How to Reverse a Video in Premiere Pro (3 Easy Steps)

Trying to get that rewind effect or just want your clip to play backward? Whether you're editing a music video, a vlog, or just having fun with some footage, reversing a video in Premiere Pro is actually super simple.

Here’s how you can do it in just a few clicks.

1. Import and add your clip to the timeline

First things first, bring your footage into Premiere Pro:

1. Open your project or start a new one.
2. Import the video file by dragging it into the Project panel or using File > Import.
3. Drag the clip onto your timeline so it's ready for editing.

Once it's on the timeline, you're good to go.

2. Right-click and choose “Speed/Duration”

Now comes the part where we actually reverse it:

1. Right-click on the clip in the timeline.
2. Select Speed/Duration from the menu that pops up.
3. A small window will appear with speed settings.

This is where all the magic happens (well, not magic, but you get it).

3. Check “Reverse Speed” and hit OK

In that Speed/Duration window:

1. Check the box next to Reverse Speed.
2. Click OK.

That’s it! Your clip will now play backward. You’ll see the direction of the clip change slightly on the timeline (the arrow on top of the clip points left instead of right), which helps confirm it worked.

If you hit play now, you'll see everything moving in reverse. Perfect for those rewind moments or creative transitions.

Quick Tip: Want smoother playback?

Sometimes reversed clips can look a little choppy, especially if there's fast motion. You can try enabling frame blending:

• Right-click on the reversed clip.
• Choose Time Interpolation > Frame Blending.

It won’t fix everything, but it can help smooth things out a bit if needed.

Wrap Up

Reversing a video in Premiere Pro is one of those things that sounds more complicated than it is. But once you know where to click, it's honestly just a checkbox away. Whether you're going for style points or fixing something creatively, this little trick can come in handy more often than you'd think.

Now go have fun making time run backward!

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reverse a clip on Premiere Pro?

Right-click your clip in the timeline and choose Speed/Duration. In the pop-up window, check Reverse Speed, then click OK. Your video will now play backward from end to start.

How to invert a video in Adobe Premiere Pro?

If by "invert" you mean flipping visually:

• For horizontal flip: Go to Effects > Video Effects > Transform > Horizontal Flip, then drag it onto your clip.
  If you meant reverse playback, use Speed/Duration and check Reverse Speed instead.

How do you reverse a video clip?

1. Add your clip to the timeline
2. Right-click and select Speed/Duration
3. Check Reverse Speed
4. Click OK

Your video will now play backward when previewed or exported.

How to reverse what you did in Premiere Pro?

To undo an action, just press Ctrl + Z (Windows) or Cmd + Z (Mac). You can also go to Edit > Undo from the top menu if keyboard shortcuts aren’t your thing.