The simplest way to slow down video depends on what device you're using

Most phones and computers have built-in tools to play video in slow motion without installing anything new. On iPhone, the Photos app lets you slow down video you've recorded or saved. On Android, Google Photos does the same. On Windows, the Photos app and Movies & TV both have slow-motion controls. On Mac, QuickTime Player is the fastest route. If you want to save the video as a permanently slowed-down file rather than just watching it slower, you'll need a video editor — but the playback method works first and takes seconds.

The reason these tools exist is that slow motion is useful for studying movement: a sports swing, a child learning to walk, a pet's jump, or a moment you want to see frame by frame. Slowing down video also makes it easier to read text that flashes quickly or to hear dialogue more clearly. The method you choose depends on whether you need to keep the slow-motion version or just watch it once.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone users can slow down video in the Photos app by selecting the video, tapping Edit, and dragging the speed slider to the left.
  • Android users can open a video in Google Photos, tap the three dots, select Tools, and choose Slow Motion to adjust the speed.
  • Windows users can open video in the Photos app, select Edit & Create, and use the speed control to slow playback.
  • To save a permanently slowed-down video file, you need a video editor like iMovie, Windows Photos with export, or a free desktop tool like DaVinci Resolve.
  • Slowing video too much may make it choppy if the original video was recorded at a standard frame rate rather than high-speed.

Slowing down video on iPhone

Open the Photos app and find the video you want to slow down. Tap it to play it, then tap Edit in the top right corner. You'll see a timeline at the bottom of the screen with a slider that shows the current speed — it usually says 1x.

Drag that slider to the left to slow the video down. You can slow it to 0.5x (half speed), 0.25x (quarter speed), or anywhere in between. As you drag, you'll see the video preview update so you can watch how it looks. When you're happy with the speed, tap Done. The video is now saved at that slower speed in your Photos library — the original is not changed.

If you want to undo the slow motion and go back to normal speed, open the video again, tap Edit, and drag the slider all the way to the right to 1x.

Slowing down video on Android

Open Google Photos and find the video. Tap it to open it, then tap the three dots (the menu icon) in the top right. Scroll down and tap Tools, then tap Slow Motion.

A slider will appear at the bottom. Drag it to the left to slow the video down. You can see the speed percentage change as you move the slider — 50% is half speed, 25% is quarter speed. Tap Save to keep the slowed-down version. Google Photos will create a new copy of the video at the slower speed, leaving your original untouched.

If you're using a different Android phone or a different app, the steps may vary slightly, but most video apps have a speed control in the menu or in the playback controls. Look for an icon that shows a speedometer or the word "Speed".

Slowing down video on Windows

Open the video in the Photos app (the default app on most Windows computers). Once the video is playing, look for the Edit & Create button near the top of the window. Click it and select Edit.

In the editing panel on the right, you'll see a Speed option. Click on it and choose the speed you want — 0.5x, 0.25x, or other options depending on your Windows version. The preview will update as you select each speed. Click Save a copy when you're done, and Windows will create a new file with the slower speed applied.

If you're using the Movies & TV app instead, open the video and look for a speed icon (usually three horizontal lines with an arrow) in the playback controls at the bottom. Click it to see speed options. Note that this method only changes playback speed — it doesn't save a new file.

Slowing down video on Mac

Open the video in QuickTime Player (search for it in Spotlight or find it in Applications > Utilities). Once the video is playing, click the Edit menu at the top and select Trim. This opens the trim panel at the bottom of the window.

In the trim panel, you'll see a speed slider on the right side. Drag it to the left to slow the video down. You can slow it to 0.5x, 0.25x, or other speeds. Watch the preview to see how it looks. Click Trim to save the slowed-down version as a new file.

If you want to slow down video without saving a new file, you can also use the playback controls: press the spacebar to pause, then use the right arrow key to step through the video frame by frame, which effectively lets you view it in slow motion.

When you need to save a permanently slowed-down video file

The methods above work well if you're just watching video slower or if your phone or computer's built-in tools save the version automatically. But if you want to send the slowed-down video to someone else, upload it to social media, or edit it further, you need to export it as a file. This is where a video editor comes in.

On iPhone, iMovie is the easiest choice. Open iMovie, create a new project, add your video, then tap the speed icon (it looks like a speedometer) and drag the slider to slow it down. Tap Done, then tap Share to export the video. On Android, CapCut is free and widely used — import your video, tap Speed, adjust the slider, and export.

On Windows and Mac, DaVinci Resolve is free and powerful. Import your video, right-click it on the timeline, select Retime Controls, and choose a speed. Export the project as a video file when you're done. For simpler edits, Windows Photos and iMovie both let you slow video and export directly without learning a full editor.

Why slowed-down video sometimes looks choppy

If you slow a video down a lot — say, to 0.1x or 0.05x — it may look jerky or choppy instead of smooth. This happens because the video was recorded at a standard frame rate, usually 24, 30, or 60 frames per second. When you slow it down, the software has to stretch those frames across more time, and there aren't enough frames to fill the gaps smoothly.

High-speed video, recorded at 120 frames per second or higher, slows down much more smoothly because there are more frames to work with. If you're recording video specifically to slow it down later, use your phone's slow-motion mode when you record — this captures at a higher frame rate automatically. Then when you slow it down in editing, it will look smooth instead of choppy.

For video you've already recorded at normal speed, slowing it to 0.5x or 0.25x usually looks fine. Going slower than that will show the choppiness, but it's still watchable if you need to study something frame by frame.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I slow down a video I found online or received from someone else?

Yes. read the video to your device first, then use the same steps as you would for a video you recorded. Most phones and computers let you save videos from messages, email, or websites by long-pressing or right-clicking and selecting Save. Once it's on your device, the slow-motion tools work the same way.

Does slowing down a video make it longer?

Yes. A 10-second video slowed to 0.5x will play for 20 seconds. A 10-second video slowed to 0.25x will play for 40 seconds. The actual file size may also increase slightly depending on how you export it, because the video editor has to process more frames.

What if my phone or computer doesn't have a built-in slow-motion tool?

read a free video editor. CapCut works on both Android and iPhone. DaVinci Resolve works on Windows and Mac. Both let you import a video, adjust the speed, and export a new file. The steps are similar to what's described above — find the speed control, drag the slider, and save.

Can I slow down only part of a video?

Yes, but you need a video editor rather than the playback tools. In iMovie, CapCut, or DaVinci Resolve, you can split the video into sections, slow down only the section you want, and leave the rest at normal speed. This takes a few extra steps but is useful if you want to highlight one moment in a longer video.

Will slowing down a video reduce the quality?

Not noticeably if you're slowing it to 0.5x or 0.25x. The video quality stays the same — you're just stretching the playback time. If you export the slowed-down video at a lower resolution or bitrate to save file size, that will reduce quality, but the slow motion itself doesn't.