Slow motion
Why Can't I Slow Down a Video in the iPhone Photos App? (And How to Fix It)
You open a video in Photos, tap Edit, and look for a way to slow it down — but there's no speed option. Or it shows up on some videos and not on others. It isn't a bug. It comes down to one rule from Apple, and once you know it, the fix for your situation takes a minute to find.
THE SHORT ANSWER
- Photos can only slow down videos recorded at more than 30fps, and only on iOS 18 or later. That's Apple's stated rule.
- Most everyday iPhone videos are 30fps, so they get no speed option at all.
- Got a 60fps video? On iOS 18 or later, tap Edit, then Video, then the Playback Speed button. Shot in Slo-mo? Drag the vertical bars to set the slow section instead.
- Got a 30fps video? iMovie can slow it down, but it turns choppy. An AI frame interpolation app can make it smooth slow motion by generating new frames.
This is why Photos draws the line at 30fps: half speed leaves a 30fps video with only 15 frames per second, while a 60fps video keeps 30. (Animation recreated to show the difference.)
Why some videos can't be slowed down in Photos
Apple's support article puts it plainly: "If your video is captured at a frame rate higher than 30FPS, you can slow down the video," in "iOS 18 and later" (Apple Support). So there are two conditions:
- iOS 18 or later. Earlier versions of Photos don't have the playback speed option.
- Recorded above 30fps. A video at exactly 30fps doesn't qualify. It has to be higher, such as 60fps.
The second condition is the one that catches most people. 30fps has long been the default in the Camera app's Video mode, and videos can end up at 30fps or lower without you choosing it. Cinematic mode records at 30fps by default, and with Auto FPS on, your iPhone can drop to 24fps in low light (Apple).
Apple doesn't say why the line is at 30fps, but the math explains it. Slowing a 30fps video to half speed leaves 15 frames per second, which looks choppy. A 60fps video at half speed still has 30.
How to slow down a video in the Photos app (when it works)
If your video was recorded above 30fps and you're on iOS 18 or later, these are Apple's steps:
- Open the video in PhotosThen tap the Edit button.
- Tap VideoThis shows the video editing tools.
- Tap the Playback Speed buttonThen choose a speed.
Which speeds you see depends on how the video was recorded. Apple says "the larger the format you capture, the more options are available." The steps are identical in Apple's iPhone User Guide for iOS 18, iOS 26 and iOS 27.
Slo-mo videos work differently
Videos shot in Slo-mo mode are already recorded at 120 or 240fps and play back slowed down. To choose which part plays in slow motion, open the video, tap Edit, and drag the vertical bars beneath the frame viewer.
Still don't see the Playback Speed button? A 1-minute checklist
Work down this list. Each check rules out one cause, and most people stop at step 3.
- Check your iOS versionGo to Settings > General > About and look at iOS Version. The speed option needs iOS 18 or later. On iOS 17 or earlier it doesn't exist, whatever the video.
- Make sure you're in the video toolsOpen the video, tap Edit, then tap Video. The Playback Speed button is part of the video editing tools, so it won't show while another tool is selected.
- Check the frame rateIt has to be above 30fps. Everyday Video mode defaults to 30fps, Cinematic mode records at 30fps by default, and Auto FPS can drop to 24fps in low light — none of those qualify. Here's how to check a video's frame rate on iPhone.
- Is it a Slo-mo video?Slo-mo has its own control: drag the vertical bars under the frame viewer to set which part plays slowly.
You don't need to download or pay for anything to use the Photos speed control — it's built into Photos. A separate app only comes into play for videos at 30fps or below, because Photos won't slow those down at all.
How to check your video's frame rate
Before you try a fix, find out what you're working with.
- The speed button itself. On iOS 18 or later, if the editor shows no Playback Speed button for a video, the most likely reason is that it was recorded at 30fps or less.
- The info panel in Photos. Depending on your iOS version, swiping up on a video (or tapping the info button) may show details such as resolution and frame rate. The Apple guides I checked don't mention frame rate there, so don't worry if yours doesn't show it.
- FrameFlo's Video Info screen. Choose the video in FrameFlo and the Video Info screen shows its frame rate in the Before column, along with duration and file size. It's free and doesn't require processing anything.
- For future videos: in the Camera app's Video mode, the current resolution and frame rate appear at the top of the screen. Tap them to change. You can also set formats in Settings > Camera > Record Video. This only affects new recordings, not videos you already have.
