Convert a Video to Spotify Canvas Format
Spotify only accepts a Canvas in one exact format: a vertical 9:16 MP4 or JPG, 3 to 8 seconds long, 720px to 1080px tall. Almost no video comes out of a camera or editor that way. This guide shows how to convert any clip, landscape footage, a MOV from your phone, a screen recording, into a file Spotify accepts, free and in your browser.
Updated 2026-07-21
The format you are converting to
| Spec | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Aspect ratio | 9:16 (vertical) |
| Resolution | 720x1280 or 1080x1920 |
| Length | 3 to 8 seconds |
| File type | MP4 (video) or JPG (image) |
| Audio | None, Canvas is silent |
These are Spotify's official Canvas requirements. If any one of them is off, the upload fails. The full breakdown is in our Spotify Canvas size and specs guide.
Step 1: Upload your video
Open the MakeCanvas editor and drop in your clip. Common video formats work, including MP4, MOV, and WebM, plus JPG, PNG, and WebP if you are starting from a still image. There is no software to install, the conversion happens through your browser.
Step 2: Crop to the vertical 9:16 frame
Most source videos are landscape or square, and Spotify rejects both. In the editor, your clip sits inside the exact vertical Canvas frame, and you drag and scale it until the composition works. Two tips:
- Keep the subject centered. Phone screens vary and the edges of a Canvas can get cut off on some devices.
- Zoom in rather than letterbox. Black bars on the sides of a Canvas look broken in the Spotify app. Filling the frame almost always looks better.
Step 3: Trim, style, and export
Pick the best 8 seconds of your clip. If the source is long, trim to the calmest, most loopable stretch, motion without a hard beginning or end loops best. You can also adjust playback speed from 0.25x to 2x, add one of 12 filters, or apply a motion effect like a slow zoom.
Then export. The output is a 720x1280 MP4 at exactly 8 seconds with no watermark, which passes Spotify validation as is. Upload it through Spotify for Artists, the steps are in our Canvas upload guide.
Converting from specific sources
- iPhone or Android footage (MOV, HEVC). Upload it directly, the editor reads common phone formats and the export is always MP4.
- Landscape or square video. Crop into the 9:16 frame and scale up to fill it. You lose the sides of the image, so frame around your subject.
- A long video. Either trim inside the editor or cut the clip first with the free video trimmer, which also runs entirely in your browser.
- A still photo. Upload the JPG, PNG, or WebP and add a motion effect such as a slow zoom so the Canvas feels alive. Ideas are in 10 Spotify Canvas ideas.
- No footage at all. Paste your Spotify track link into AI Canvas and it generates a looping video matched to the mood of the song.
Frequently asked questions
How do I convert a video to Spotify Canvas format?
Upload the video to MakeCanvas, crop it into the vertical 9:16 frame, trim to 8 seconds, and export. The output is a 720x1280 MP4 that matches the official Canvas specs exactly.
Can I convert a horizontal video to a Spotify Canvas?
Yes, but it needs to be cropped, not squeezed. In the MakeCanvas editor you position and scale the landscape clip inside the vertical frame, so the visible part fills the 9:16 Canvas.
Can I convert a MOV to a Spotify Canvas?
Yes. Upload the MOV to the MakeCanvas editor and export. Spotify itself only accepts MP4 or JPG, and every MakeCanvas export is already MP4.
Is converting a video to a Canvas free?
Yes. The MakeCanvas Free plan includes 3 canvas exports with no watermark, and every export is in the exact format Spotify accepts.
What if my video is longer than 8 seconds?
Trim it. Inside the editor you choose which 8 seconds to keep, or you can pre-cut the clip with the free browser video trimmer first.
Ready to make yours? Create a Spotify Canvas in the exact format Spotify accepts, free and with no watermark.
Open the Canvas Maker