The simplest way to slow down video

Most devices let you slow video playback without any special software. On Windows, open the video in the built-in Movies & TV app, click the three dots in the player controls, and select Playback speed — you can choose 0.5x (half speed), 0.75x, 1.25x, or 1.5x. On Mac, open the video in QuickTime Player, go to Edit menu, and select Show Playback Speed to get the same options. On iPhone or Android, open the video in your default video player and look for a speed icon (usually marked with a number or "1x") — tap it to see slower options.

This method works for videos you already have. The playback speed change is temporary — when you close the video and reopen it, it plays at normal speed again. This is fine if you just want to watch something in slow motion, but if you need to save a permanently slowed-down version, you need to use editing software instead.

Key Takeaways

  • Your device's built-in video player almost certainly has a playback speed control that lets you watch video slower without installing anything.
  • Slowing video through the player is temporary — the original file stays unchanged, and the video plays at normal speed the next time you open it.
  • To save a video that is permanently slowed down, you need video editing software like Windows Photos, iMovie, or DaVinci Resolve.
  • Slowing video down too much (below 0.5x speed) usually makes audio sound distorted or disappears entirely.
  • Some video formats or codecs may not support all playback speeds on all devices.

Slowing down video in Windows Photos

Windows Photos is built into Windows 10 and 11 and can slow down video permanently. Open the video in Photos, click Edit & Create at the top, then select Trim. In the trim window, look for the speed icon (a circle with a number) in the bottom toolbar. Click it and choose your new speed — 0.5x is half speed, 0.25x is one-quarter speed. You can go as slow as 0.1x, but the audio will become distorted or disappear below 0.5x.

After you set the speed, click Save a copy at the bottom right. Windows will create a new video file with the slower speed baked in. The original stays unchanged. The export takes a few minutes depending on video length and how slow you made it. The new file appears in your Videos folder with a name like "Trim_[original name]".

Slowing down video on Mac with iMovie

iMovie comes free on every Mac. Open iMovie, create a new project, and drag your video into the timeline at the bottom. Click the video clip once to select it, then click the speed icon (it looks like a speedometer) in the toolbar above the timeline. A menu appears with preset speeds: 0.5x, 0.25x, or custom. Choose one or type your own number.

Once you set the speed, the video in the timeline shows the new duration — a 10-second clip at 0.5x speed becomes 20 seconds. When you are happy with the result, go to File menu and select Share, then choose your export format (usually File to save as an MP4). iMovie will render the new video, which takes a few minutes. The original file is not changed.

Using DaVinci Resolve for more control

DaVinci Resolve is free video editing software that works on Windows, Mac, and Linux. It gives you more precise control over slow motion than the built-in tools. read it from Blackmagic Design's website, install it, and open the program. Create a new project, then import your video by dragging it into the media pool on the left side.

Drag the video from the media pool into the timeline at the bottom. Right-click the video clip and select Retime Controls. A panel appears showing the current speed as 1.0x. Click on the speed number and type a new value — 0.5 for half speed, 0.25 for quarter speed, or any decimal between 0.01 and 1.0. The timeline updates to show the new duration. When you are ready to save, go to Deliver tab at the top, choose your format (MP4 is standard), and click Start Render. The program creates your slowed-down video in a few minutes.

Why audio gets distorted when video is very slow

When you slow video to half speed (0.5x), the audio slows down too and sounds like a deep, slow version of the original. Below 0.5x, most audio codecs cannot handle the pitch shift properly — the sound becomes garbled, cuts out, or disappears. This is a limitation of how audio compression works, not a flaw in the software.

If you need very slow video (0.25x or slower) and want to keep audio, your best option is to separate the audio from the video, slow only the video, and then add the original-speed audio back on top. DaVinci Resolve and iMovie both let you do this. Right-click the video clip, select Detach Audio (or similar), then slow only the video track while leaving the audio at 1.0x speed.

Choosing between playback speed and permanent slow motion

Use playback speed (the temporary method) when you are watching something once and do not need to keep it. It is when ready and uses no storage. Use editing software (the permanent method) when you need to share the video with others, upload it somewhere, or watch it multiple times at the slower speed.

Permanent slow motion takes longer because the software has to re-encode the entire video file. A 5-minute video might take 10 to 20 minutes to export depending on your computer speed and how slow you made it. The new file is usually similar in size to the original, sometimes slightly larger if you slowed it down a lot.

Common problems and fixes

If playback speed controls do not appear in your video player, the video format may not be supported. Try opening the video in a different player — Windows Photos, QuickTime, or VLC (a free player that works on all devices) usually handle any format. If the video plays at normal speed no matter what speed you select, try closing and reopening the video, or restarting the app.

If audio disappears when you slow video in editing software, you have gone below the audio codec's limit. Slow the video to 0.5x or higher, or detach the audio and keep it at normal speed. If the export takes much longer than expected, your computer may be running other programs — close unnecessary apps and try again. Exporting is CPU-intensive and slows down if your processor is busy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I slow down video on my phone without installing an app?

Yes. Open the video in your default video player (Photos on iPhone, Google Photos or Gallery on Android) and look for a speed icon in the playback controls. It is usually marked "1x" or with a speedometer symbol. Tap it to see slower options. This works for any video on your phone.

What is the slowest I can make a video without the audio breaking?

Most devices and software handle 0.5x (half speed) without audio problems. Below that, audio usually becomes distorted or disappears. If you need slower video with audio, detach the audio track, slow only the video, and add the original-speed audio back on top in editing software.

Does slowing down video reduce the quality?

No. Slowing video through playback speed or editing software does not reduce quality — you are just stretching the same frames over a longer time. The image clarity stays the same. The file size may increase slightly because the video is now longer, but the visual quality does not change.

Can I slow down only part of a video?

Yes, but only with editing software like iMovie or DaVinci Resolve. In the timeline, you can split the video into sections, slow down one section, and leave the rest at normal speed. Right-click where you want to split and select Split Clip, then adjust the speed of each section separately.

What video formats work with slow motion?

MP4, MOV, and AVI work with slow motion on all devices and software. MKV, WebM, and some older formats may not support playback speed controls on all players. If your video does not show speed controls, try opening it in VLC (free, works on Windows, Mac, and Linux) or converting it to MP4 first.