Create a slideshow directly in the Photos app
The fastest way to turn photos into a slideshow on your iPhone is through the built-in Photos app. You do not need to download anything or learn video editing — the slideshow feature is already there, and it takes about two minutes to set up.
Open the Photos app and go to the Albums tab at the bottom. Tap New Album and give it a name (something like "Vacation" or "Birthday Party"). Add the photos you want in your slideshow by tapping the plus sign and selecting each photo. The order matters — Photos will show them in the order you added them, so arrange them as you go.
Once your album is complete, tap Select at the top right, then tap the three dots menu icon. Scroll down and tap Slideshow. A preview window opens showing your photos with music and transitions already applied. You can watch it play through, or tap Done to save it. The slideshow stays in that album and you can play it anytime by opening the album and tapping Slideshow again.
Key Takeaways
- The Photos app has a built-in slideshow feature that requires no separate app or editing knowledge.
- Create a new album, add photos in the order you want them, then tap the menu and select Slideshow to preview and save.
- iMovie gives you more control over music, transitions, and timing if you want to customize the slideshow beyond the default settings.
- Slideshows created in Photos play only on your iPhone; use iMovie if you need to share the slideshow as a video file with others.
- Both methods let you add background music, but iMovie lets you trim songs and adjust when they start and stop.
Use iMovie for more control over timing and music
If the Photos app slideshow feels too basic, iMovie gives you control over how long each photo displays, which transitions appear between photos, and exactly where your music plays. iMovie is free and comes pre-installed on most iPhones, though you may need to download it from the App Store if it is not on your phone.
Open iMovie and tap the plus sign to create a new project. Choose Movie (not Trailer). Tap the plus sign again to add media. Select Photos, then tap the album where your photos live. Tap each photo you want in order — they appear at the bottom in a timeline. Tap Create Movie when you are done adding photos.
Now you see the timeline at the bottom with all your photos in a row. Tap each photo to select it, then look at the top of the screen. You will see a number showing how many seconds that photo displays (usually 3 seconds by default). Tap that number to change it — use 2 seconds for a fast slideshow, 4 to 5 seconds if you want viewers to really look at each photo. Do this for every photo.
Add transitions and music in iMovie
Transitions are the effects that play between photos — a fade, a slide, a dissolve. In iMovie, tap the star icon between any two photos in the timeline to add a transition. A menu appears with options like Fade, Push, and Wipe. Tap one to preview it, then tap Add to keep it. You can add the same transition to every photo or mix them up.
To add music, tap the plus sign at the bottom left of the screen and choose Audio. You can pick from iMovie's built-in music library or use a song from your iPhone's Music app. Tap the song to add it to the timeline. It appears as a separate audio track below your photos. Tap and drag the song's start point to line it up with where you want the music to begin — usually at the first photo.
If your song is longer than your slideshow, iMovie automatically fades it out at the end. If you want to trim the song or make it start partway through, tap the song in the timeline, then tap the trim icon (it looks like two arrows pointing inward). Drag the edges to cut out the parts you do not want.
Save and share your slideshow
When your slideshow looks right, tap Done at the top left to exit editing. Then tap the share icon (a box with an arrow pointing up). You can save it to your Photos app, send it via Messages or Mail, or upload it to YouTube or other platforms. If you save it to Photos, it becomes a video file that you can watch anytime or send to other people.
The file size depends on how many photos you used and how long the slideshow is. A slideshow with 20 photos usually takes up 50 to 150 megabytes, so make sure you have enough storage space before saving. You can check your available storage in Settings > General > iPhone Storage.
Troubleshooting common slideshow problems
If your slideshow plays too fast or too slow, you did not adjust the timing for each photo. Go back into iMovie, tap each photo, and change the duration at the top. Three seconds is the default, but you can set it anywhere from 0.5 seconds to 10 seconds per photo.
If the music does not match the length of your slideshow, the song either ends before the last photo or keeps playing after. In iMovie, you can trim the song shorter or add the same song twice. Tap the song in the timeline, tap the trim icon, and drag the right edge to make it shorter. If you need more music, tap the plus sign again and add another song — iMovie will play them back-to-back.
If you cannot find iMovie on your iPhone, it may not be installed. Open the App Store, search for iMovie, and tap Get to download it. It is free and takes about 5 minutes to install depending on your internet speed.
Slideshow options without iMovie
If you do not want to use iMovie, the Photos app slideshow is genuinely enough for most people. It plays automatically with transitions and music, and you can watch it on your phone anytime. The trade-off is that you cannot control individual photo timing or pick exactly which music plays — the app chooses for you.
Other video editing apps like CapCut and Adobe Express also make slideshows, but they require more steps and are better if you already plan to do other editing. For a simple slideshow, Photos or iMovie will get you there faster.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make a slideshow with music from Spotify or Apple Music?
iMovie can only use songs stored on your iPhone or from Apple's built-in music library. If you want to use a Spotify song, you need to download it first (Spotify Premium lets you do this), or record the song and save it to your phone. For Apple Music, you can download songs to your phone in the Music app by tapping the cloud icon next to the song.
How do I change the order of photos after I already added them?
In iMovie, tap and hold a photo in the timeline at the bottom, then drag it left or right to move it. In the Photos app, you cannot reorder photos in a slideshow after you create it — you have to make a new album with the photos in the right order.
Can I add text or captions to my slideshow?
iMovie lets you add text. Tap the plus sign at the bottom, choose Titles, pick a style, and tap Add. A text box appears in the timeline. Tap it to type your caption. You can move it around and change the font and color. The Photos app slideshow does not have a text option.
What happens to my slideshow if I delete the album?
In the Photos app, the slideshow is tied to the album — if you delete the album, the slideshow is gone. In iMovie, the project is separate from your photos, so deleting the album does not affect the slideshow. Your iMovie project stays in the app until you delete it.
Can I make a slideshow loop and play it on repeat?
The Photos app slideshow can loop — when it finishes, it starts over. iMovie slideshows do not loop automatically, but you can save the video and use a different app to play it on repeat, or you can add the same video twice to make it longer.