Convert Slow Motion Video to Normal on iPhone & iPad

To convert a slow motion video back to normal speed on an iPhone or iPad, open the video in the Photos app, tap Edit, then tap the speed icon (a clock with a circle arrow) and drag the vertical white lines to cover the entire clip, or tap the speed value and select 1x. This removes all slow motion effects and saves the video at normal speed. The following guide explains the process in detail, covers common issues, and answers frequently asked questions.

How Slow Motion Works on iPhone and iPad

When you record a slow motion video on an iPhone, the camera captures footage at a high frame rate, such as 120 or 240 frames per second (fps). The Photos app then stores the video with metadata that marks which parts of the clip should be played back at a reduced speed (for example, 1/4 or 1/8 of normal). The actual high frame rate data is still in the file, so you can change the slow motion regions or remove them entirely without losing quality.

On iPad, the same Photos app is used, and the editing tools are identical. However, not all iPads support slow motion recording, but any iPad that can run a recent iOS version can edit slow motion videos that were recorded on an iPhone or another device.

Step-by-Step: Converting a Slow Motion Video to Normal Speed

Here is how to remove slow motion from a video in the Photos app on both iPhone and iPad:

1. Open the Photos app and find the slow motion video you want to edit.
2. Tap the video to open it, then tap Edit in the top right corner.
3. Tap the speed icon (a clock with a circular arrow) at the bottom of the screen. This shows a timeline with two vertical white lines that define the slow motion section.
4. Drag the left and right white lines so they cover the entire video clip. Alternatively, tap the speed value (e.g., 1/4) and select 1x from the menu that appears.
5. Tap Done in the bottom right corner, then tap Save Video to keep the changes as a new file, or tap Save to Camera Roll if you want to overwrite the original (the original is still recoverable until you delete it).

If you only want to convert a portion of the video to normal speed, you can drag the white lines to cover just that segment. The rest of the video will remain slow motion.

Using the Edit Menu: Understanding the Speed Slider

The speed slider in the Photos app gives you precise control. When you tap the speed icon, you see a timeline with a vertical line in the middle. The area between the two white lines is the slow motion region. You can drag the lines to adjust which parts are slow. To make the entire video normal speed, simply drag the lines to the very beginning and end of the clip.

Alternatively, you can tap the speed value that appears above the timeline (e.g., 1/4, 1/2, 1/8). A menu will pop up with options like 1/8, 1/4, 1/2, and 1x. Selecting 1x removes the slow motion effect from the entire video, regardless of where the white lines are placed. This is the quickest method.

What to Do If the Edit Option Is Missing

If you don’t see the Edit button or the speed icon, the video might not be a true slow motion video. Some apps save videos as slow motion by simply playing back a normal video at a lower speed, but they don’t store the high frame rate data. In that case, the Photos app cannot change the speed because the information isn’t there.

Another possibility is that the video was recorded on a device that doesn’t support slow motion, or it was transferred from another platform. If the video is in a format that Photos can’t edit (like some third-party formats), try converting it to a compatible format first using a file converter app.

How to Save a Copy: Preserving the Original

When you edit a video in Photos, the original is always preserved. After you make changes and tap Done, you have two options:

• Save Video: This saves the edited version as a new clip, leaving the original untouched.
• Save to Camera Roll: This overwrites the original with the edited version, but you can still revert to the original by opening the video, tapping Edit, and tapping Revert.

If you want to keep both the slow motion and normal versions, choose Save Video. This is useful if you want to share the normal speed version without losing the slow motion original.

Alternative Methods: Using Third-Party Apps

If you need more advanced control, such as adjusting speed at multiple points or exporting in a specific format, you can use third-party video editing apps. Popular options include iMovie (free from Apple), LumaFusion, and InShot. These apps allow you to import the video, adjust the speed of any segment, and export the result. However, they may not preserve the original high frame rate data, so the quality might be slightly different.

For most users, the built-in Photos editor is sufficient and the simplest method. It preserves the original video quality and is free.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

Here are a few issues you might encounter and how to fix them:

• Video appears to be normal speed already but still has the slow motion icon: This can happen if the slow motion region is very small. Tap Edit and check the white lines – they might be covering only a tiny portion. Drag them to cover the whole video, or tap the speed value and select 1x.
• Changes are not saved: Make sure you tap Done and then Save Video or Save to Camera Roll. If you exit the editor without saving, your changes are lost.
• The video is too large to export: If you’re trying to share the video and it’s too large, you can use the share sheet to compress it, or use a third-party app to reduce the resolution.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will converting to normal speed reduce the video quality?

No, converting a slow motion video to normal speed in the Photos app does not reduce quality. The video file still contains all the original frames; the edit simply changes the playback speed metadata. The video will play at the same resolution and frame rate as before, just at 1x speed.

Can I convert a slow motion video to normal speed on an older iPhone?

Yes, as long as your iPhone runs iOS 11 or later, you can edit slow motion videos in the Photos app. The editing tools are available on all iPhones that support that iOS version, regardless of the model.

Does this work for videos recorded on other devices?

If the video is in a format that Photos can recognize and contains slow motion metadata (like from a Samsung or Google phone), the Photos app may allow you to edit the speed. However, if the video is just a normal video played back slowly, the app cannot change its speed because there is no high frame rate data.

How do I make a video slow motion again after converting it to normal?

If you saved the edited version as a new video, the original slow motion version is still in your library. If you overwrote the original, you can use the Revert option in the editor to restore the original slow motion settings. If you deleted the original, you cannot undo the change.

Can I convert a slow motion video to normal speed on a Mac?

Yes, you can use the Photos app on a Mac to edit slow motion videos. The process is similar: open the video in Photos, click Edit, then adjust the speed slider. Alternatively, you can use iMovie or Final Cut Pro for more control.

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