Screen recording settings for Reels, Shorts and TikTok
Short vertical video has rules: portrait, 9:16, sharp enough to survive compression, and the person visible without hiding the content. Set the recorder up for that once and every take is ready to post.
Orientation: lock it
Reels and Shorts are portrait. A recording that flips to landscape because you tilted the phone for a second is a recording you will re-do. Settings → General → Lock Orientation keeps the layout fixed regardless of how the device moves.
Resolution: 1080p is the target
Platforms re-encode everything you upload. Feeding them 1080p gives the encoder enough to work with; anything higher is mostly file size. 720p is acceptable for text-heavy screens but softens small UI. 1080p is free in Reel; native is a Pro tier and worth it only if the source has fine detail you need to keep.
Camera: small, in a corner, and steady
Picture in Picture puts you over the recording; keep the bubble in a lower corner so it does not cover captions the platform will add at the top. Choose the camera Quality tier that matches the recording — a 1080p screen with a Low camera looks mismatched. Do not move the bubble mid-take.
Audio: your voice above the app
Most short-form audio is the person, with the app quiet underneath. Set the mic level high and the app level lower in Settings → Audio before you start. If you plan to add trending audio in the platform's editor, record with app audio off and only your voice on, so nothing fights the music.
Length
Record longer than you need and trim in the platform. Stopping a recording early costs a take; trimming costs nothing.
What aspect ratio does Reel record?
The device screen's. On an iPhone in portrait that is close to 9:16, which is what the platforms want.
Should I record at Source (Native)?
Only if 1080p visibly loses detail you care about. For most app content it does not.
