Slow motion makes everything better—except maybe falling down stairs or missing a high five.

Yes, we've all seen those epic movie moments—Neo dodging bullets or that coffee cup revealing everything in The Usual Suspects—but slow motion isn't just for Hollywood directors with million-dollar budgets. It's for capturing your kid's first soccer goal, making your pet's silly antics look majestic, or adding dramatic flair to that perfectly executed backflip (or backflop).

Here's the good news: creating slow-motion video no longer requires expensive equipment or a film school degree. The fancy tech is already sitting in your pocket.

Your iPhone has everything you need to shoot, edit, and share videos with professional-looking slow-motion effects that actually impress people (instead of making them politely nod while checking their notifications).

This guide walks you through recording slow-motion video directly on your iPhone, plus how to transform your existing videos into dramatic slow-mo masterpieces—no technical wizardry required.

The importance of lighting for high-fps slow motion

Recording slow motion footage at 240 FPS demands significantly more light than standard 30 FPS videos. If your environment is too dim, your footage can become grainy or blurry, making the slow motion effect less impactful. iPhone 15 models benefit from improved low-light performance, but bright conditions are still recommended for optimal clarity. Experts suggest using at least 500 lux of lighting for 240 FPS recording to prevent motion blur or noise according to Apple guidelines. Setting up a ring light or other external lighting source can help your camera sensor capture sharper details at high frame rates. Adjusting your iPhone’s camera settings to a lower FPS is typically best if proper lighting is unavailable.

Can you create slow motion videos on iPhone?

Absolutely. Apple introduced the slow-motion feature in 2013 with the release of the iPhone 5s. Subsequent iPhones—iPhone 6s and all later models—also support the feature.

Slow motion lets you record a video at a high frame rate, then play it back at a slower-than-normal rate. You can do this with all sorts of scenes: you could shoot a slo-mo video of a skateboard trick to highlight the skill involved, or you could shoot actors trying a restaurant's signature dish to make the experience look even more tempting. Either way, slow motion reveals details your audience might have missed if the video were played at regular speed—making it perfect for creating more engaging, attention-grabbing content.

Depending on the iPhone model you have, you can shoot at 120FPS or up to 240FPS to produce videos with better quality and smoothness. The more frames per second your iPhone camera captures, the more detailed your slow-motion video will be. Plus, you can set which part of the clip to slow down and which parts play at normal speed for creative effect.

Navigating HDR and advanced iPhone features

Modern iPhones from iPhone 12 onward support Dolby Vision HDR recording, which can lead to stunning visuals but may cause playback issues on non-HDR displays. You can convert HDR videos to SDR before editing in older apps to avoid color inconsistencies. While Action mode on iPhone 14 or 15 is not specifically designed for slow motion, it can enhance stabilization during fast-paced recordings. In iOS 17, improved computational photography benefits video quality overall, though Apple has not reported major updates to Slo-mo specifically. If you encounter brightness fluctuations, be aware that Dolby Vision HDR continuously adapts to changing lighting conditions. Test your final video on multiple devices to ensure your slow-motion HDR footage appears consistent and glitch-free.

How to set up slow motion video on iPhone

Now, let's walk through how you can set up your iPhone to create videos in slow motion.

1. Open the camera app

Tap the Camera app on your iPhone to launch it.

2. Select Slo-mo mode

Select Slo-mo mode from the options at the bottom of your screen.

3. Choose a frame rate

Tap Settings and select Camera.

Tap Record Slo-mo to set the frame rate and resolution and shoot good-looking slow motion videos.

4. Compose your shot

Consider what you're going for in the shot before recording, then focus your camera on it to capture the exact moment.

5. Start recording

Tap the red record button at the bottom of the screen to start and stop recording.

How to record slow motion video on iPhone

1. Open the camera app

Tap the Camera app to open it.

Tip: If you accidentally removed the Camera app from your phone's Home Screen, swipe left until you reach the App Library, then type Camera in the search field. Alternatively, scroll up and down to browse the alphabetical list, then tap Camera to open the app.

2. Swipe to Slo-mo mode

A menu with different recording modes will appear at the bottom of the screen.

Choose Slo-mo mode to shoot a clip in slow motion. You can even zoom in and out of a video like normal while recording in slow motion.

