Fix Clipchamp Cannot Import Vertical MP4 Videos in Windows 11
Question details
The user is unable to import vertical MP4 videos into Clipchamp, despite horizontal videos from the same camera importing properly. The user needs to rotate and save these files.

- Product
- Clipchamp
- Device & OS
- Windows 11
- Scenario
- Attempting to edit, rotate, and save vertical MP4 video files recorded from a camera.
- Observed behavior
- Clipchamp fails to import the vertical MP4 files and returns an error, even though the exact same files play perfectly in Windows Media Player.
Verify that your vertical MP4 files are not corrupted by playing them in another media player, and ensure your Windows 11 system has the latest updates installed.
Repair or Reset the Clipchamp App
Use Windows 11 built-in app settings to fix any corrupted app data preventing video imports.
Windows 11 allows you to easily terminate, repair, or reset built-in applications. This process can clear corrupt caches and restore Clipchamp to full working order without affecting your saved media files on your local drive.
Click the Windows Start button, search for 'Clipchamp', right-click the app icon in the results, and select 'App settings'.
Scroll down the settings page and click the 'Terminate' button to force-stop all Clipchamp processes running in the background.
Click the 'Repair' button and check if you can import videos. If the error continues, click the 'Reset' button to clear the app's configuration data completely.

Re-encode the Vertical Video Files
Converting the video can resolve missing metadata or unsupported codec profiles specific to vertical orientations.
Run System File Checker and Update Drivers
Repair potentially corrupted system files and update display drivers that assist with video rendering.
Enhance Your Windows 11 Productivity with WPS Office
While troubleshooting Microsoft Clipchamp for video editing, consider optimizing your overall productivity suite. WPS Office is a powerful, lightweight, and completely free alternative to Microsoft Office, perfect for managing your documents, spreadsheets, and presentations on Windows 11.
- 1. Download the Installer: Visit the official WPS Office website and click the free download button for Windows.
- 2. Install the Suite: Run the downloaded installer and follow the quick setup instructions on your Windows 11 PC.
- 3. Start Creating: Open WPS Office to instantly edit or create documents with full Microsoft format compatibility.

Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Clipchamp fail to import vertical MP4 videos but horizontal ones work?
Vertical videos often contain specific rotation metadata or use specialized codec profiles from mobile cameras that Clipchamp may struggle to decode. Re-encoding the video usually standardizes this metadata and fixes the import error.
Can antivirus or VPN software interfere with Clipchamp imports?
Yes. Strict third-party antivirus software or active VPNs can sometimes block the app's sandboxed processes from accessing local files or connecting to Microsoft's processing servers. Temporarily disabling them can isolate the issue.
What if resetting Clipchamp doesn't fix the import error?
If repairing and resetting fails, try uninstalling Clipchamp completely via Windows Settings, restarting your PC, and downloading a fresh installation directly from the Microsoft Store.




