The fastest way to slow down a video on iPhone

Open the Photos app, find the video you want to slow down, tap Edit, then tap the speed icon (it looks like a speedometer or gauge in the bottom toolbar). Slide left to make it slower — you can choose from 0.5x, 0.75x, or 1x (normal) speed. Tap Done to save the change.

This method works on any iPhone running iOS 13 or later. The video stays in your Photos library, and you can undo the change anytime by tapping Edit again and resetting the speed back to 1x.

Key Takeaways

  • The Photos app has a built-in speed control that lets you slow videos to 0.5x or 0.75x speed without downloading extra apps.
  • You can only choose from three preset speeds — you cannot set a video to play at 0.6x or any other custom speed using the Photos app alone.
  • Slowing down a video in Photos does not create a new file; it just changes how the original plays back, and you can undo it anytime.
  • If you need more control over speed or want to save the slowed video as a separate file, third-party apps like iMovie or CapCut offer more options.

Using iMovie for more control over video speed

If you need finer control — like setting a video to 0.25x speed or creating a new file you can share — iMovie is built into every iPhone and offers more flexibility than Photos. Open iMovie, tap the plus sign, select Movie, then choose your video from your library.

Once the video is in the timeline, tap it, then tap the speedometer icon at the bottom. You can now drag the slider to any speed between 0.1x and 2x. When you are done, tap Done, then tap Share to save the slowed video as a new file to your Photos library or send it directly to Messages, Mail, or social media.

iMovie saves the slowed video as a separate file, so your original stays unchanged. This is useful if you want to keep both versions or share the slow-motion version without affecting the original.

What happens to audio when you slow down a video

When you slow a video using Photos or iMovie, the audio slows down too — it gets lower in pitch and takes longer to play. If your video has dialogue or music, slowing it to 0.5x speed will make voices sound deeper and music sound warped.

If you want to slow the video without changing the audio, you will need an app like CapCut or Adobe Premiere Rush, which let you adjust video and audio speed separately. These apps are free to read, though some features may require a paid subscription.

Saving and sharing your slowed video

In Photos, when you tap Done after changing the speed, the change is saved to that video permanently — but only on your phone. The video does not become a separate file; it is the same file playing at a different speed. If you want to undo it later, just tap Edit and reset the speed to 1x.

In iMovie, when you tap Share, a new video file is created and saved to your Photos library. This new file plays at the speed you set. You can then share it to Messages, email, AirDrop, or upload it to social media directly from iMovie without leaving the app.

If you are sharing to social media, check the platform's file size limits — slowed videos are usually the same file size as the original, but longer videos may take longer to upload.

Why your iPhone video might already look like slow motion

If you recorded a video using the Slo-Mo mode in the Camera app, it is already filmed at a higher frame rate (usually 120 or 240 frames per second). When you play it back at normal speed, it looks slow. You can still use the speed controls in Photos or iMovie to make it even slower, but it will look choppier the slower you go.

Slo-Mo videos take up more storage space than regular videos because they contain more frames. If you are running low on storage, you might want to delete old Slo-Mo videos or move them to iCloud.

Other apps that slow down video

CapCut is free and popular for slowing video — it offers frame-by-frame speed control and lets you adjust audio separately from video. Adobe Premiere Rush is another option if you want professional-level editing, though the free version has limited exports per month. Both apps let you save the slowed video directly to your phone or share it to social media.

Most of these apps work the same way: import your video, select it in the timeline, tap the speed control, adjust the slider, then export or share. If you only need to slow a video once in a while, the built-in Photos or iMovie tools are usually enough.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I slow down a video that is already recorded?

Yes. Open Photos, find the video, tap Edit, tap the speed icon, and slide left to slow it down. You can choose 0.5x, 0.75x, or normal speed. If you need a different speed, use iMovie or CapCut instead.

Does slowing down a video make it longer?

Yes. A 10-second video played at 0.5x speed will take 20 seconds to watch. The file itself does not get bigger in Photos, but if you export it from iMovie, the exported file will be larger because it contains more frames spread over a longer time.

Will slowing a video reduce the quality?

No. Slowing a video does not reduce quality — you are just playing the same frames more slowly. The resolution and clarity stay the same whether you play it at 1x or 0.5x speed.

Can I slow down only part of a video?

Not in Photos. iMovie and CapCut both let you split a video into sections and slow down only the parts you want, leaving the rest at normal speed. This is useful if you want to emphasize one moment in a longer video.

What is the slowest speed I can set a video to?

In Photos, the slowest is 0.5x. In iMovie, you can go as slow as 0.1x. In CapCut and other third-party apps, the slowest speed varies, but most go down to 0.1x or lower.