How to Flip an Image
Flipping is the simplest transformation there is — every pixel keeps its value and only its position changes — which means that with PNG output the operation is genuinely lossless. Nothing is re-sampled, nothing is re-compressed, and flipping twice returns you to exactly the original file. Drop your images above, choose horizontal, vertical, or both, and the result appears immediately. The side-by-side comparison is there for a reason: a mirrored photo is surprisingly hard to spot on its own, particularly with a landscape or a symmetrical subject, and seeing both together makes the change obvious. It also catches the one thing people regret afterwards, which is text. Any lettering in the frame — a sign, a T-shirt logo, a watermark, a number plate — reads backwards after a horizontal flip, and there is no way around that short of editing the text separately. If the image contains words you need legible, rotate instead of flipping. Selecting both directions produces exactly the same result as a 180-degree rotation, which is worth knowing when you're deciding which tool to reach for. Batch a whole folder and take the results as one ZIP.
Add your images
Drag and drop, paste, or click to browse — multiple at once.
Choose the direction
Horizontal, vertical, or both for a 180-degree effect.
Download
Save each image, or take the whole batch as one ZIP.
Why Selfies Look Wrong
The preview is mirrored
Front cameras show you a mirror image while you frame the shot, because that's what you're used to seeing. Some phones save the mirrored version, others save the true one — which is why a selfie can look subtly wrong compared with the preview.
A horizontal flip fixes it
Mirroring the saved photo left to right gives you whichever version you prefer. Just remember it reverses any text in the frame, so check for signs and logos before you commit.
Common Use Cases
Un-mirror a selfie
Flip horizontally so the photo matches what you saw in the preview.
Fix a scanned page
Correct a page fed in backwards or a photographed transparency.
Balance a layout
Mirror a photo so the subject faces into the page rather than off it.
Create a reflection
A vertical flip gives you the base for a water or mirror effect.
Iron-on transfers
Designs for heat transfer must be mirrored before printing.
Symmetry artwork
Flip a copy to build a kaleidoscope or symmetrical composition.
Correct a webcam capture
Many webcams mirror their output the same way front cameras do.
Vary a repeated image
Mirroring a stock photo makes reuse across a page less obvious.
Tips & Best Practices
Check for text before flipping
Signs, logos and number plates all read backwards afterwards. If words matter, rotate instead.
Use PNG to stay lossless
Flipping only moves pixels. PNG preserves that exactly, while JPEG re-encodes and loses a little for nothing.
Both flips equals 180 degrees
If that's what you actually want, either tool gets you there — flipping both ways is the same result.
Look at the comparison
Mirrored images are easy to miss on their own. The side-by-side view makes the change obvious.
Mirror designs for transfers
Iron-on and heat transfer artwork must be flipped horizontally before printing, or it comes out reversed.
Flip twice to undo
Applying the same flip again restores the original exactly, with no accumulated loss in PNG.
Troubleshooting
The text is backwards
That's what mirroring does — there's no way to flip an image without reversing the writing in it. Rotate instead if the text must stay legible.
I can't see any difference
Symmetrical subjects look almost identical flipped. Use the side-by-side view and look at asymmetric details.
Nothing happened
Neither direction is selected. Turn on horizontal, vertical or both, then press apply changes.
Transparency turned white
JPEG has no alpha channel. Choose PNG or WebP to keep transparency.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I flip an image for free?
Drop your images above, choose horizontal, vertical or both, and download — free, no signup and no watermark.
Are my images uploaded to a server?
No. Flipping happens entirely in your browser, so your images never leave your device.
Does flipping lose quality?
Not with PNG output. Flipping only rearranges existing pixels, so nothing is re-sampled or re-compressed.
What's the difference between flipping and rotating?
Rotating turns the image; flipping reflects it. A flipped photo is a mirror image, so text reads backwards.
Will my text be reversed?
Yes, after a horizontal flip. That's inherent to mirroring — rotate instead if the text must stay readable.
Is flipping both directions the same as 180 degrees?
Yes, exactly the same result.
How do I un-mirror a selfie?
Apply a horizontal flip. Front cameras mirror the preview, and some phones save that mirrored version.
Can I flip several images at once?
Yes. Add a whole folder and download the results as a single ZIP.
How do I undo a flip?
Apply the same flip again — it restores the original exactly when using PNG.
Which format should I choose?
PNG to stay lossless and keep transparency. JPEG or WebP for a smaller photographic file.
Is there a file size limit?
No. Nothing is uploaded, so the only constraint is your device's memory.
Why do I need to mirror iron-on designs?
Heat transfer paper is applied face down, so the artwork must be reversed before printing to read correctly.
What happens to transparency?
PNG and WebP keep it. JPEG has no alpha channel, so transparent areas are filled with white.
Does it remove EXIF data?
Yes. Canvas-based processing drops metadata, including any GPS coordinates.
Can I flip and rotate together?
Our rotate tool includes flip options, so you can do both in one pass there.
Does it work offline?
Once the page has loaded it runs entirely in your browser, so it keeps working without a connection.
Does it work on phones?
Yes, in any modern browser on Windows, Mac, Android or iPhone with nothing to install.
Is this tool really free?
Completely free, forever — no account, no ads and no premium wall.
100% free · No signup · Processed in your browser · Never uploaded
Last updated: August 2026 · FlipMyFormat Image Flipper
Written and maintained by the FlipMyFormat team · Runs entirely in your browser