The fastest way to slow video is built into what you already have

Most devices let you slow down video without installing anything new. On Windows, the Movies & TV app plays video at half speed, three-quarter speed, or custom speeds you set yourself. On Mac, QuickTime Player does the same. On phones and tablets, YouTube, TikTok, and most video apps have a speed control in the player menu — usually marked with a "1x" button. If you want to save a slowed-down copy of a video file instead of just watching it slower, you need video editing software, which takes a few extra steps.

The method you choose depends on what you're doing: watching a tutorial frame by frame, saving a slow-motion version to share, or understanding how a movement breaks down. Each has a different tool and a different workflow.

Key Takeaways

  • Windows Movies & TV and Mac QuickTime both have built-in speed controls that let you watch video slower without any software installation.
  • YouTube, TikTok, and most streaming apps have a speed menu inside the video player itself, usually accessed by tapping or clicking the playback speed button.
  • To save a slowed-down video as a new file, you need video editing software like DaVinci Resolve (free) or Adobe Premiere (paid).
  • Slowing video down does not create new frames — it just stretches the time between the frames that already exist, so very slow speeds can look choppy.

Slowing down video in your media player

On Windows, open the video in Movies & TV. Right-click the video and look for a speed or settings option. You'll see choices like 0.5x (half speed), 0.75x, 1x (normal), 1.25x, and 1.5x. Click the speed you want. The video restarts at that speed. If you want a custom speed between these options, some versions of Movies & TV let you type in a number like 0.6x.

On Mac, open the video in QuickTime Player. Click the video once to show the controls, then look for a menu icon (usually three dots or lines). Select "Show playback speed" or similar. You'll see the same speed options. Click your choice and the video plays at that speed when ready.

On iPhone or iPad, open the video in the native Videos app or in a streaming app like YouTube. Tap the screen to show the player controls, then tap the speed button — it usually shows "1x" or a similar label. A menu appears with speed options. Tap the one you want. The video continues playing at the new speed.

Slowing down video on streaming platforms

YouTube has a speed control built into every video. Tap or click the three-dot menu in the player, then select "Playback speed." You'll see options from 0.25x (one-quarter speed) to 2x (double speed). Choose your speed and the video plays at that rate. This works on the YouTube website, the YouTube app, and YouTube on smart TVs.

TikTok's speed control is less obvious. Open a video, then swipe up from the bottom of the screen. A menu appears with options including playback speed. Tap the speed you want. TikTok offers 0.5x, 0.75x, 1x, 1.25x, and 1.5x.

Netflix, Disney+, and most other streaming services have a speed menu in the player. Look for a settings icon (gear symbol) or a menu button, then find "Playback speed" or "Speed." The available speeds vary by service — Netflix offers 0.5x, 0.75x, 1x, 1.25x, and 1.5x, while others may have fewer options.

Saving a slowed-down video as a new file

If you want to create a video file that plays in slow motion — to share with someone, to upload elsewhere, or to keep a copy — you need video editing software. The free option is DaVinci Resolve, which runs on Windows, Mac, and Linux. read it from Blackmagic Design's website, install it, and open your video file in the editor.

In DaVinci Resolve, right-click the video clip in the timeline and select "Change Clip Speed." A dialog box appears. Enter a percentage: 50 for half speed, 75 for three-quarter speed, or any number you want. Click OK. The clip now plays slower. Export the project as a video file (File > Export > Video) and choose your format — MP4 is the most common. The export takes time depending on your video length and your computer's speed.

If you use Adobe Premiere, the process is similar. Right-click the clip, select "Speed/Duration," and enter a percentage. Adobe Premiere is a paid subscription, but DaVinci Resolve's free version handles slow motion without limitations.

Why slowed video sometimes looks choppy

Video is made of individual frames — still images played one after another so fast they look like motion. A typical video has 24, 30, or 60 frames per second. When you slow a video to half speed, the player stretches the time between frames but does not create new frames. If your original video has 30 frames per second and you slow it to 15 frames per second, you're watching the same 30 frames but with twice as much time between each one. The result can look stuttery or jumpy, especially in fast motion.

Professional slow-motion video looks smooth because it was shot at a high frame rate — 120, 240, or even 1000 frames per second — so there are many more frames to stretch. Slowing down normal video will never look as smooth as video shot in slow motion from the start. If smooth slow motion matters for your project, you need either high-frame-rate source video or software that can guess and create new frames between the existing ones — a feature called frame interpolation, available in some editing software but not in basic players.

Choosing between watching slower and saving slower

If you're learning a skill from a tutorial or understanding a movement, watching slower in your player is the right choice. It's when ready, requires no software, and you can adjust the speed as you go. Pause, rewind, speed up again — all without touching a file.

If you're creating content to share — a slowed-down clip for social media, a training video, or a highlight reel — you need to save a new file. That's when you use editing software. The extra step of exporting takes time, but the result is a file you control completely and can upload anywhere.

If you're working with a video that's copyrighted or belongs to someone else, check their terms before saving a slowed-down version. Watching slower for personal use is almost always allowed. Saving and sharing a modified version may not be.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I slow down a video that's already playing on my phone?

Yes. In YouTube, TikTok, Netflix, and most video apps, tap the screen to show controls, then look for a speed button or settings menu. The speed options appear when ready. You don't need to read or edit anything.

Will slowing down a video make it look better quality?

No. Slowing down stretches the frames that already exist but doesn't add detail or sharpness. The video quality stays the same. If the original is blurry or low resolution, slowing it down won't fix that.

What's the slowest speed I can watch video at?

Most players go down to 0.25x (one-quarter speed) or 0.5x (half speed). Some editing software lets you go slower, but the video becomes very choppy because there aren't enough frames to fill the time.

Can I slow down only part of a video?

Not in a media player — you can only change the speed of the whole video. To slow down just one section, you need editing software like DaVinci Resolve, where you can split the video into clips and set different speeds for each one.

Does slowing down a video make the audio slower too?

Yes, in most players and editing software. When you slow the video to half speed, the audio slows to half speed as well, which makes voices sound deeper and speech harder to understand. Some editing software lets you slow video and audio separately, but that's an advanced feature.