If you love creating content, it can be handy knowing how to speed up videos on your iPhone. Whether you're looking to make a cool time-lapse or an action sequence more exciting, it’s an effect that can really make your vids pop.
Our simple guide will teach you how to speed a video up on your iPhone in no time. We’ve even got tips on how to slooow things down too…
Can you speed up a video on iPhone?
Yes, you can do this by using the built-in Photos app, iMovie, or third-party video editing apps. The Photos app will only allow you to increase the speed of footage you recorded in slow motion. While iMovie and some third-party iPhone apps can be used to speed up normal videos.
How to speed up a video on iPhone using the Photos app
The Photos app on your iPhone has some pretty powerful editing tools built in. And if you’re looking to increase the speed of a slow-motion clip you’ve captured, it’s probably the easiest thing to use. Here’s how to find it and adjust your video’s speed:
Open the Photos app: Launch the app on your iPhone.
Go to ‘Media Types’: Scroll down until you find this section.
Tap on ‘Slo-mo’: Open this folder to see all your slow-motion videos in one place.
Select your video: Choose the slow-motion clip you want to speed up.
Tap on the edit icon: It’s on the bottom of your screen in the middle (it looks like three sliders).
Adjust the speed: Under your video, you'll see a series of vertical lines which represent the speed of your clip. Drag the white bars closer together to increase the speed.
Save your changes: Once you're happy, just tap on ‘Done’ in the top-right corner of your screen.
Tip: Remember that changing the speed of a slow-motion video isn’t permanent. If you want to restore your original video or slow down just a certain part, you can go back and readjust the white bars.
How to speed up a video on iPhone using iMovie
If you want to accelerate an iPhone video recorded at a normal speed, just use iMovie. It’s Apple’s free video editing app that you can download straight from the App Store. Once you’ve got it on your device, follow these simple steps:
Launch the iMovie app: Open iMovie after it’s finished downloading.
Select ‘Movie’: Tap on ‘Movie’ under the ‘Start New Project’ window that appears.
Add your video: Choose the video you want to speed up, tap on the tick icon underneath, then select ‘Create Movie’ at the bottom of your screen.
Tweak the speed: Tap on your video in the timeline and select the speedometer icon at the bottom. You can then drag the slider to the right to increase the speed by up to 2x.
Save your project: Tap ‘Done’ in the top-left corner of your screen.
Share your video: Tap the share icon (upward arrow) at the bottom of your display to export the video to your photo library. You can also upload your clip directly to a social platform or send it to a contact.
How to speed up a video on iPhone by more than 2x
If twice as fast isn’t fast enough, you’ll need to use a third-party app. Some of the most popular iOS video editors that can really ramp up the speed of your footage include:
CapCut: This app allows you to boost video speed beyond the 2x limit. Simply import your video, tap on the speed option, and adjust.
LumaFusion: A professional video editing app that offers advanced speed control features.
Splice: Another great option for speeding up videos. Just add your video and drag the slider to your desired speed.
How to slow down a video on iPhone
You can use the Photos app or iMovie to slow down a video on your iPhone too. Perfect if you want to create a dramatic effect or highlight a funny moment in a clip! Here are the steps you’ll need to follow for both apps…
Slowing down an iPhone video with the Photos app
Open the Photos app: Launch Photos and select the video you want to slow down.
Tap on edit: Select the three sliders button at the bottom of your screen.
Adjust the speed: Tap the speedometer icon in the top-right corner and choose ‘50%’ from the ‘Playback Speed’ dropdown. Then drag the white bars under your clip further apart to slow down your video.
Save your edited video: Select the yellow ‘Done’ button in the top-right corner of your screen to confirm your changes.
Using iMovie to slow down an iPhone video’s speed
Launch iMovie: Open the iMovie app and create a new Movie project.
Add your video: Select the clip you want to slow down and add it to your timeline.
Slow down the speed: Tap on your video and select the speedometer icon. Then drag the slider to the left to slow down your footage.
Save your project: Tap ‘Done’ to save your edit.
Need more advice?
We’ve got loads more tips to help you get the most out of your iPhone. Like our how to blur backgrounds on iPhone photos guide, which teaches you how to make your photos look more professional. Or check out our how to delete duplicate photos on an iPhone article to free up space for more amazing pics!
