Insta360 X5: Why is the horizon tilted or drifting after export?

Applies to

Insta360 X5 video viewed through the Insta360 app or Studio. Shooting-mode controls differ, so these paths are not a universal guide for every Insta360 camera.

Work through these checks

1. Save a short original example and note the shooting mode. Open it in the current Insta360 app or Studio and compare the final export with the camera preview. Write down whether the horizon starts tilted or slowly drifts during an otherwise still shot.
2. In Studio, open Stabilization Type in the right-hand controls and check FlowState Stabilization or Automatic horizon leveling, as applicable. For a level-horizon comparison, turn off Tilt Recovery if selected; this feature intentionally preserves natural tilt in dynamic scenes. In the app, open Album > the clip > Settings > Frame and check FlowState Stabilization. Re-export a short sample after making one change.
3. Do not assume an in-camera Horizon Lock switch is missing because the camera is faulty. On X5, FreeFrame Video provides a separate video-mode switch. Other video modes combine Horizon Lock with the FlowState setting rather than offering independent switches.
4. Place the powered camera on a genuinely level, stable surface. Open Shortcut menu > Settings > Gyroscope Calibration and complete the on-screen procedure without moving the camera.
5. Make a new stationary test followed by a slow, controlled movement test. Keep the editor settings the same so that a change in the result can be attributed to calibration rather than a different export setting.

Confirm the result

The stationary test should retain a level horizon through playback and export. Compare the whole clip, including its first few seconds, instead of checking one still frame.

When to contact us

Submit Ticket if a new recording continues to drift after correct editor settings and a completed calibration. Supply the original clip, a matching export, firmware/app versions and a description of the mount and shooting mode.