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To convert a landscape 16:9 video for YouTube Shorts, create a 9:16 vertical sequence, then crop and reposition the footage so the important action stays in frame. You can do that manually or use automatic reframing as a first pass. Review the whole video before exporting: automatic tracking can lose the subject, and a vertical crop cannot show the entire width of a landscape frame.

Choose how to reframe the landscape video

Method Works best when Trade-off
Manual crop and reposition The subject is relatively still, or you want deliberate control over faces, products, captions and composition. You need to check framing throughout the timeline and adjust it as the shot changes.
Automatic reframing or subject tracking The subject moves and you want the editor to make an initial framing pass. Tracking is not guaranteed to keep the right subject in view. Fast action, multiple points of interest and complex sequences can require corrections.

Changing the sequence to portrait does not preserve the full landscape image in a full-frame crop: a 9:16 frame is much narrower than a 16:9 frame. If cropping would cut off essential content, consider a designed layout that repositions footage or uses a background instead of forcing a close crop.

Convert the video to a 9:16 vertical format

  1. Keep the original edit

    Duplicate the project or create a separate vertical sequence before changing the frame. This preserves your landscape version. Adobe’s Auto Reframe workflow creates a duplicate sequence.

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  2. Set the sequence to 9:16

    For a common 1080-pixel-wide vertical export, use 1080 × 1920 pixels. That resolution is an example calculated from the 9:16 ratio, not a YouTube-mandated size; other dimensions can use the same ratio.

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  3. Reframe each shot

    For a static subject, scale and reposition the footage until the important content fits the vertical frame. For moving footage, automatic reframing can provide a starting point; inspect and adjust its framing over time.

  4. Review the full timeline

    Check faces, hands, products, action and captions across cuts and camera moves. Make sure titles near the edges remain visible, and correct any points where the subject leaves the frame. A good opening frame does not guarantee that later frames are composed well.

  5. Export and upload

    Export a square or vertical video, then upload it through YouTube Studio. YouTube’s desktop Shorts upload guidance, current as of October 3, 2026, says Shorts can be up to three minutes long and have a square or vertical aspect ratio. It does not require an exact 9:16 ratio. For externally created Shorts, use material you have permission to use.

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Use Auto Reframe in Adobe Premiere Pro

  1. In the Project panel, select the sequence you want to adapt.

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  2. Choose Sequence > Auto Reframe Sequence.

  3. Choose a target aspect ratio or specify a custom ratio such as 9:16.

  4. Choose a motion preset: Slower Motion for little camera movement, Default for typical action, or Faster Motion for rapid movement.

  5. Review the resulting sequence and fine-tune framing where tracking loses the subject or includes the wrong point of interest. Adobe notes that fast action and complex sequences may need fine-tuning.

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Adobe’s sequence instructions were last updated April 14, 2026. Labels and controls can change, so consult Adobe’s Auto Reframe documentation if your interface differs.

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Check the export and YouTube presentation

For current upload details, see YouTube Help: Upload YouTube Shorts and YouTube Help: Video resolution and aspect ratios. YouTube’s duration and upload rules may change.

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Troubleshoot common reframing problems

  • The subject is cut off: Reposition or scale the footage in the vertical sequence. If the shot changes, adjust framing at the relevant points rather than relying on one position for the entire clip.

  • Automatic tracking follows the wrong thing: Correct the framing manually, especially in shots with multiple people or points of interest.

  • Fast movement leaves the subject out of frame: Inspect the whole shot and adjust the tracking result or framing where needed; try a faster-motion setting as a starting point, not a guarantee.

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  • Captions or titles disappear at the edges: Move them inward and check their visibility through cuts and camera movement.

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  • The crop removes information the viewer needs: Use a designed background or a split/repositioned layout. Do not add black bars or padding as a player-sizing workaround.

  • The upload is not treated as a Short: Check that the video is square or vertical and no longer than three minutes under YouTube’s current desktop guidance, then review the upload details in YouTube Studio.

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