Record video in slow motion directly from the Camera app

The simplest way to get slow-motion video on your iPhone is to record it that way from the start. Open the Camera app, swipe left until you reach the Slo-Mo mode — you'll see it listed between Photo and Video. Tap it, then record your video as you normally would. The iPhone automatically captures at a higher frame rate, which is what creates the slow-motion effect when you play it back.

When you finish recording, the video saves to your Photos app with the slow-motion effect already applied to the entire clip. You don't need to do anything else — just play it and it will move slower than real time. Different iPhone models record at different frame rates (usually 120 or 240 frames per second), but the result looks the same to you: smooth, slowed-down motion.

The trade-off is that slow-motion video files are much larger than regular video because they contain more frames. Make sure you have enough storage space before recording long clips, especially if you record at the highest frame rate your phone supports.

Key Takeaways

  • The Slo-Mo mode in the Camera app records video at a high frame rate that plays back in slow motion automatically.
  • You can adjust which part of a slow-motion video plays at normal speed and which part plays slowly using the editing tools in Photos.
  • If you have existing video that wasn't recorded in slow motion, you cannot convert it to true slow motion, but you can use the speed controls to play it slower.
  • Slow-motion video files take up significantly more storage space than regular video, so check your available space before recording.

Edit which sections play in slow motion after recording

When you record in Slo-Mo mode, the entire video plays slowly. If you want only part of it to be slow and the rest to play at normal speed, you can edit it. Open the video in Photos, tap Edit, then tap the speed icon (it looks like a speedometer). You'll see a timeline with handles at the beginning and end.

Drag the handles to mark which section should play in slow motion. The white sections of the timeline play at normal speed, and the yellow sections play slowly. You can adjust the handles as many times as you need until the slow-motion section covers exactly what you want. When you're done, tap Done to save your changes.

This editing is non-destructive, meaning it doesn't permanently change your original video file. If you change your mind later, you can open the video again and adjust the slow-motion sections differently.

Play existing video slower without re-recording

If you have a video that wasn't recorded in slow-motion mode, you can still play it slower. Open the video in Photos, tap Edit, then tap the speed icon. Instead of adjusting the timeline sections, look for the speed control — it usually appears as a number like 1x (normal speed). Tap it to see options like 0.5x (half speed) or 0.25x (quarter speed).

Select the speed you want, then tap Done. The video will play at that slower speed when you watch it. Keep in mind this is not the same as true slow motion recorded at a high frame rate — the playback will be smoother with a video that was originally recorded in Slo-Mo mode, because it has more frames to work with. A regular video slowed down may look slightly choppy or stuttering.

Understand the difference between slow-motion recording and speed adjustment

True slow motion (recorded in Slo-Mo mode) captures many more frames per second than normal video. When those frames play back at normal speed, the action appears to move slowly because there's more visual information between each moment. This creates smooth, fluid slow-motion playback.

Speed adjustment (slowing down a regular video) straightforward stretches the existing frames across more time. If a regular video has 30 frames per second and you slow it to half speed, the iPhone is still showing those same 30 frames — they just appear on screen for longer. This can make the motion look less smooth because there's less visual information to work with.

For the best slow-motion results, record in Slo-Mo mode from the start. If you're trying to slow down existing video, the quality will depend on how much slower you make it — a small reduction (like 0.75x speed) will look better than a dramatic one (like 0.25x speed).

Share slow-motion video without losing the effect

When you share a slow-motion video through Messages, Mail, or social media, the slow-motion effect travels with it. You don't need to do anything special — just select the video and share it the way you normally would. The recipient will see it in slow motion when they play it.

The one exception is some social media platforms that don't support slow-motion video natively. In those cases, the video may play at normal speed on that platform even though it's stored as slow motion on your phone. If you need the video to play slowly on a specific platform, check that platform's video requirements before sharing.

Troubleshoot slow-motion video problems

If your Slo-Mo mode isn't working or appears grayed out, restart your iPhone. Sometimes the Camera app needs a fresh start to access all its modes. If it's still not available, check that you have enough storage space — the Camera app may disable Slo-Mo mode if your phone is nearly full.

If a slow-motion video plays at normal speed, the file may have been corrupted during transfer or editing. Try opening it directly in the Photos app on your iPhone rather than through another app. If it still plays at normal speed, try re-editing it and tapping Done again — sometimes this resets the playback settings.

If slow-motion video looks choppy or stutters, your iPhone may be running low on memory. Close other apps and try playing the video again. Older iPhone models may also struggle with very long slow-motion videos, so try breaking long recordings into shorter clips.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I convert a regular video to slow motion after recording?

You can slow down the playback speed of any video using the speed controls in Photos, but this is not the same as true slow motion. A video recorded at normal frame rate will look less smooth when slowed down because it has fewer frames to display. For the best results, record in Slo-Mo mode from the start.

How much storage does slow-motion video use?

Slow-motion video uses roughly two to four times more storage than regular video, depending on your iPhone model and the frame rate it records at. A one-minute slow-motion clip might use 200 to 400 MB, while a regular one-minute video uses 50 to 100 MB. Check your available storage before recording long slow-motion videos.

Will slow-motion video play correctly on Android phones or computers?

Yes, slow-motion video recorded on iPhone will play in slow motion on any device that supports video playback, including Android phones and computers. The slow-motion information is stored in the video file itself, so the effect is preserved no matter where you play it.

Can I record slow motion with the front-facing camera?

Yes, most iPhone models support slow-motion recording with the front-facing camera. Open the Camera app, switch to the front camera, select Slo-Mo mode, and record as you normally would. The frame rate may be slightly lower than the rear camera, but the slow-motion effect works the same way.

What if I want to speed up a slow-motion video instead of slowing it down?

You can increase the playback speed of any video, including slow-motion videos, using the speed control in Photos. Open the video, tap Edit, tap the speed icon, and select a faster speed like 1.5x or 2x. This will make the video play faster than normal, which can be useful if you want to compress a long clip into less time.