iPhone slow motion is built into the Camera app — you switch to Slow-Mo mode before recording, then play it back at the slower speed automatically
Every iPhone with a modern camera can record video in slow motion without downloading anything extra. The Camera app has a dedicated Slow-Mo mode that captures at a higher frame rate than normal video, which makes playback appear slower when you watch it. You record the clip first, then iPhone plays it back at the reduced speed by default — no editing required.
The process takes about 30 seconds from opening the Camera app to having a slow-motion video ready to watch. The main trade-off is file size: slow-motion clips use more storage because they contain more frames per second than regular video.
Key Takeaways
- Open the Camera app, swipe to Slow-Mo mode, and tap the red record button to capture video that will play back slower than real time.
- iPhone records slow motion at either 120 frames per second or 240 frames per second depending on your model, with 240 fps creating the most dramatic slow-down effect.
- Slow-motion files are larger than regular videos because they contain more image data, so check your available storage before recording long clips.
- You can trim a slow-motion video or change which sections play at slow speed after recording by opening the clip in the Photos app and tapping Edit.
How to record slow motion on iPhone
Unlock your iPhone and open the Camera app from your home screen or lock screen. At the bottom of the screen, you will see a row of mode labels: Photo, Portrait, Panorama, and others. Swipe left through these modes until you see Slow-Mo highlighted in yellow.
Once Slow-Mo is selected, the camera switches to slow-motion recording mode. The red record button appears at the bottom center of the screen. Tap and hold the red button to start recording, then release to stop. The entire video will play back in slow motion when you view it later — you do not need to mark specific sections during recording.
After you stop recording, iPhone saves the clip to your Photos app automatically. You can open Photos, find the video, and tap Play to watch it at the slow-motion speed right away.
Frame rates and what they mean for your video
iPhone records slow motion at either 120 frames per second (fps) or 240 fps, depending on your model. The difference is how much slower the video appears when you play it back. At 120 fps, motion slows to roughly half normal speed. At 240 fps, motion slows to about one-quarter normal speed, creating a more dramatic effect.
Newer iPhone models (iPhone 14 and later) record at 240 fps by default. Older models like iPhone 13 and iPhone 12 record at 120 fps. You cannot change the frame rate in the Camera app — it is set by your phone's hardware. If you want to know which frame rate your specific iPhone uses, check Apple's technical specifications for your model on their website.
The higher the frame rate, the larger the file size. A 10-second slow-motion clip at 240 fps will take up noticeably more storage than the same clip at 120 fps. If storage is tight, keep slow-motion recordings short or delete them after you have watched or shared them.
Editing slow-motion video after recording
Once you have recorded a slow-motion clip, you can change how it plays back by editing it in the Photos app. Open Photos, find your slow-motion video, and tap Edit. You will see a timeline at the bottom with a yellow bar underneath — this bar shows which parts of the video play at slow motion and which parts play at normal speed.
By default, the entire video plays in slow motion. To change this, drag the edges of the yellow bar left or right to shrink the slow-motion section. Any part of the video outside the yellow bar will play at normal speed when you watch it. This is useful if you recorded a long clip but only want the middle section to be slow.
Tap Done to save your changes. iPhone creates a new version of the video with your edits applied. The original clip remains unchanged in case you want to revert later.
Storage and file size considerations
Slow-motion video files are significantly larger than regular video files because they contain more frames. A one-minute slow-motion clip at 240 fps can use 400 to 500 megabytes of storage, while a one-minute regular video uses around 100 to 150 megabytes. If your iPhone storage is nearly full, recording long slow-motion videos may cause problems.
Before recording slow motion, check your available storage by going to Settings, then General, then iPhone Storage. If you have less than 1 gigabyte free, consider deleting old photos or videos first, or keep your slow-motion recordings short. You can also move videos to iCloud or a computer to free up space on your phone.
Sharing and exporting slow-motion videos
Slow-motion videos play back at their reduced speed in Messages, email, and social media apps when you share them directly from your Photos app. Tap the video, then tap Share, and choose where to send it. The recipient will see the slow-motion effect automatically — you do not need to do anything extra.
If you want to export the video to your computer, connect your iPhone to a Mac or Windows PC and use the Photos app or Finder to copy the file. The slow-motion effect is preserved in the exported file, so the video will still play slowly on your computer.
Some social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok let you upload slow-motion video directly, though they may compress the file and reduce quality. Test by uploading a short clip first to see how it looks on the platform you are using.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I record slow motion and normal speed in the same video?
Not during recording — you choose Slow-Mo mode or regular Video mode before you start. However, you can edit a slow-motion clip after recording to make parts of it play at normal speed by adjusting the yellow timeline bar in the Photos app Edit screen.
Why does my slow-motion video look blurry?
Slow-motion recording requires more light than regular video because the camera is capturing more frames per second. In dim lighting, the camera uses a faster shutter speed, which can make motion appear less sharp. Record slow-motion video in bright daylight or well-lit indoor spaces for the clearest results.
How long can I record in slow motion?
You can record as long as your storage allows. A full iPhone storage can hold anywhere from 30 minutes to several hours of slow-motion video depending on your model and frame rate, but most people record clips under five minutes. Check your available storage before starting a long recording.
Does slow motion work with the front-facing camera?
Yes, but the quality is lower than the rear camera. The front camera records at a lower resolution and frame rate. For the best slow-motion results, use the rear camera.
Can I convert a regular video to slow motion after recording?
No, not with the built-in Photos app. Slow motion requires the camera to capture extra frames during recording. If you recorded in regular Video mode, you cannot add slow-motion effects afterward. You would need a third-party video editing app like iMovie or Adobe Premiere Rush to create a slow-motion effect, though the result will not be as smooth as native slow-motion video.