How to Revert Back to Regular Speed from a Slo-Mo Video on iPhone

You may have been wondering if it is possible to make that slo-mo video on your iPhone play at a normal pace. Well, the good news is that it is possible using the Photos app. The Photos app gives you the opportunity to adjust the section of the video that is in slow motion by making use of the vertical bars which you’ll find after clicking Edit.

Once you move the markers and cut out the part that is in slow motion, the video will be able to play at standard speed. When you’re satisfied with the change, tap Done to save it. If there is ever a need for you to undo the edits you have made, the Photos app lets you revert the changes and take the video back to its original state.

Fastest method: Photos → Edit → remove the slo-mo range

Nobody likes it when a great Slo-mo video feels like it’s moving too slowly for the entire clip. You can change the slow-motion section in the Photos app. If you want an extra copy before you edit, you can duplicate the video in Photos, then work on the duplicate.

1. Open Photos, Scroll down to Media Types, select Slo-mo and open the video you want to convert to normal speed.

2. Under the frame viewer, you’ll see vertical bars in the timeline.

3. Drag the bars to change where the video plays in slow motion, so the effect only applies to the section you choose.

Fastest method: Photos → Edit → remove the slo-mo range

If you adjust the bars to remove the slow-motion section, the clip will play at normal speed from start to finish.

4. Tap Done to save, and revisit Edit anytime to adjust it again.

Keep only part of the clip slow (fine-tune the range)

If you want to change the slow-motion section, simply open the Slo-mo video in the Photos app. Below the frame viewer is a timeline with vertical bars that mark the slow-motion range.

Simply drag over the bars to change the areas where the video plays in slow motion. Keep adjusting the bars until the slow-motion section begins and ends in the right place. When you’re finished, tap Done to save.

Fix audio: pitch and volume checks after reverting

For more editing options, you can open the video in iMovie. In iMovie, you can change the speed of a clip, and pitch is preserved by default.

If you want the speed change to affect pitch, you can turn on the setting that changes pitch. To edit the audio separately, select the video clip, tap Actions, then tap Detach to create a separate audio clip.

Fix audio: pitch and volume checks after reverting

You can then mute the audio, adjust volume, or add background music and a voiceover. If the audio is too loud, iMovie shows red peaks in the waveform, and you can reduce the volume to prevent distortion.

Optional: iMovie method for exact 1× speed

If you want the timing to be more precise, open iMovie and create a movie project, then add your video. Tap the clip in the timeline to reveal the editing controls at the bottom of the screen, and tap Speed.

Use the speed slider to change how fast the clip plays, or tap Reset to return the entire clip to its original speed. When you’re finished, tap Done, then tap the Share button. Choose Save Video to export it back to Photos. For the export options, you can select 1080p 60 fps to keep the quality of the video good.

Quality & export notes (avoid accidental downsizing)

If you use iMovie, you can tap the Share button and then tap Options to choose settings such as resolution before you save the video to Photos.

It is recommended that you select a resolution that matches your source video. For file size, High Efficiency video formats like HEVC make use of advanced compression to save storage space while still maintaining the same visual quality. Once you’re ready, choose Save Video to export.

Troubleshooting (common roadblocks)

Editing can be limited when the original file isn’t fully available on your iPhone. With iCloud Photos turned on and Optimize iPhone Storage enabled, your device may keep smaller versions while the full-resolution originals stay in iCloud.

When you open a video, your iPhone can download the original, as long as you’re connected to the internet. If you still can’t complete an edit or save changes, Apple advises checking storage in Settings → General → iPhone Storage and making space.

You can do that by deleting items you don’t need, or by removing/offloading apps to free storage. And if you decide you don’t want the edits anymore, Photos lets you choose Revert to Original to restore the video to its original version.

Conclusion

If you want to keep an extra copy before you edit, you can duplicate the video in Photos and work on the duplicate.

Open the Slo-mo clip in the Photos app, then tap Edit. Under the frame viewer, you’ll see a timeline with vertical bars that control the slow-motion section. Drag the bars to change where the video plays in slow motion, so the effect starts and ends where you want it.

If you want the clip to play at normal speed throughout, adjust the bars so the slow-motion section is no longer selected. Tap Done to save your changes. You can open the clip again and tap Edit at any time to adjust the slow-motion section again.