Check whether important content is near the edges
A video can look perfectly clear in an editor and become harder to read after a platform places buttons, a caption, or account information over it. This safe zone checker helps you inspect a vertical composition before sharing it. Load an image or a supported video, choose the reserved margins, and view a selected frame with shaded edge areas and a central guide.
The guide is approximate. It does not log in to Instagram, reproduce every version of its interface, or guarantee that a title will remain visible on every device. Organic Reels and advertisements can have different overlays. Use this preview to identify obvious risks, then inspect the actual platform preview before publishing.
How to check a frame
Choose a JPG, PNG, or WebP image, or an MP4, WebM, or MOV video that your browser can decode. The selected file must be no larger than 50 MB. Images are additionally limited to 20 megapixels after decoding. For a video, enter the frame time in seconds. Zero checks the start; another value checks a later frame, provided it is within the video's duration.
Adjust the top, bottom, and side reserved percentages, then press Check selected frame. The result uses a 1080 by 1920 canvas. A non-9:16 source is fitted inside it with padding rather than stretched. Inspect the title, subtitles, logos you own, important faces, and calls to action. Anything inside a shaded region deserves closer checking in the destination app.
Understand the margins before using them
The initial guide reserves 14 percent at the top, 35 percent at the bottom, and 6 percent on each side. These are starting settings for a cautious composition check, not a universal specification for all organic Reels. You can change them to match the layout you are preparing. The tool deliberately makes the values visible so you can understand the assumption behind the preview.
On a 1920-pixel-high canvas, a 35-percent bottom reserve means the bottom 672 pixels are shaded. A 14-percent top reserve shades approximately 269 pixels. Six percent of the 1080-pixel width is about 65 pixels per side. The central outline marks the remaining guide area. A larger reserve leaves less room for key content, which may be useful when a placement displays a long caption or extra controls.
Practical examples for creators
For a talking-head video, keep a name label and subtitles away from the bottom caption area. If the speaker holds a product near the lower edge, check a frame where it is actually visible rather than only the opening title. For a tutorial, a step number near a corner can conflict with controls even when the main demonstration is centered. Move the step number inward in your editor and check again.
For a photo-based Reel cover, place the main subject where it remains understandable without the outer edges. A cover may also be shown in other shapes elsewhere on a platform, and this checker does not simulate all those crops. If your design includes several lines of text, shorten the wording instead of shrinking it until it technically fits but becomes unreadable on a phone.
What the downloads contain
You can download safe-zone-preview.png, which combines the selected frame with the guide. It is a review image and includes the shaded areas. You can also download safe-zone-overlay.png, a transparent PNG containing only the guide. Import that overlay into a compatible editor above your video while arranging text, then remove or hide it before exporting your finished video.
This tool does not export a full video with an overlay, rewrite captions, or inspect every frame automatically. Changing the frame-time value lets you manually check another moment. For a moving title or a subject that changes position, inspect several representative times. The downloadable PNG should not be mistaken for a ready-to-post Reel or an official template supplied by Instagram.
Files, decoding, and privacy
A video filename alone does not tell you whether a browser can play it. MP4 and MOV are containers, and the video codec inside them matters. If a MOV does not open, an MP4 using a broadly supported codec such as H.264 may work better. This checker reads a local file; it does not fetch private Reels or bypass download restrictions on another service.
The selected media is processed in your browser by the tool code. The file is not uploaded to a video-checking backend. The website may still load ordinary resources, advertisements, or analytics separately. The source stays unchanged on your device. Refreshing the page clears the current preview, while any PNG you downloaded remains in your browser's download location.
Troubleshooting and a final posting check
If the picture looks small inside the canvas, compare its original ratio with 9:16. Padding is expected for a horizontal or square source. Use a video resizer in your editing workflow if you want a different crop. If the selected time fails, choose a nonnegative number below the video's duration. A damaged file or unsupported codec may need a new export before it can be checked.
Margin values must stay within the ranges shown in the controls. A nearly empty central area is not a useful guide, so invalid combinations are rejected. Once you finish, open the platform preview and check the caption, buttons, and placement-specific display there. Review it at a realistic phone size. Spend particular attention on text contrast and readable size; a safe position cannot make tiny or low-contrast lettering clear.
Related tools and reading
- Video Cutter Online – Trim Video Clips with Sound
- Video Compressor Online – Reduce Video Size to Target MB
- Check Image Dimensions, PDF Page Size and File KB
Designing a generated Reel cover? Plan the subject and space for readable text before checking its placement. Writing clear image prompts with Gemini
Frequently asked questions
Is the green area guaranteed to be visible?
No. It is an approximate guide based on your selected margins. App versions, devices, captions, and ad placements can change the visible interface.
Can I check an entire video automatically?
No. The tool checks a chosen frame. Enter different times to review moments where text or the subject moves.
Why does my horizontal video have padding?
It is fitted into a 9:16 canvas without distortion. The checker does not automatically crop or convert your video into a vertical export.
What is the transparent overlay for?
Use it as a temporary guide layer in an editor. Hide or remove it before making the final video unless you intentionally want the guide visible.
Why will a MOV file not open?
The browser may not support its internal codec, even though MOV is accepted as an input container. Try a compatible MP4 export or a supported WebM file.
Does this publish or edit my Instagram Reel?
No. It reads your chosen local media and creates PNG review files. Account login, publishing, and changes to the original video are outside its scope.
Can I check a local file privately on my phone?
The tool processes the selected file locally rather than uploading it to a checking backend. Ordinary site resources may still load separately. Use a modern mobile browser; available video codecs vary. A frame preview is not a full video export, and its PNG quality cannot restore missing source detail.