Why Is Microsoft Clipchamp Ruining Your Video Aspect Ratio? Discover Powerful Fixes for Frustrating Distortion

Can You Solve the Annoying Clipchamp Aspect Ratio Bug? Expert Solutions to Restore Your Videos

Microsoft Clipchamp users have recently encountered a serious and disruptive issue: videos are being squashed, stretched, or distorted when imported or exported, especially those shot in portrait or vertical formats. This negative experience has impacted workflows for content creators, social media managers, and professionals who rely on Clipchamp for high-quality video editing.

Understanding the Clipchamp Aspect Ratio Problem

Widespread Distortion

Users report that videos-especially non-landscape clips-are being automatically resized into the wrong aspect ratio, resulting in squished or stretched footage.

Persistent Bug

The problem persists even after adjusting aspect ratio settings within Clipchamp. Both the app and web versions are affected, and the distortion appears during export, not just in the timeline preview.

Recent Emergence

The issue surfaced after a recent update, disrupting previously stable workflows for many users.

Community Impact

Numerous complaints have surfaced across Microsoft forums and Reddit, with users expressing frustration over disrupted projects and missed deadlines.

What’s Causing the Distortion?

Anamorphic Encoding Issue

The core problem seems linked to how Clipchamp handles video files with the “anamorphic” attribute. This attribute allows videos to adjust their display based on device, but a recent bug causes Clipchamp to misinterpret this, leading to black bars, squishing, or stretching during export-even if the preview looks correct.

Default Aspect Ratio

Clipchamp defaults to a 16:9 aspect ratio, which can clash with imported media of different dimensions, especially if the software fails to adapt properly.

Common Troubleshooting Steps (Rarely Effective)

Microsoft support typically recommends:

• Checking and adjusting aspect ratio settings
• Ensuring Clipchamp is up to date
• Clearing browser cache and cookies
• Reinstalling the application

However, these generic solutions have not resolved the issue for most users, indicating a deeper software bug.

Proven Workarounds from the Community

Many users have found temporary relief using free software like Handbrake:

Pre-process Source Files

1. Open your video in Handbrake (free video transcoder).
2. Select the desired quality preset.
3. Go to the “Dimensions” tab and set “Anamorphic” to “None.” This removes problematic attributes that confuse Clipchamp.
4. Export the processed file and import it into Clipchamp as a new asset.

Note: You will need to redo your edits with the new file, as Clipchamp treats it as a new asset.

Some users have also tried running the exported (distorted) video back through Handbrake to “de-squeeze” it, though results vary.

Additional Tips for Managing Aspect Ratios in Clipchamp

• Use the size button in the floating toolbar to select the correct aspect ratio for your project (16:9, 9:16, 1:1, etc.).
• Use the fit or fill options for each video clip to control cropping or letterboxing.
• For projects with multiple clips, adjust each individually to ensure consistency.

Is There a Fix on the Horizon?

Possible Server-Side Improvements

Some users have noticed that projects created before April 9, 2025, which previously had export issues, began working as of May 8, 2025, without an obvious software update. This suggests Microsoft may be rolling out a server-side or phased fix, but many users still face ongoing problems.

Alternative Editors

If the issue persists and disrupts your workflow, consider exploring alternative video editors like DaVinci Resolve (free, but with a steeper learning curve).

By following these steps, you can minimize frustration and maintain professional results in your video projects while waiting for a permanent solution from Microsoft. The Clipchamp community has rallied to share workarounds, and some users are already seeing improvements-suggesting a solution may be on the horizon.