Fixes for each case
| What you see | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| No speed option on any video, iPhone on iOS 17 or earlier | The feature needs iOS 18 or later | Update iOS if your iPhone supports it |
| No speed option on this video, iOS 18 or later | It was recorded at 30fps or less | Use iMovie (choppy) or AI frame interpolation (smooth). Record at 60fps or in Slo-mo next time |
| Speed option on some videos but not others | They were recorded at different frame rates | Check each video's frame rate (see above) |
| The video was shot in Slo-mo | Slo-mo has its own slow-section control | Tap Edit and drag the vertical bars |
| A video someone sent you | Its frame rate depends on how it was recorded and saved | Check the frame rate; if it's 30fps or less, treat it like any 30fps video |
Changing your Camera settings won't help a video you already have. The frame rate is fixed when the video is recorded.
How to make a 30fps video slow motion anyway
Photos won't do it, but you still have two options.
iMovie: free, but choppy
iMovie, Apple's free editing app, can slow down any clip: tap the clip in the timeline, tap the Speed button, and drag the slider left. The problem is that it shows the existing frames for longer instead of creating new ones. The full guide to making a normal video slow motion has the complete numbers, and the iMovie slow motion guide covers the steps.
AI frame interpolation: smooth
Frame interpolation estimates the motion between two frames and generates new in-between frames, so the clip can be slowed down without losing frames per second. In FrameFlo:
- Choose the videoPick it from your Photo Library or the Files app. Videos up to 10 seconds are free to process; for longer ones, the first 10 seconds can be processed for free.
- Set Duration to Slow MotionThen choose Slow Down: 2× or 4×. The output keeps your video's frame rate, so a 30fps clip stays 30fps while getting 2× or 4× longer.
- Tap Add to QueueWhen it's done, compare the original and the result with the split slider.
- Save (Pro)Creating and previewing slow motion is free. Saving it requires Pro, a one-time purchase.
It works best on moderate motion. Very fast movement and thin details like hair or nets can smear, and it won't make a blurry video sharper. Everything runs on your iPhone; your video is never uploaded.
Photos won't slow down your 30fps video? Try smooth 2× or 4× slow motion and compare before you buy.
Get FrameFlo on the App StoreCreate and preview free · Saving slow motion requires Pro (one-time purchase) · iPhone with iOS 16 or later
FAQ
How do I slow down a video on iPhone without an app?
Use the Photos app, if the video was recorded above 30fps and you're on iOS 18 or later: tap Edit, tap Video, then tap the Playback Speed button. Slo-mo videos can be adjusted in Photos too. For a 30fps video there's no built-in option in Photos; you'll need an app such as iMovie (free from Apple) or a frame interpolation app.
Do I have to download an app to slow down a video?
Not if the video was recorded above 30fps and you're on iOS 18 or later — the Photos app can do it. For a 30fps video, yes: Photos has no speed option for it, so you need an app. iMovie is free from Apple but turns the result choppy; a frame interpolation app such as FrameFlo keeps it smooth.
Is slowing down a video in Photos a paid or premium feature?
No. The Playback Speed control is a built-in part of the Photos app — there's nothing to buy or subscribe to. If the button is missing, it's because of the iOS version or the video's frame rate, not a paywall.
Why is there no speed option for my video in Photos?
Most likely because the video was recorded at 30fps or less, or because your iPhone is on iOS 17 or earlier. Apple only allows speed changes for videos captured above 30fps, on iOS 18 or later.
Can I slow down a video in Photos on iOS 26?
Yes, with the same rule. Apple's iPhone User Guide lists the same Playback Speed steps for iOS 18, iOS 26 and iOS 27, and they still apply only to videos recorded at a high frame rate.
Does slowing down a video in Photos add frames?
Apple doesn't describe it as creating new frames. That's why the 30fps rule makes sense: a 60fps video at half speed still has 30 real frames per second, while a 30fps video would have only 15.
Can I change a video's frame rate so Photos lets me slow it down?
Not in Photos. The frame rate is set when you record, and changing Camera settings only affects new videos. If you need smooth slow motion from an existing 30fps video, frame interpolation is the way to add the missing frames.
Written by punimaru, the developer of FrameFlo. App details are based on how the app is actually built. Since this is my own app, I've also noted where it isn't the right tool and what else you can use.