Record videos with your iPhone camera
Use Camera to record videos and QuickTake videos on your iPhone. Learn how to change modes to take Cinematic, slow-motion, and time-lapse videos.
Note: Video recording isn’t available during a phone or FaceTime call.
Record a video
Open Camera, then select Video mode (see Switch between camera modes).
Tap the Record button or press either volume button to start recording. While recording, you can do the following:
Press the white Shutter button to take a still photo.
Pinch the screen to zoom in and out.
For a more precise zoom, touch and hold 1x, then drag the slider (on supported models).
Tap the Record button or press either volume button to stop recording.
Note: For your security, a green dot appears at the top of the screen when Camera is in use. See Control access to hardware features on iPhone.
Record HD or 4K video
Depending on your iPhone model, you can record video in high-quality formats, like HD, 4K, HD (PAL), and 4K (PAL).
Go to Settings
> Camera, then tap Record Video.
Select from the list of video formats and frame rates that your iPhone supports.
Note: Faster frame rates and higher resolutions result in larger video files.
Note: PAL is a television video format used in many countries and regions in Europe, Africa, Asia, and South America.
Use Action mode
On iPhone 14 models and iPhone 15 models, Action mode provides improved stabilization while recording in Video mode. Tap at the top of the screen to turn Action mode on and
to turn it off.
![The iPhone is turned horizontally. Camera is open and in Video mode. In the camera frame, a person is jogging. The Flash button is in the bottom-left corner of the screen. The Camera Controls button is in the left-center of the screen. In the top-left corner are quick toggles to switch the video resolution and frame rate. The Action button in the top-left corner is turned on. At the right side are, from top to bottom, the Camera Chooser Back-Facing button, the Record button, and the Photo and Video Viewer button. Within the viewfinder, a person is running.](https://help.apple.com/assets/65E21662495F1A6C8701F50A/65E21663EF8273BE1D0C2734/en_US/cd871889e1bdbfc807b42300778f6bdf.png)
Note: Action mode works best in bright light. If you want to use Action mode in lower light, go to Settings > Camera, tap Record Video, then turn on Action Mode Lower Light. Action mode has a maximum capture resolution of 2.8K.
Record a QuickTake video
A QuickTake video is a video you record in Photo mode. While you record a QuickTake video, you can move the Record button into the lock position and keep taking still photos.
Open Camera, then touch and hold the Shutter button to start recording a QuickTake video.
Slide the Shutter button to the right and let go over the lock for hands-free recording.
Both the Record and Shutter buttons appear below the frame—tap the Shutter button to take a still photo while recording.
Swipe up to zoom in on your subject, or if you’re recording hands-free, you can pinch out on the screen to zoom in.
Tap the Record button to stop recording.
Tip: Press and hold the volume up or volume down button to start recording a QuickTake video in Photo mode.
Tap the thumbnail to view the QuickTake video in the Photos app.
Record a slow-motion video
When you record a video in Slo-mo mode, your video records as normal and you see the slow-motion effect when you play it back. You can also edit your video so that the slow-motion action starts and stops at a specific time.
Open Camera, then select Slo-mo mode.
On iPhone 11 models, iPhone 12 models, iPhone 13 models, iPhone 14 models, and iPhone 15 models, you can tap
to record in Slo-mo mode with the front camera.
Tap the Record button or press either volume button to start recording.
You can tap the Shutter button to take a still photo while recording.
Tap the Record button or press either volume button to stop recording.
To set a portion of the video to play in slow motion and the rest at regular speed, tap the video thumbnail, then tap Edit. Slide the vertical bars below the frame viewer to define the section you want to play back in slow motion.
Depending on your model, you can change the slow motion frame rate and resolution. To change slow-motion recording settings, go to Settings > Camera, then tap Record Slo-mo.
Tip: Use quick toggles to adjust the video resolution and frame rate while you record. See Use quick toggles to change video resolution and frame rate.
Record a time-lapse video
Capture footage at selected intervals to create a time‑lapse video of an experience over a period of time—such as a setting sun or traffic flowing.
Open Camera, then select Time-lapse mode.
Set up your iPhone where you want to capture a scene in motion.
Tap the Record button to start recording; tap it again to stop recording.
Tip: On iPhone 12 models and later, use a tripod to capture time-lapse videos with more detail and brightness when recording in low-light situations.