If you have an iPhone 11 or newer model (running iOS 13 or higher), you can record in Slo-mo mode with the front camera. For example, you can record slofies (selfies shot in slow-mo) to create attention-grabbing videos that'll spice up your social media posts and engage your audience. On iPhone 14 and newer models, you can also use Action mode while recording, which provides enhanced stabilization for smoother slow-motion footage when capturing fast-moving subjects.

Tap the Rotate icon to switch to the front-facing camera, then tap Slo-mo mode to record your video.

3. Select the best frame rate

Frame rate refers to the number of frames per second (FPS) your phone will capture. This is crucial for slow motion quality—higher FPS means smoother, more detailed slow-motion playback because there are more individual frames to work with when the video is slowed down.

By default, the iPhone camera records videos at 30FPS. Depending on your iPhone model, you can choose different frame rates and video resolution settings—including 120FPS at 1080p HD, 240FPS for ultra-smooth slow motion, or even 4K videos at 24, 30, or 60FPS. iPhone 15 models offer the highest quality slow-motion capabilities with improved low-light performance.

Tap Settings and select Camera.

Next, tap Record Slo-mo to set the frame rate and resolution that's best for slow motion videos.

For older iPhones, tap the number in the top right corner of the screen to switch frame rates for your slow motion video.

It's worth noting that picking a faster frame rate and higher resolution results in larger video files, which could fill up your phone's storage. If you're shooting lots of slow-motion footage, consider checking your available storage beforehand or adjusting your video settings to balance quality and file size.

4. Compose your shot

Focus on the subject you want to record.

For clearer slow-mo shots: • Make sure your subject is well-lit to ensure the slow-motion effect is smooth and clear • Use a stable grip or tripod to minimize camera shake • If possible, shoot in bright conditions to avoid grainy footage • For moving subjects, try to follow their motion smoothly

• Hold your phone steady while recording, using a tripod if possible. Any slight movement can cause a change of focus and blurriness, which will show in the final recording.
• Keep a close distance when shooting small objects and further away for large objects.
• If you're shooting through a glass object, like a window, make sure the surface is clean before recording the video.

5. Start recording

Tap the red Shutter button (or either volume button) to record your video.

6. Save and share your slow motion video

When you're done recording, tap the Shutter button (or either volume button) again to stop recording.

Your footage is automatically saved in the Camera Roll of the Photos app (or Recents album for newer iOS versions).

You can also make part of the video play in slow-mo and the rest at regular speed. This technique, sometimes called "speed ramping," creates dynamic videos that highlight specific moments. To do this:

Tap the video thumbnail, then tap Edit.

Drag the white vertical bars on the timeline bar to control how much of the video you want to play in slow motion.

Tip: Add fun filters, and transitions, or adjust color settings, such as brightness, exposure, contrast, and more, to enhance your video and level up your storytelling.

Tap Done.

Tap Save Video (to save the edited clip) or Save Video as New Clip (to keep both the original and edited version of your video).

How to convert videos to slow motion on iPhone

We've covered how to slow down a video on iPhone using the native Slo-mo feature. But what if you want to speed ramp a pre-recorded, normal speed video? This is a common question many iPhone users have, especially when they've already captured footage they want to transform into slow motion.

You have two options: 1) use the native iMovie app on your iPhone or 2) use a dedicated, third-party video editing tool. If you're experiencing playback or timestamp issues with your slow-motion videos, you might need to repair the video timestamps using a dedicated editing tool.

Here's how to use iMovie to convert a video to slow motion:

Tap the iMovie app to launch it.

Can't find iMovie on your iPhone? Download it for free from the App Store.

Select Start new project.

Select the Movie option.

Choose the video you want to convert to a slow motion clip, then tap Create Movie to open it for editing.

In the video editor, tap the selected clip, then tap the Speedometer icon to access the speed controls.

Drag the speed slider to the left to slow the playback speed.

Tap the Play button to preview your video at the new slow speed.

When you're finished, tap Done. This will save the project in iMovie.

Tap the iPhone Sharing icon.

Tap Save Video to auto-save the converted clip to your phone's Camera Roll or Recents album.

iMovie is good for basic video conversion, but you can't finesse your video's settings further so it looks like it was shot at a regular frame rate. The app also has limitations when working with HDR videos, which might appear washed out when imported.

A better approach is to use dedicated video editing apps to slow-mo your videos without compromising quality.

