How to Slow Down a Video in Premiere Pro (Step-by-Step Guide for Beginners)

Why Slow Down a Video in Premiere Pro?

Slowing down videos isn't just for dramatic effect. Creators slow footage for various reasons:

• To emphasize a critical moment (explosions, expressions, reactions).
• For aesthetic storytelling (wedding reels, cinematic b-roll).
• To analyze motion (sports, tutorials, tech reviews).

And Premiere Pro offers 3 powerful tools for slow-motion editing:

• Speed/Duration.
• Rate Stretch Tool.
• Time Remapping.

Each one suits different needs, and we’ll explore them in depth below. Get ready, let's start!

How to Slow Down a Video in Premiere Pro (3 Ways)

Method 1: Slow Down with Speed/Duration (The Beginner-Friendly Way)

This is the easiest way to slow down or speed up a video in Premiere Pro — fast, simple, and effective.

Step 1. Import your video clip into the Premiere Pro project panel.

Step 2. Drag it to the timeline.

Step 3. Right-click the clip, and select Speed/Duration.

Step 4. In the pop-up box, reduce the speed to 50% for 2x slow motion. Of course, you can reduce more.

Step 5. Optionally, check "Maintain Audio Pitch" to avoid chipmunk voice distortion.

Step 6. Click OK to complete the process.

Method 2: Use Rate Stretch Tool (Fast Timeline-Based Editing)

The Rate Stretch Tool lets you slow down a clip by extending its duration visually.

Step 1. On the left toolbar, click and hold the Ripple Edit Tool, then select Rate Stretch Tool (Shortcut: R).

Step 2. Grab the end of the clip in the timeline and drag it outward to extend.

Step 3. This will automatically reduce playback speed to fit the new length.

Step 4. Preview the timeline to ensure smooth results.

Method 3: Time Remapping (Advanced Slow-Mo with Speed Ramping)

Time Remapping gives you pinpoint control to slow down only certain parts of a clip. It’s perfect for smooth speed ramps (e.g., car drifting, dancer spin, parkour flips).

Step 1. Right-click the clip in the timeline, go to Show Clip Keyframes > Time Remapping > Speed.

Step 2. You’ll see a white rubber band across your clip.

Step 3. Use Ctrl (Windows) / Cmd (Mac) + Click on the line to add keyframes.

Step 4. Drag the rubber band down between the keyframes to slow down just that section.

Step 5. Use handles to smooth the transition (ease in/out for cinematic flow).

Pro tip:

• Dragging below the baseline = reverse playback.
• Create 0% speed = freeze frame effect.

Comparison Table of Premiere Pro's Ways to Slow Down

Here’s a quick comparison of the three main methods to slow down videos in Premiere Pro, so you can choose the one that best fits your editing needs, skill level, and project goals. Whether you're aiming for a simple effect or a cinematic speed ramp, this table breaks down the pros and cons at a glance.

Now that you’ve learned how to slow down a video clip in Premiere Pro, you’re ready to add more depth and emotion to your content. Whether you prefer the simplicity of Speed/Duration, the quick drag-and-drop ease of the Rate Stretch Tool, or the advanced control of Time Remapping, Premiere Pro gives you versatile tools to match your creative vision.

Besides that, there is something you also need to know. While Premiere is robust, slowing down videos in it has some notable downsides:

• Choppy playback if original footage is under 60fps.
• Audio distortion unless corrected manually.
• Steep learning curve for Time Remapping.
• Inconsistent quality if you lack GPU power.

If needed, you can turn to an easier and quicker way like Winxvideo AI to slow down a video.

Use Winxvideo AI for Effortless Slow-Mo (Up to 0.125x!)

If you’re frustrated with Premiere’s limitations — or just want easier slow-motion editing — try Winxvideo AI.

Why choose Winxvideo AI? It lets you slow down videos to an ultra-smooth 0.125x speed and speed up videos without any lag or stutter, thanks to its AI-powered frame interpolation. You don’t need to deal with manual keyframes or complicated settings — just a few clicks and you're done. It supports a wide range of formats including MP4, MOV, MKV, and even 4K videos. Plus, with batch processing, you can save tons of time by editing multiple videos at once.

Step 1. Free download and install Winxvideo AI on your computer. Open it up, then choose Video Converter option.

Step 2. Drag and drop or click on the +Video button to load the video that you want to change the speed.

Step 3. Click any of the edit options under the video loading information, such as Effects or whatever.

Step 4. Select Video & Audio column, you can see the Playback Speed option. Drag the Playback Speed slider left to slow (e.g., 0.5x, 0.25x, 0.125x).

Step 5. Click Browse button to determine where to save your accelerated video. Click Done, choose output location, hit Run to start slowing down a video with Winxvideo AI.

Free Download Free Download Free Download

Note: AI tools for Mac are currently unavailable, but they're coming soon. Stay tuned.

Unlike Premiere Pro, Winxvideo AI doesn’t rely on high-frame-rate footage — its powerful AI automatically generates extra frames to deliver ultra-smooth slow motion. Not sure which tool is right for your project? Let’s break down when to use Premiere Pro versus Winxvideo AI for slowing down your videos:

Final Thoughs:

Whether you need precise control or quick results, the best method to slow down video depends on your workflow. Premiere Pro is ideal for professionals who want advanced speed ramping and full creative flexibility—especially when working with high-frame-rate footage using Optical Flow. But if you want a faster, smoother solution without the manual hassle, Winxvideo AI is a smarter choice. It slows footage to 0.125x with AI-powered interpolation, supports formats like MP4, MOV, 4K, and handles batch processing to save you time. For storytellers at any level, both tools offer powerful ways to capture the perfect slow-motion moment.