You can adjust time lapse speed in the Camera app before you record, or edit the speed of a recording you already made

iPhone time lapse records video at a fixed interval — usually one frame every second or every few seconds — then plays those frames back at normal speed to compress time. The speed you see depends on two things: how often the camera captures a frame, and how fast those frames play back. You control both in the Camera app itself, either before you hit record or after you've finished filming.

The method depends on whether you're starting fresh or fixing a video you've already shot. If you haven't recorded yet, you'll set the frame interval in the Camera app's time lapse mode. If you've already recorded, you'll edit the playback speed in the Photos app using the video editor.

Key Takeaways

  • Open the Camera app, swipe to Time lapse mode, and tap the frame interval number at the bottom to choose how often the camera captures — faster intervals make slower-motion playback.
  • A frame interval of 0.5 seconds captures twice as often and plays back twice as fast; 2 seconds captures half as often and plays back half as fast.
  • To change the speed of a time lapse you've already recorded, open it in Photos, tap Edit, then tap the speed icon (three lines with a dot) and choose a new playback speed.
  • Playback speed options in the Photos editor range from 0.5x to 2x, letting you slow down or speed up a finished recording without re-shooting.

How to set time lapse speed before you record

Open the Camera app and swipe left or right until you reach Time lapse mode. You'll see a number at the bottom center of the screen — this is the frame interval, measured in seconds. Tap that number to open a menu of preset intervals: 0.5s, 1s, 2s, 5s, 10s, and 20s.

The smaller the number, the more often the camera captures a frame, and the faster your finished video will play. A 0.5-second interval means the camera takes a photo twice per second; when played back at normal speed, the video moves twice as fast as a 1-second interval would. A 20-second interval means one photo every 20 seconds, so the playback is much slower and more compressed.

Choose the interval that matches what you're filming. For clouds moving across the sky or traffic, 1 to 2 seconds usually works well. For a sunset or sunrise, try 2 to 5 seconds. For a full day of light changing, 10 to 20 seconds gives you a longer recording without filling your storage. Once you've picked an interval, tap the red record button and hold your phone steady.

How to change the speed of a time lapse you've already shot

Open the Photos app and find the time lapse video you want to adjust. Tap it to open it full-screen, then tap Edit in the top right corner.

In the editing screen, look for the speed icon — it looks like three horizontal lines with a dot on the right side, usually located near the bottom of the screen. Tap it to reveal playback speed options: 0.5x, 0.75x, 1x, 1.25x, 1.5x, and 2x. Slide left to slow the video down, or slide right to speed it up. The preview updates as you move the slider so you can see the effect before you save.

Once you're happy with the speed, tap Done in the top right, then tap Save to overwrite the original or Save as New Clip to keep both versions. The edited version will replace the original if you choose Save, so make sure you're ready before you confirm.

Understanding frame intervals and playback speed

Frame interval and playback speed are separate controls that work together. The frame interval is how often the camera captures during recording — you set this before you shoot. Playback speed is how fast those captured frames play back — you can change this anytime, even months later.

If you shot with a 1-second interval and later change the playback speed to 2x in the Photos editor, the video plays twice as fast as it would at 1x. But the underlying footage is the same; you're just changing how quickly the frames display. This is different from re-recording with a faster interval, which would capture fewer frames overall and give you a shorter video.

The playback speed editor in Photos works on any video, not just time lapses. You can slow down a regular video to 0.5x or speed it up to 2x using the same speed icon and slider.

Why your time lapse might look too fast or too slow

If your time lapse plays back too fast, you either used a short frame interval (like 0.5s) or set a high playback speed (like 1.5x or 2x). To slow it down, either re-record with a longer interval, or open the video in Photos, tap Edit, and lower the playback speed to 0.5x or 0.75x.

If it plays too slowly, you used a long frame interval (like 10s or 20s) or set a low playback speed (like 0.5x). Speed it up by re-recording with a shorter interval, or by editing the playback speed to 1.5x or 2x in Photos. Keep in mind that slowing down a video that was already shot with a long interval will make it very choppy, because there aren't enough frames to fill the slower playback.

Storage and battery tips for time lapse recording

Longer frame intervals use less storage because the camera captures fewer frames. A 20-second interval on a 10-minute recording captures only 30 frames, while a 0.5-second interval captures 1,200 frames. If storage is tight, use a longer interval and speed up the playback in the Photos editor afterward.

Time lapse recording also drains your battery faster than normal video because the camera stays on and active for the entire duration. If you're filming a long time lapse, plug in your phone or have a power bank nearby. The frame interval doesn't affect battery drain much — what matters is how long you record, not how often you capture.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I change the frame interval after I've started recording?

No. Once you tap the red record button, the frame interval is locked. You have to stop recording, change the interval, and start a new recording. If you want to adjust the speed of a finished video, use the playback speed editor in Photos instead.

What's the difference between 0.5x and 2x playback speed?

0.5x plays the video at half speed — it takes twice as long to watch. 2x plays it at double speed — it takes half as long. A time lapse shot at 1-second intervals and played at 2x will move four times faster than the same footage played at 0.5x.

Will changing playback speed in Photos make my time lapse look choppy?

Only if you slow it down too much. Slowing a time lapse to 0.5x or 0.75x usually looks smooth because there are enough frames to fill the slower playback. Speeding it up to 2x might look slightly choppy if the original interval was very long (like 20 seconds), but usually looks fine.

Can I use different frame intervals for different parts of the same time lapse?

No. Each time lapse recording uses one frame interval from start to finish. If you want different speeds in different sections, record separate time lapses with different intervals, then combine them in a video editor like iMovie or the Photos app's editing tools.