Here are a few useful ones:

1. Descript for slow motion editing

Descript is an all-in-one video editor with a user-friendly interface and an excellent video speed tool to change the speed of your video. It offers a web-based solution and desktop app for Mac or Windows. That means you'll need a computer, but Descript will make it much easier to either convert your iPhone video to slow motion or speed it up to make a time-lapse video. If your slow-motion video has sync issues, Descript also offers tools to repair video timestamps.

Once you access your iPhone video from a computer — either via USB cable or through iCloud — you'll need to upload your video into Descript's video editor. Descript accepts a number of different video file formats, including GIFs, MOV, AVI, MKY, and video files from other platforms like iMovie.

Next, use the Clip Speed tool to slow down your video. The default regular speed will show as 1x but it can go as low as a tenth of the original speed—without changing the actual file size of your video.

When you're done, export your video or publish it directly to YouTube.

Pros: • Professional-quality slow motion with precise control • Fixes common slow-motion issues like sync problems • Handles HDR video conversion • Can speed ramp any part of your video with precise control

• User-friendly and intuitive interface.
• Converts video speed without changing file size.
• Works with a wide range of video file formats.
• Dozens of video editing options.

Cons: • Requires a computer (not iPhone-only) • Learning curve for new users • Free version has some limitations

• No mobile app.
• For free users, videos export with a watermark.
• Integrated publishing options are limited to YouTube, Restream, and a few podcast hosting services.

2. Videoshop slow motion app

Videoshop is a free, easy-to-use video editor app for iOS and Android devices.

You can slow down pre-recorded videos, then trim the clip or adjust color settings, such as brightness, contrast, saturation, and more.

Add filters, transitions, text, animated titles, stickers, music, or sound effects to make your video pop. Then share it directly via email or social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, YouTube, and Vimeo.

Pros: • Easy to use directly on your iPhone • Multiple speed adjustment options • Includes basic editing tools • Free version available

• Free and easy to use.
• Variety of editing tools and effects.
• Easy sharing to popular social media platforms.

Cons: • Limited precision compared to desktop editors • Some features require in-app purchases • May struggle with very large video files • Less effective for fixing playback issues

• Exports with a watermark.
• Video trimming can be a little confusing.

3. Slow Motion Video FX Editor

With the Slow Motion Video FX Editor app for iOS devices, you can slow down a video from particular frames (up to 12 times slower) or apply stop motion and time lapse effects. Add some background music to your video, then share it with your audience on social apps, such as Facebook, X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube.

A free 3-day trial is available to test the app's features. If you like it, upgrade to a premium subscription for $9.99/month to access premium filters, 170+ background music tracks, and unlimited video edits.

Pros: • Specialized for slow motion effects • Can slow video up to 12x slower • Works directly on your iPhone • Good for social media sharing

• Easy to use.
• High-resolution video output.
• Quick processing time.
• Easy sharing to popular social media platforms.

Cons: • Requires subscription for premium features • Less versatile than all-in-one editors • Limited troubleshooting for technical issues • May add watermarks in free version

• Limited 3-day trial.
• Expensive.

Adjust iPhone video speed with Descript

As an all-in-one video editor, Descript is packed with dozens of features for producing studio-quality slow motion videos.

Its video speed tool makes it easy to slow down or speed up videos with just a few clicks. Add some effects and transitions to polish your video, create instant captions, then export it for sharing—all in one place.

Try Descript for free to convert your videos into slow motion and create a perfectly paced video clip.

FAQs

Does the Photos app let me slow down existing videos?

No, the native Photos app does not offer a direct feature to slow down a video you have already recorded. Instead, you can use iMovie or a third-party editor to create slow-motion effects from normal-speed clips. If you need more granular speed controls, look into apps with custom FPS adjustments or timeline editing.

How much light do I need for 240 fps slow motion recordings?

Experts generally recommend at least 500 lux of illumination to ensure crisp and stable slow-motion footage at 240 FPS according to Apple guidelines. In poorly lit conditions, your iPhone camera may struggle to focus, leading to noisy or blurry results. If possible, add an external light source or shoot outdoors in daylight for the best slow-motion clarity.

How much storage does 240 fps video use on an iPhone?

Recording at 240 FPS and 1080p resolution uses about 200 MB of storage per minute based on Apple documentation. Choose a lower frame rate or resolution if you need to conserve space, especially if you plan to shoot a lot of slow-motion footage. Transferring completed videos to external storage or cloud-based platforms can free up space without deleting your clips permanently.