Alt" and "Num 8" for example. To use the Num keys on the numeric keypad, Num Lock must be enabled. Enable Num Lock by pressing the "Num Lock" key in the upper-left corner of the keypad.

Step 4

Assigned PnS Rotate keys, and the Apply and OK buttons.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of the MPC-HC Team

Assign shortcuts to all "PnS Rotate" commands. The PnS Rotate Y commands rotate the video around the Y axis. The PnS Rotate Z commands rotate the video around the Z axis. Click "Apply" to apply the new settings and select "OK" to close the Options window.

Step 5

The renderer and the Rotation feature status in the Options window.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of the MPC-HC Team

Ensure the video renderer used by Media Player Classic supports rotation. Open the Options window, select the "Output" item from the Playback group and look at the DirectShow Video section. If the Rotation feature has a green check mark, the renderer supports rotation. Select a different renderer from the menu if the Rotation feature has a red X. Click "Apply" and then "OK."

Step 6

Rotating a video in Media Player Classic.

Image Credit: Image courtesy of the MPC-HC Team

Use the keys you assigned to the PnS Rotate commands to rotate the video. You may need to press the keys several times or hold them because the rotation occurs gradually. Rotate from landscape to portrait and back by pressing "Alt-Num 1" or "Alt-Num 3.". To undo the rotation, press "Alt-Num 5."

Video of the Day