You can slow down video on iPhone using the Photos app or the built-in camera controls
The easiest way to slow down a video on your iPhone is through the Photos app, which lets you adjust playback speed without any extra apps or complicated steps. If you recorded the video yourself, you can also slow it down right in the Camera app before you save it. Both methods work on any recent iPhone model and take less than a minute once you know where to look.
The speed options available depend on which method you use. The Photos app gives you preset speeds — usually half speed, normal speed, and 1.5x speed. The Camera app, when you're recording in slow-motion mode, captures the video at a higher frame rate so it plays back slower automatically. Neither method changes the original file; you're just viewing it at a different speed.
Key Takeaways
- Open any video in the Photos app, tap Edit, then tap the speed icon (three horizontal lines with an arrow) to choose a slower playback speed.
- If you recorded the video in slow-motion mode using your Camera app, it will play back at half or quarter speed automatically without any editing needed.
- Slowing down a video in Photos does not change the original file — you can always switch back to normal speed or try a different speed later.
- Some iPhone models show speed options as buttons (0.5x, 1x, 1.5x), while others use a slider you drag left or right to adjust the speed.
How to slow down video in the Photos app
Open the Photos app and find the video you want to slow down. Tap the video to play it, then tap Edit in the top right corner. The edit toolbar will appear at the bottom of the screen.
Look for the speed icon — it looks like three horizontal lines with an arrow pointing right, usually located near the left side of the edit toolbar. Tap it. A row of speed options will appear: you'll see 0.5x (half speed), 1x (normal), and sometimes 1.5x or 2x (faster). Tap 0.5x to slow the video to half its normal speed. If you want to go back to normal speed, tap 1x. Once you've chosen your speed, tap Done in the top right to save the change.
The original video file stays the same — the Photos app only remembers the speed you chose for playback. If you later open the same video and tap Edit again, you can change the speed to something else. If you want to save a permanently slowed-down version as a separate file, you'll need to use a third-party video app, but for most purposes, using the Photos app speed control is enough.
Recording video in slow-motion mode from the start
If you want a video to play back slowly without editing it later, you can record it in slow-motion mode using your Camera app. Open the Camera app and swipe left or right until you see "Slo-Mo" at the bottom of the screen. Tap Slo-Mo to turn it on, then record your video as usual by pressing the red record button.
When you play back a slow-motion video, it will automatically play at a slower speed — usually half or quarter speed depending on your iPhone model and which slow-motion option you chose. You don't need to edit anything; the slowness is built into how the video was recorded. The trade-off is that slow-motion videos use more storage because they capture more frames per second than a regular video.
You can still use the Photos app speed controls on a slow-motion video if you want to adjust it further. For example, you could record in slow-motion mode and then speed it up to three-quarter speed in the Photos app if half speed feels too slow.
What to do if the speed icon doesn't appear
If you open a video in Photos and don't see the speed icon in the edit toolbar, the video format might not support speed adjustment. Some videos recorded on older iPhones or imported from other devices may not have this feature available. Try closing the video and opening it again, or restart the Photos app by swiping up from the bottom of the screen and closing it completely.
If the speed icon still doesn't appear, the video may be in a format that the Photos app doesn't support for speed editing. In that case, you can try importing the video into a third-party video editor like iMovie (which comes free on most iPhones) or CapCut. Both apps let you slow down video and give you more control over the exact speed you want.
Differences between iPhone models and iOS versions
Newer iPhone models (iPhone 13 and later) have more speed options and smoother slow-motion playback than older models. If you have an iPhone 12 or earlier, you may see fewer speed choices — sometimes just 0.5x and 1x instead of multiple options. The basic process of tapping Edit and finding the speed icon works the same way across all recent iPhones.
If you're running an older version of iOS, the speed control feature might not be available at all. Check your iPhone's iOS version by going to Settings, then General, then About. If you see a version number below 15, consider updating your iPhone to access the speed control feature. Updates are free and usually improve performance and add features like this one.
Why you might want to slow down a video
Slowing down a video is useful when you want to see details that happen too fast to catch at normal speed — a sports move, a child's expression, or a pet's behavior. It's also helpful for creating content for social media, where a slower pace sometimes holds attention better. Some people slow down videos to use them as background clips or to match the timing of music or narration they're adding.
Slowing down a video also makes it easier to screenshot a specific moment or to study something frame by frame. If you recorded something quickly and want to review it more carefully, slowing it down in the Photos app takes just a few seconds and doesn't require any special knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I slow down a video to a speed other than 0.5x?
The Photos app offers preset speeds, usually 0.5x and 1x. If you need a different speed like 0.75x or 0.25x, you'll need to use a third-party app like iMovie or CapCut, which give you a slider to choose any speed you want.
Does slowing down a video make it lower quality?
No. Slowing down a video in the Photos app doesn't change the quality — it just plays the same frames more slowly. The video looks exactly the same, just at a different speed.
If I slow down a video in Photos, does it change the original file?
No. The Photos app only changes how the video plays back on your iPhone. The original file stays the same. If you want to save a permanently slowed-down version, you need to export it from a video editor like iMovie.
Can I slow down a video that someone sent me through Messages or email?
Yes. Save the video to your Photos app first by pressing and holding it, then tapping Save. Once it's in Photos, you can slow it down the same way you would any other video.
What's the difference between slowing down in Photos and recording in slow-motion mode?
Recording in slow-motion mode captures more frames per second, so the video is naturally slower and smoother. Slowing down in Photos just plays the existing frames more slowly. Slow-motion videos look better when slowed down, but they use more storage.