How to Change Aspect Ratio to 9:16 in DaVinci Resolve (Step-by-Step)

Vertical video is the default format for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. If you are editing in DaVinci Resolve and need a 9:16 output, the change happens at the project level, not just as a crop. This guide walks you through three practical methods: setting up a new project correctly, updating an existing timeline, and reframing wide footage to fill the vertical frame.

Why 9:16 and What Resolution to Use

The 9:16 aspect ratio is simply a portrait-oriented frame, nine units wide and sixteen units tall. Choosing the right pixel dimensions matters because a crop alone will not produce a true vertical output.

For most creators, 1080 × 1920 is the standard working resolution.

Method 1 — Set a New Project to 9:16 from the Start (Recommended)

Starting with the correct settings avoids repositioning headaches later. This is the most efficient path if you have not yet built your timeline.

1. Open DaVinci Resolve and create a new project, or open one before adding any clips to the timeline.

   

2. Go to File > Project Settings, or click the gear icon in the bottom-right corner of the interface.

3. In the left panel, select Master Settings.

4. Under Timeline Resolution, open the dropdown and choose Custom.

   

5. Enter 1920 for width and 1080 for height.

6. Confirm that Pixel Aspect Ratio is set to Square Pixels and that the Timeline Frame Rate matches your footage (commonly 24, 25, or 30 fps).

7. Click Save.

   

All new timelines created within this project will now default to 9:16. Import your footage and begin editing normally.

Method 2 — Change an Existing Project’s Timeline to 9:16

If you have already been editing in a 16:9 timeline and need to switch, the path is identical to Method 1. Be prepared for some manual cleanup afterward.

1. Open the existing project in DaVinci Resolve.

   

2. Navigate to File > Project Settings > Master Settings.

3. Change Timeline Resolution to Custom and enter 1920 × 1080.

4. Click Save.

   

5. Return to the Edit page and review your timeline.

   

Important: Clips already placed on the timeline will not automatically reposition. They will appear pillarboxed (black bars on the sides) or cropped depending on your scaling settings. Proceed to the reframing section below to correct each clip.

How to Reframe 16:9 Footage Inside a 9:16 Canvas

This step addresses the most common pain point: your footage was shot in a wide 16:9 frame and now needs to fill a tall vertical canvas. You have two options depending on your workflow.

Using the Inspector / Transform Panel

This method gives you per-clip control and is best when different clips need different framing.

1. Click to select a clip on the timeline.

2. Open the Inspector panel in the top-right corner of the Edit page, then click the Video tab.

   

3. Under Transform, locate the Zoom controls. Enable the link/lock icon so X and Y scale together, then increase the zoom value. For standard 16:9 source footage, a zoom of approximately 1.78× will fill the vertical frame edge to edge.

4. Adjust Position X to shift the frame left or right until your subject is centered in the vertical window.

   

5. Review the clip in the viewer and fine-tune as needed.

   

6. To apply the same framing to similar clips, right-click the adjusted clip and use Copy, then right-click the target clips and choose Paste Attributes > Video Attributes.

   

   

Using Input Sizing (Global Alternative)

For projects where all clips share the same source format and a consistent crop works across the board, go to Project Settings > Image Scaling > Input Sizing. Adjusting scaling here applies a uniform transform to every clip, saving significant time compared to the per-clip method.

Export Your 9:16 Video in the Correct Resolution

Changing the project settings does not automatically carry through to your export if a preset with a fixed resolution is active. Always confirm the Deliver page settings before rendering.

1. Navigate to the Deliver page.

2. Under Export Video, confirm the Format is set to MP4 and the Codec is H.264 or H.265 (both are widely accepted by social platforms).

3. Set the Resolution field to Custom and enter 1920 × 1080.

   

4. Verify that Frame Rate matches your project settings.

   

5. Click Add to Render Queue, then click Start Render.

   

Note: For TikTok and Reels, a video bitrate of 8–15 Mbps at H.264 is a practical starting point. YouTube Shorts accepts higher bitrates if you are exporting 4K vertical.

FAQ

Q: What is the correct resolution for 9:16 in DaVinci Resolve?

Use 1080 × 1920 for Full HD vertical video, which is the standard for TikTok, Instagram Reels, and YouTube Shorts. If you are working with 4K footage and need a higher-resolution output, use 2160 × 3840. Both maintain the 9:16 aspect ratio. For most social media workflows, 1080 × 1920 is sufficient.

Q: Can I change the aspect ratio after I have already edited my timeline?

Yes. Go to File > Project Settings > Master Settings at any point and update the Timeline Resolution to 1080 × 1920. The change takes effect immediately, but clips already on the timeline will not reframe automatically. You will need to use the Inspector’s Transform controls to zoom and reposition each clip manually.

Q: Why does my exported video still look like 16:9 after changing project settings?

The Deliver page likely has a saved preset locked to 1920 × 1080. Project settings and export settings are controlled separately in DaVinci Resolve. On the Deliver page, manually set the Resolution to Custom → 1080 × 1920 before adding the job to the render queue. This overrides any conflicting preset.

Conclusion

The core workflow is straightforward: update the Timeline Resolution in Project Settings, reframe any existing 16:9 clips using the Inspector’s Transform controls, and confirm your export resolution on the Deliver page before rendering. Before committing to a full edit, run through these steps on a short test clip to catch any framing issues early. If you are also shooting vertical content on the go, clean audio is just as important as framing — a compact mic like the Hollyland LARK M2 (9g, 40-hour battery life) keeps your recordings broadcast-ready before footage ever reaches DaVinci Resolve.