This guide explains how to slow down a video on your iPhone, either by applying a slow-motion effect to a pre-recorded video using iMovie or by recording a new video directly in slow motion using the Camera app.
To add slow motion to a pre-recorded video, you will need the iMovie app, which can be downloaded for free from the App Store if it’s not already on your iPhone.
There are two different methods for creating slow-motion video: editing an existing clip or shooting a brand new one from scratch.
To add slow motion to a pre-recorded video, start by opening the iMovie app on your iPhone, which is represented by a purple-and-white star icon with a video camera. Tap the + icon in the top-left corner to start a new project, then select Movie from the options that appear. Choose the video clip you want to edit and tap the Create Movie button at the bottom. In the editor, tap the video timeline located in the bottom half of the screen to reveal editing tools. Tap the speedometer icon, which is the second icon at the bottom, to open the speed controls. Drag the white-and-yellow slider to the left to slow down your video; dragging it past the default “1” will make it slower. You can tap the preview window to see the effect. Once you are happy with the speed, tap Done in the top-left corner to save the changes to your iMovie project. Then, tap the Sharing icon, which is the square with an up-arrow, located below your video preview, and finally tap Save Video to export the new slow-motion clip directly to your iPhone’s camera roll.
To record a video in slow motion, open the Camera app on your iPhone and swipe left along the mode options above the shutter button until you select the SLO-MO option, which will turn yellow. Choose which camera to use: if you have an iPhone 11 or 12, you can tap the icon with two curved arrows to switch between the front and back cameras, while other iPhone models can only record slow motion using the back camera. Tap the red shutter button to begin recording your video, and when you are finished, tap the red shutter button again to stop recording and save the video. To view your new slow-motion video, tap the thumbnail image in the bottom-left corner of the screen.
For the smoothest slow-motion effect, you can adjust the frame rate by going to your iPhone’s Settings, tapping Camera, selecting Record Slo-mo, and choosing a higher frame rate like 240 fps if available.
Learning to use slow motion is a powerful tool for visual storytelling, allowing you to add emphasis, drama, or beauty to moments that might otherwise pass by too quickly. Whether you are capturing a sports highlight, a natural phenomenon, or a simple, joyful moment, slowing down the action can reveal details and emotions that are lost at normal speed.
By mastering this feature, you elevate the quality of your videos beyond simple point-and-shoot recordings, giving you creative control to direct the viewer’s attention and craft a more impactful and professional-looking final product, all from the convenience of your iPhone.
