The fastest way to slow down video on iPhone

Open the video in the Photos app, tap Edit, then tap the three dots and select Video Speed. You can choose from 0.5x (half speed), 0.75x, 1x (normal), 1.25x, or 1.5x. Tap Done to save the change. This method works on iPhone 13 and later running iOS 16 or newer.

If you have an older iPhone or iOS version, you can use the built-in Videos app instead. Open your video, tap the screen to show controls, then look for a speed icon (usually three dots or a gear). Not all older iPhones have this feature in the Videos app, so the Photos method is more reliable if your device supports it.

For videos you want to edit and keep permanently at a slower speed, use the iMovie app (free from the App Store). This gives you more control and lets you save the slowed-down version as a new file.

Key Takeaways

  • The Photos app on iPhone 13 and later lets you slow video to 0.5x, 0.75x, 1.25x, or 1.5x speed without any third-party apps.
  • Changes made in Photos are temporary — the original video stays at normal speed unless you tap Done to save the edit.
  • The Videos app on some older iPhones has a speed control, but it is not available on all models.
  • iMovie is the best choice if you want to create a permanently slowed-down copy of your video to share or store.

Using the Photos app on newer iPhones

On iPhone 13, 14, 15, or 16 running iOS 16 or later, the Photos app has a built-in speed control. Open Photos, find the video you want to slow down, and tap it to open it full-screen. Tap Edit in the top right corner.

Once in edit mode, tap the three dots (more options) at the bottom of the screen. A menu appears with several choices — tap Video Speed. A slider shows your options: 0.5x, 0.75x, 1x, 1.25x, and 1.5x. Tap the speed you want. The video preview updates to show you how it will look at that speed.

When you are happy with the speed, tap Done at the bottom right. A dialog asks whether you want to save changes to the original video or save as a new video. Choose Save as New Video if you want to keep the original at normal speed. Choose Save to Original if you want to replace the original with the slowed version.

Slowing video in the Videos app

Some older iPhones (iPhone 12 and earlier) have a speed control in the Videos app, though not all models support it. Open the Videos app, find your video, and tap it to play. While the video is playing, tap the screen once to show the playback controls.

Look for a speed icon — usually three dots, a gear, or a number like "1x" — somewhere on the control bar. Tap it to see speed options. The exact layout varies by iPhone model and iOS version, so the icon may be in a different spot than on newer phones.

If you do not see a speed control in the Videos app, your iPhone does not have this feature built in. In that case, use iMovie or a third-party app instead.

Creating a permanent slow-motion copy with iMovie

iMovie is Apple's free video editing app, available on the App Store. It lets you slow down video and save the result as a new file. Open iMovie, tap the plus icon to start a new project, and choose Movie. Select Create and then tap Media to find your video.

Tap the video you want to slow down. It appears in your project timeline at the bottom. Tap the video clip in the timeline to select it, then tap the speed icon (a speedometer or gauge). A slider appears with speed options ranging from 0.25x to 2x. Drag the slider to the speed you want.

When you are done editing, tap Done at the top left, then tap Share. Choose Save Video to save the slowed-down version to your Photos app. You can also share it directly to Messages, Mail, or social media from this menu.

Third-party apps for more control

If you need more advanced slow-motion features — like variable speed (speeding up and slowing down different parts of the same video) or frame-by-frame control — third-party apps offer more options. Popular choices include Adobe Premiere Rush, CapCut, and Slow Motion Video FX, all available on the App Store.

These apps let you adjust speed at specific points in the video, add effects, and export in different formats. Most have free versions with basic features and paid upgrades for advanced tools. If you only need simple slow-motion, the built-in Photos or iMovie options are usually enough.

Understanding the difference between playback speed and slow-motion mode

Slow-motion playback (what the Photos app does) takes a video shot at normal speed and plays it back slower. The video still has the same number of frames — it just takes longer to play them. This works fine for most videos but can look choppy if you slow it down too much.

Slow-motion mode (a camera feature, not a playback feature) records video at a higher frame rate — usually 120 or 240 frames per second instead of the normal 30 or 60. When played back at normal speed, this high-frame-rate video appears to move in slow motion. Videos shot in slow-motion mode look much smoother when slowed down because there are more frames to work with.

If your iPhone video was shot in slow-motion mode, you do not need to slow it down further — it is already slow. You can speed it back up using the same controls if you want to see it at normal speed.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I slow down a video I did not shoot myself?

Yes. You can slow down any video on your iPhone — ones you recorded, ones sent to you, or ones downloaded from the internet. The method is the same: open it in Photos or iMovie and adjust the speed. The only limit is that some videos downloaded from social media may have copy protection that prevents editing.

Will slowing down a video make it look blurry?

No, but it may look slightly choppy if you slow it down too much. A video shot at 30 frames per second slowed to 0.5x speed will play smoothly. If you slow it further or use a third-party app that tries to add frames, you might notice the motion is not as fluid. Videos shot in slow-motion mode (120 or 240 fps) will always look smooth when slowed down.

Does editing the speed in Photos change the original video file?

Only if you choose Save to Original. If you choose Save as New Video, the original stays unchanged and a new slowed-down copy is created. You can always undo the edit by opening the video again and resetting the speed to 1x.

What if my iPhone does not have the Video Speed option?

Your iPhone is probably older than iPhone 13 or running iOS 15 or earlier. Update to the latest iOS version if possible, or use iMovie instead. iMovie works on iPhone 11 and later and gives you the same slow-motion control.

Can I slow down only part of a video?

The built-in Photos app slows the entire video at once. To slow down just one section, use iMovie or a third-party app like CapCut. These let you split the video into clips and apply different speeds to each one.