Slow-motion TikTok was trending back in late 2019. And they’re kind of lame now. But you may still want to know how to slow down your TikTok videos or speed it up to catch the eyes of your followers.

In that case, you’re on the right page. Here, you learn four ultimate techniques to create slo-mo, fast, or even reverse videos on your phone. The good news? You don’t have to own a fancy phone.

4 Way to Slow Down or Speed Up TikTok Videos

TT didn’t always have an in-app feature to change the speed of your uploads. So, TikTokers had to use Snapchat or online tools to create slow or fast motions. But now, you can directly record in such modes thanks to the new features. And, (drum roll, please), here’s how to use them.

#1: Adjust the Speed Before Recording

Open the TikTok app and tap the + button.

Tap the ‘Speed’ icon and turn it on before recording.

You’ll now see five different numbers on top of the red record button, 0.3x, 0.5x, 1x, 2x, and 3x.

The smaller the number is, the slower it makes your video and vice versa.

So, if you want to slow down your TikTok videos, you need to go with either 0.5x, which cuts the speed to half, or 0.3x, which is even slower. To give your content a fast motion effect, choose frame speeds higher than 1x.

Note: If you don’t see the speedometer option in the camera roll, it might be because your phone is not compatible with the feature. Don’t worry, though. We have additional methods to help you adjust your video speed regardless.

#2: Adjust the Speed After Recording

You forgot to change the speed when recording the video. And now you’re about to post it. Should you scrap the whole thing and start over? No. You can still slow down your TikTok video or make it faster.

TikTok gives you the option to edit your video just before posting it. So, get back to that page and tap ‘Effects’ at the bottom of the page. (It’s the second icon from the left). Then select ‘Time’ in the right-bottom to open the next window. Here, you have three options, Reverse, Repeat, and Slow Motion. If you want to slow down your video, tap the third one (slow motion) and adjust where the slow part starts. Finally, save and post it.

#3: Use Your Camera Roll to Record

iPhones and most high-end Android smartphones have a built-in slo-mo option. Record them outside the TT app if you cannot slow down or speed up your TikTok videos.

Open your phone’s camera.

Look for an option that says the slo-mo or slow motion. (Or timelapse, if you want to speed it up).

Adjust the video size to 9:16, so it matches TikTok standards. And press record.

You can edit the outcome and add filters before posting it on TT.

#4: Use a Third-Party Tool to Change the Speed

Use an online tool or app if your phone camera is incompatible with slow or fast motion effects. There’re professional tools like Veed.io that grant several features to adjust the speed of your content. You can also find free, simple tools like Ezgif.com that change your content’s frame rate.

The only downside is that most phones without the slo-mo option usually have lower frame rates and resolutions. So, slowing down their videos’ speed might result in a significant quality drop. So, use online tools at your own risk, and don’t expect fancy outcomes.

Can You Speed Up a TikTok Videos That You’re Watching?

No. You cannot change the speed of a TikTok video you’re watching. Unlike apps like YouTube, it’s not possible to speed up or slow down the content on TT. And the only way to adjust the playback speed is by saving the video to your phone and manually adding a fast- or slow-motion effect.

Golden Tips on Slowing Down Your TikTok Videos Like a Pro

So, you’re ready to go viral on TikTok with your next Jowo Slowmo challenge? (A bit too late, though). Whatever you do, keep the following tips in mind to have the best slow or fast motion TikToks possible.

Don’t run out of time!

If you put the speedometer on 0.3x, it will record a 15-second video in 5 seconds. So, plan accordingly. It’s best to choose longer forms (maybe 60 or 180 seconds) to create slow motions on TikTok. That way, you know you’re not going to run out of time.

Use the green tool.

When using the slow-motion effect in TikTok’s video editing section, adjust where the slow part starts using the green handle on the screen. It will pop up on the timeline as soon as you select the effect. And you can drag it to identify where the video should slow down. If you don’t adjust it properly, it’ll find a random spot (usually in the middle of the video) and turn it into a slo-mo.

Match the slo-mo to the music/sound.

Slowing down your video on TikTok can add a dramatic effect to the outcome. But you can easily make your edit go viral by matching the start of the slow section with the beat/music’s dynamics.

Record with a higher frame.

If you’re using an iPhone, make sure to record your videos on 60 FPS. A higher frame rate helps have a higher quality while slowing down or speeding up the outcome.

Here’s how to change your camera settings: “tap the quick toggles in the top-right corner to switch between HD or 4K recording and 24, 30, or 60 fps in Video mode.”

Use a flicker filter.

Some editing apps have a cool effect called flicker. It adds a flashing sense to your video, making it even more dramatic in slow motion. (Give it a try. You’re going to love it).

Quick Recap and TL;DR

  • You can slow down your TikTok videos before or after recording them.
  • Tap the speedometer icon on the right sidebar of the TikTok camera and adjust it to 0.3x or 0.5 x for a slow-motion effect. You can increase it to 2x or 3x for a fast motion.
  • If your camera is incompatible with slo-mo features, use online tools such as Ezgif.com to adjust the speed of your TikToks.
  • It’s best to record your video at the highest frame rate possible to avoid the quality drop after changing the speed.
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