How to change a picture-in-picture video layout after recording on iPhone

Whether you can change a picture-in-picture layout after recording depends on how the video was made. If the two cameras were burned into one video, as with Apple's Dual Capture, you cannot move the small window afterwards in Photos; you can only crop or re-record. If the app kept both camera feeds, or saves the layout as an editable setting, you can rebuild the layout later. This guide covers the three situations and what works in each.

First, find out what you have

Open the video in Photos and tap Edit. If the face window is part of the picture and moves with every crop, the layout is baked in. That is the case for Apple's Dual Capture on the iPhone 17 line and iPhone Air: the front view can be dragged before or during recording, but not when editing (iPhone Life).

Situation 1: the layout is baked in

You cannot separate the two views again, but you still have options:

1. Crop around the problem. In Photos, tap Edit, then the crop tool, and reframe so the small window sits where it bothers you less or is cut out entirely. This works when the window covers an edge, not the centre.
2. Cover it in an editor. A video editor such as iMovie can place a title or another clip over the window. This hides it but does not move it.
3. Record again with the window in the right place. For anything important, this is often faster than fighting the crop. Before you press record next time, drag the window to a corner away from the action.

Situation 2: you have both original files

Some apps save the two camera feeds as separate files. Dualgram, for example, saves the combined video plus both originals (App Store), and MultiCam+ has a dual output mode (App Store). With the two files you can build any layout yourself:

1. Import the back-camera clip into an editor that supports picture-in-picture or split screen, such as iMovie, which offers picture-in-picture and split-screen overlays (Apple iMovie guide).
2. Add the front-camera clip as an overlay and choose picture-in-picture or split screen.
3. Position and resize the overlay, then export.

Because both clips started at the same moment, they usually line up at the start; check sync on a clap or a word.

Situation 3: the app lets you reframe after shooting

This is the least work. In Dualify the layout is not final when you stop recording:

1. Record with both cameras in one take, in picture-in-picture, a 50/50 split or a shaped frame.
2. Open the recording and use ReFrame.
3. Switch to a different layout (picture-in-picture, 50/50 split or a shaped frame).
4. Choose the output format: 9:16 for Reels, TikTok and Shorts, 16:9 for YouTube, or the original.
5. Export one merged file. With Dualify Pro, Dual Format exports the 9:16 and 16:9 versions together.

ReFrame changes the layout and format without recording again. Dualify runs on iPhones with multi-camera support on iOS 16.4 or later.

How to avoid the problem next time

• Decide the destination first. A vertical post leaves little room for a corner window; a split often reads better.
• Keep the window away from faces and text in the main shot.
• Do a 5-second test take and play it back before the real one.
• Pick a tool that matches how often you need changes. If you reframe often, use an app that keeps the layout editable or saves both originals. If you rarely do, Apple's Dual Capture or a free social app may be enough.

Not sure which app fits? See the best dual camera apps for iPhone or Dualify compared with Dualgram.