Guide
Reverse video online: play any moment backwards
Drop a clip above, set where to start and pick 3, 5 or 10 seconds. You get that part played backwards as an MP4.
In short
- You can play 3, 5 or 10 seconds of any clip backwards here.
- The sound is reversed along with the picture, when your clip has sound.
- The reversed part is brought down to 720p and 30 frames a second to fit memory.
- Nothing is uploaded. The tool runs in this browser tab, so your video stays with you.
Reverse video
Runs in your browser · files never leave this page
Drop a short clip here
or
How much to reverse
0:00.0 to 0:05.0: 5.0 s × 30 fps = 150 frames held at once. The most it takes is 10 seconds.
Your file never leaves this page. The engine downloads once, the work happens in this tab, and there is no upload, no account and no storage. Close the tab and the file is gone unless you downloaded the result.
More free tools: Video compressor · Video resizer · Video to MP4 · Video to MP3 · Video clipper · Video stitcher · Video to GIF · Video speed changer · Mute video · Rotate video · all tools
Why only 10 seconds
To play a clip backwards, the tool must hold every frame in memory first.
- A 1080p frame takes 2.25 times the memory of a 720p one, so the tool works at 720p.
- More frames a second means more frames to hold, so the tool works at 30 frames a second.
- For a longer clip, reverse it in 10-second parts and join them in reverse order with the free video stitcher.
Memory the reverse needs (720p, 30 fps)
| Part you reverse | Frames held | Memory |
|---|---|---|
| 3 seconds | 90 | About 124 MB |
| 5 seconds | 150 | About 207 MB |
| 10 seconds | 300 | About 415 MB |
Part you reverse: 3 seconds
- Frames held
- 90
- Memory
- About 124 MB
Part you reverse: 5 seconds
- Frames held
- 150
- Memory
- About 207 MB
Part you reverse: 10 seconds
- Frames held
- 300
- Memory
- About 415 MB
What people reverse
Short moments work best, because people can tell straight away that something is running backwards.
- A pour or a throw looks good backwards, because you see at once what has been rewound.
- A product flies back into its box.
- Someone walks backwards into the shot for a funny intro.
- A short rewind sets up a reveal at the end.
This is the whole editor
Highlight a phrase and a clip lands on those exact words. No timeline, no keyframes, no layers.
How to reverse a video
Five steps, all in this tab.
Reverse a clip
Drop your clip
In the box at the top
Set Start at
Where the part begins
Pick 3, 5 or 10 seconds
5 is the usual pick
Press Reverse it
Picture and sound
Download the MP4
Saved to your device
Limits of a browser tool
Everything runs on your own device, so your device sets the limits.
- File size: up to 500 MB runs comfortably. Bigger files may run out of memory.
- Speed: the engine uses one processor core, so a long re-encode takes minutes.
- First run: the engine downloads once, about 32 MB. After that it starts fast.
- Phones: it works, but a laptop is faster and has more memory.
Questions people ask
- How do I reverse a video?
- Drop the clip in the box above, type where to start, pick 3, 5 or 10 seconds and press Reverse it. The reversed MP4 downloads to your device.
- Why can I only reverse 10 seconds?
- Every frame has to be held in memory before the last one can play first. Ten seconds at 720p and 30 fps is about 415 MB, the most a browser tab can be trusted with.
- Does the sound play backwards too?
- Yes, when the clip has sound. For silence, run the result through the free mute video tool.
- Why is my reversed clip 720p?
- A 1080p frame takes 2.25 times the memory of a 720p one. Bringing it down to 720p is what lets 10 seconds fit.
- Is my video uploaded anywhere?
- No. The tool runs inside this browser tab, so your video never leaves your device. Only the engine itself is downloaded, about 32 MB, once per visit.
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