Short vertical videos are where many people discover new creators, shops and tutorials. The good news: your phone screen is already vertical, so it's a natural fit. If you want to record vertical video for Reels, Shorts or TikTok from your screen, a few small decisions make the difference between a clip that looks native and one that looks squeezed or cut off.
The format: 9:16, full screen
Reels, YouTube Shorts and TikTok all use a 9:16 vertical frame – typically 1080 × 1920 pixels. Most modern phones are taller than 9:16 (for example 20:9), so a raw screen recording is a little taller than the platform frame. That's fine: the platform will either crop the top and bottom slightly or add thin bars. A recorder that exports exactly 9:16 avoids surprises.
For the full list of sizes, see our Reels and Shorts size guide.
How to record vertical video for Reels from your screen
- Keep the phone in portrait. Lock rotation so an app doesn't flip to landscape mid-recording.
- Choose 1080p. It matches what platforms display and keeps text sharp.
- Pick 30 or 60fps. Use 60fps for scrolling or games; 30fps is fine for simple steps.
- Turn on the mic and check your level. Many viewers watch without sound, but those who listen want a clear voice.
- Add a camera bubble if your face helps the story. Place it where it won't cover buttons you'll tap.
- Record a little extra at the start and end – you'll trim it later.
In Cinematic Recorder you can also start from a template and export directly to 9:16. The Reels 9:16 feature page shows how it works.
Mind the safe zones
Every short-video app puts its own interface on top of your video: the caption and username at the bottom, like/comment/share buttons on the right, and sometimes a header at the top. Anything important under those areas gets hidden.
- Keep key text and taps in the middle area of the frame.
- Avoid putting important content in the bottom fifth and the right edge.
- If the app you're showing has its key button at the very bottom, use zoom so it moves into the centre during editing.
Already recorded in landscape? Reframe it
Lots of great content starts horizontal – a YouTube tutorial, a game, a tablet recording. You don't have to record it again. In Cinematic Recorder's editor you can reframe the same project to 9:16, and click-based auto zoom keeps the view centred on where the action is, instead of a static crop that cuts off what matters. Edits are non-destructive, so your 16:9 version stays intact.
The full method is in reframing horizontal video to vertical, and turning a tutorial into Reels shows how to pick the best moments.
Make it work as a short
Hook in the first two seconds
Show the result first: the finished design, the solved problem, the "before and after". Then explain how. Our guide to writing a strong first-5-seconds hook has examples.
One idea per video
A Reel isn't a full tutorial. "3 hidden settings in your camera app" works better than "complete camera app guide."
Keep it moving
Cut pauses, speed up waiting, and zoom in on each step. A vertical frame shows less, so zoom matters even more than in landscape.
Captions
Many people scroll with sound off. Add short on-screen text for each step. Cinematic Recorder can write captions from your voice, and you can add your own text on top.
Point to the long version
End with "full tutorial on my channel" or "link in bio." Shorts are great for discovery; longer videos build trust. See making YouTube Shorts from screen recordings.
A quick example
Say you run a Facebook page selling clothes and want a Reel showing how to order through your page:
- Record in portrait: open the page, tap a product, choose size, send a message.
- Trim to 25 seconds, starting with the finished order confirmation as the hook.
- Auto zoom on each tap so viewers can read the size options.
- Add three captions: "Pick a product", "Choose your size", "Message us – done!"
- Export 9:16 and post to Reels; export 4:5 from the same project for your feed.
The whole thing can take less than 15 minutes once you've done it a couple of times. Use a test product and your own business number in the demo, not a customer's chat. Post a few of these in a series – ordering, delivery areas, payment options – and you'll answer common customer questions before they're even asked.
FAQ
What resolution should vertical Reels be?
1080 × 1920 (9:16) is the standard. Recording at 1080p on your phone gets you there.
Can I turn a horizontal screen recording into a Reel?
Yes. Reframe it to 9:16 in an editor. Zoom that follows your taps keeps the important part in view.
How long should a screen-recording Reel be?
Many work well at 15–45 seconds. Keep it as short as the idea allows.
Why does my Reel look cropped?
Your phone screen is probably taller than 9:16, or important content sits under the app's buttons. Export at exactly 9:16 and keep key content in the centre.
Ready to turn your screen into scroll-stopping vertical videos? Download Cinematic Recorder and export your first 9:16 Reel today.